What are the responsibilities and job description for the Product Development Manager position at Bio Creative Labs™?
About Us
We are an innovative natural beauty company based in Costa Mesa, California, dedicated to creating high-quality, clean, and effective beauty products. As a fast-paced startup environment, we move quickly, wear many hats, and bring bold ideas to life. This role is for someone who thrives in an entrepreneurial setting and is ready to go beyond the traditional 9-to-5, with a commitment of 40 hours per week to drive impactful product development.
Role Overview
We are seeking a Product Development Manager with 3-5 years of experience in consumer goods product development, ideally in the beauty industry. This role requires someone who can own the entire development process, from ideation to launch, and take initiative in a dynamic, ever-evolving environment. The ideal candidate will also have a strong understanding of marketing positioning, packaging, and retail marketing strategies to ensure products are not only well-formulated but also positioned for success in the marketplace.
Key Responsibilities
- Drive end-to-end product development, ensuring alignment with brand vision and market trends.
- Source and negotiate with domestic and overseas suppliers, including raw material vendors, packaging suppliers, and manufacturers.
- Manage relationships with contract manufacturers, labs, and raw material suppliers to develop innovative, high-performing formulas.
- Oversee regulatory compliance, ensuring products meet FDA, EU, Prop 65, Whole Foods, Sephora Clean, and other industry standards.
- Develop a deep understanding of marketing positioning, working to create products that align with consumer needs, trends, and retail expectations.
- Collaborate on packaging development, ensuring design, functionality, and materials align with product performance and branding.
- Support general retail marketing efforts, including competitive analysis, messaging, claims, and positioning for key retail partners.
- Create and maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs) for new and existing products.
- Set up and manage item details in the ERP system, ensuring accurate product data for operations and inventory management.
- Handle multiple projects simultaneously, prioritizing speed to market while maintaining high-quality standards.
- Conduct stability testing, performance evaluations, and claim substantiation to support product efficacy.
- Stay ahead of trends, innovations, and consumer insights to inform future product launches.
- Work closely with overseas suppliers and manufacturers, ensuring smooth production timelines, quality control, and cost efficiency.
Qualifications
- 3-5 years of experience in product development within consumer goods (beauty experience preferred).
- Experience in sourcing and working with both domestic and overseas suppliers.
- Strong understanding of regulatory requirements (FDA, EU, Prop 65, Whole Foods, Sephora Clean, etc.).
- Experience working with contract manufacturers and labs to bring formulations to market.
- Hands-on experience managing BOMs and working within an ERP system for product setup and tracking.
- Strong understanding of marketing positioning, packaging development, and general retail marketing strategies.
- Highly self-motivated, adaptable, and able to take ownership of projects without constant oversight.
- Thrives in a fast-moving startup environment, wearing multiple hats and working beyond 40 hours per week as needed.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to execute under tight deadlines.
Work Environment
- This is an on-site role based in Costa Mesa, CA.
- Hybrid flexibility (2-3 days in-office) is available for candidates commuting from Los Angeles or surrounding areas.