Personal Care R&D Manager
Job Description
This role is located in the Chicago suburbs, is on-site only (no remote or hybrid options), and the company can provide relocation assistance for qualified candidates.
Base salary $110,000-$130,000
Bonus eligible
Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401k, paid time off.
A well-established personal care company is seeking an experienced R&D Manager to lead formulation and product development efforts across skincare, OTC, and cosmetic product lines. This is a leadership role focused on technical oversight, team management, and cross-functional collaboration from concept through commercialization.
With R&D, manufacturing, and all major departments located onsite, this role offers seamless access to scale-up and production teams—minimizing delays and maximizing innovation.
Key Responsibilities:
-
Lead and oversee formulation of new personal care and OTC products
-
Guide and mentor a team of chemists and scientists (5 direct reports)
-
Collaborate with cross-functional partners in regulatory, QA, packaging, and marketing
-
Ensure product development aligns with safety, regulatory, and quality standards (FDA, OTC, cGMP)
-
Support claims development, documentation, and process transfer to manufacturing
Requirements:
-
MS or PhD in Chemistry or related field (BS considered with strong experience)
-
10+ years in personal care product formulation
-
2+ years of management experience, including team oversight and performance management
-
Hands-on experience with emulsions, creams, suspensions, or topicals
-
Familiarity with FDA regulations, OTC monographs, and product scale-up
-
Strong technical communication and cross-functional leadership skills
-
Experience in a formulation lab within a brand manufacturer or contract manufacturer (supplier-only experience not considered)
Great opportunity for a technically strong formulation leader to manage product development within a collaborative, innovation-focused R&D environment.
**If you’d like to hear more about this opportunity and others we are currently working on, please contact Tory Mack at tmack@cps4jobs.com
JO: 146.25TM
#LI-TM1
Job Requirements
Requirements:
-
MS or PhD in Chemistry or related field (BS considered with strong experience)
-
10+ years in personal care product formulation
-
2+ years of management experience, including team oversight and performance management
-
Hands-on experience with emulsions, creams, suspensions, or topicals
-
Familiarity with FDA regulations, OTC monographs, and product scale-up
-
Strong technical communication and cross-functional leadership skills
-
Experience in a formulation lab within a brand manufacturer or contract manufacturer (supplier-only experience not considered)
Great opportunity for a technically strong formulation leader to manage product development within a collaborative, innovation-focused R&D environment.
**If you’d like to hear more about this opportunity and others we are currently working on, please contact Tory Mack at tmack@cps4jobs.com
JO: 146.25TM
#LI-TM1
Meet Your Recruiter
Tory Mack
Technical Recruiter
What I Do:
I am proud to be part of the CPS flagship division, Industrial Laboratory. Our company started in order to serve the industrial chemicals industry, one of the backbones of the U.S. economy, by bringing together talented technical specialists with the companies that need them. I recruit and place people in the following positions:
- Formulation/Product Development
- Organic and Polymer Synthesis
- Application Chemistry
- Technical Service
- Process Chemistry
- Analytical/Method Development
- Regulatory Compliance
- Quality Assurance/Quality Control
- Group Leader/R&D Manager
My Recruiting Philosophy:
When working with you as a candidate I have 3 goals:
Listen and ask questions to find out what the right opportunities look like for you
Connect you with active openings and interested companies based on your criteria
Educate you throughout the interview process to help you become a standout candidate for each individual opportunity
About Me:
I grew up in Southern Indiana and moved to the greater Chicago area 10 years ago. My education is in opera and music, so I enjoy anything and everything related to the arts! I love helping people through recruiting – I believe the right career move is one of the most important decisions a person can make and it is a privilege to be a part of that process.