The Future of Beauty Is Here. And It's Thrilling. We're looking for innovative thinkers and rebellious spirits to join our team.

The Senior Manager of R&D is a key member of the Kosas team and Product Development process, responsible for supporting the design, optimization, and execution of clean cosmetic formulations with a focus on stability, efficacy, manufacturability, and scalability. This role partners closely with Product Development, Marketing, Quality, Regulatory, and external formulation and manufacturing partners to ensure formulas are developed, tested, and produced efficiently and responsibly.

The ideal candidate requires deep technical rigor paired with cultural and wellness fluency- someone who can translate emerging ingredient trends into scientifically credible, high-performance formulas and product stories.

This person builds, stress-tests, and fortifies formulas while keeping the brand ahead of culture, not chasing it.

How You’ll Contribute

Raw Material, Ingredient Research & Trend Awareness

• Identify, evaluate, and qualify raw materials aligned with clean formulation standards, brand principles, and performance requirements
• Maintain active relationships with raw material suppliers and stay current on ingredient innovations and availability
• Track and assess emerging wellness, beauty, and culturally relevant ingredient trends, translating relevant opportunities into formulation or product concept inputs
• Evaluate ingredients for functionality, compatibility, efficacy potential, supply reliability, cost considerations, and formulation risk
• Organize, maintain, and update the internal raw material and ingredient library, including documentation, learnings, and limitations
• Inform ingredient selection for new product development across color and skincare

Formulation Development, Optimization & Troubleshooting

• Support the development and refinement of formulations to improve performance, sensorials, stability, robustness, and manufacturability
• Design, test, and iterate clean preservative systems and antimicrobial strategies
• Execute formulation updates and substitutions driven by performance needs, supply changes, cost pressures, or regulatory feedback
• Troubleshoot formulation challenges including instability, separation, odor, texture changes, color drift, and incompatibilities
• Review formulation, stability, and claims-related data to identify potential risks, improvement opportunities, and recommended next steps
• Proactively flag formulation concerns and escalate issues with supporting data and proposed mitigation plans
• Partner with internal and external formulators to support efficient iteration and problem-solving

Stability, Claims, Clinical & Safety Testing

• Coordinate and manage stability testing programs across lab, pilot, and production phases (accelerated, real-time, freeze/thaw, compatibility, transport, light exposure)
• Initiate, track, and support claims substantiation and clinical testing including human safety, microbiological, efficacy, and consumer perception studies
• Gather quotes, samples, schedules, and testing protocols; consolidate and summarize results for internal review
• Support interpretation of testing results and escalate risks or concerns in partnership with Product Development, Quality, and Regulatory
• Maintain organized documentation of testing protocols, reports, and outcomes to support internal review and decision-making

Regulatory & Quality Coordination

• Partner closely with the Regulatory team to support ingredient listing review, safety assessments, and global market considerations (US, CAN, EU, Asia)
• Ensure formulation development aligns with applicable regulatory guidance, quality standards, and testing requirements
• Collaborate with Quality on microbiological testing standards, post-production evaluations, and performance investigations
• Support audit readiness through accurate documentation and adherence to internal SOPs and quality systems
• Maintain awareness of global testing standards, including sunscreen and drug-adjacent stability requirements where applicable

Line Trials, Pilot Runs & Manufacturing Support

• Support and participate in pilot batches, scale-up trials, and manufacturing line runs
• Partner with Contract Manufacturers to ensure formulas translate effectively from lab to production
• Identify and communicate risks related to processing parameters, raw material variability, and batch performance
• Provide technical support during first production runs and early post-launch troubleshooting
• Collaborate with Quality on post-production performance reviews and continuous improvement efforts

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Planning

• Work closely with Product Development, Marketing, Packaging, Quality, Regulatory, Supply Chain, and external partners to support project timelines
• Manage execution of development activities with limited supervision while escalating risks appropriately
• Translate technical findings into clear summaries and recommendations for cross-functional partners
• Support innovation briefs with ingredient and formulation inputs grounded in feasibility and performance
• Contribute to continuous improvement of development processes and best practices

Documentation & Knowledge Management

• Maintain accurate formulation records, specifications, test documentation, and change logs
• Write and contribute to technical reports and internal summaries
• Support development of standards and specifications for new raw materials and products
• Ensure technical knowledge is captured and accessible across projects and development phases

Who You Are

• Proven ability to design and execute creative/exploratory formulation projects
• Genuine curiosity and credibility in wellness, longevity, and ingredient culture
• Ability to distinguish scientifically meaningful trends from short-lived hype
• Member of SCC

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Pharmacy, Cosmetic Science, or a related discipline
• 7-12 years of experience in a cosmetic lab setting
• 3+ years of experience in product development
• Working knowledge of cosmetic ingredients, formulation principles, and stability requirements
• Ability to follow SOPs, regulatory guidelines, and quality systems
• Experience meeting with raw material suppliers
• Core knowledge of manufacturing processes and scalability

What We Offer:

• Company-paid medical benefits
• Flexible spending account options
• 401k with company match
• Flexible paid vacation
• 40% off Kosas products

The range of base salary for this full-time position is between $125,000 - $155,000 per year. Please note that the base salary range is a guideline, and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as experience, skillset, education, and work location.

Kosas is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type with regards to race, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.