Formulation Scientist
Permanent, Full time
This role serves as the formulation science subject matter expert (SME), partnering with R&D product developers, technical leaders and business unit partners to translate technical, business and consumer insights into technology development opportunities. In this position you will drive innovation, business continuity, qualification and commercialisation across global and regional programs with significant business impact. You will thrive in a multi-national, cross-functional environment and bring strong formulation expertise, knowledge of compliance/conformance requirements for regulated products, and R&D project leadership (communication, stakeholder management, collaboration, delivery to timelines). The Formulation Scientist will play a key role in establishing a new formulation laboratory, including the selection, installation, and calibration of formulation development and testing equipment, as well as the development of operating principles and the creation of a laboratory management system.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Develop and optimise formulations for formulated product categories, meeting applicable safety, quality, regulatory, stability and performance requirements.
- Perform formulation lab work: screening, stability and compatibility testing, preservative efficacy and robustness studies.
- Evaluate/test/validate raw material equivalency, substitutions and alternate sourcing to support supply continuity and cost initiatives.
- Support development, qualification and refinement of analytical test methods with Quality teams and external laboratories.
- Protect formulation intellectual property via patents, trade secrets and confidential documentation.
- Act as formulation technical lead on assigned projects across innovation, qualification and commercialisation.
- Create and execute project plans for formulation development, improvement and lifecycle management.
- Lead and document formulation deliverables (INCI files, validation records, stability reports, technical justifications and change-control documentation).
- Proactively manage formulation changes driven by regulatory updates, quality deviations, allergen removal, sustainability requirements and chemicals-of-concern elimination.
- Support lab capability development (readiness activities, external lab coordination and specialist testing).
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Cosmetic Science, or related technical discipline.
- Solid applied experience (typically 5–8+ years) in formulation development for consumer products
- Proven ability to independently execute formulation development workflows, including design, testing, interpretation, and documentation.
- Experience with stability testing, compatibility evaluations, preservative systems, and formulation troubleshooting.
- Structured documentation capability (INCI preparation, formulation history, validation protocols, test reports).
- Ability to manage multiple technical workstreams simultaneously and adapt to evolving project priorities.
Preferred (not essential, but desired):
- Experience in cosmetic, wet wipes, lotion tissue or skincare soaps & sanitizer formulation development.
- Exposure to method transfer, external lab qualification, and advanced analytical testing workflows.
- Experience supporting raw material crisis management, alternate sourcing, or chemical equivalency assessments.
- Understanding of regulatory frameworks, allergen management, and chemicals-of-concern policies.
- Knowledge of intellectual property approaches for formulated products (patents, trade secrets).