About the Company
The Research & Development Manager is responsible for supporting the execution of product development for both new product initiatives and portfolio maintenance efforts that accelerate growth. You will be part of the creation of OP’s rapidly growing product line and new offerings in women’s health, wellness and more.
About the Role
The ideal candidate is an individual with a strong scientific research background, a high level of organization among competing priorities, and a natural curiosity with a willingness to learn. The Research & Development Manager will report to the VP of Research & Development and will work cross functionally with internal and external stakeholders to support innovation and execution of product road map.
Responsibilities
- Bring innovative and differentiated products from concept to market that support our core customers’ health goals and align with commitments / standards
- Conduct ingredient research / literature reviews; identify novel ingredients and formats to explore / evaluate for product feasibility
- Stay up to date to new trends in ingredients (vitamins, minerals, herbs, etc.) relevant to OP’s product roadmap and concept designs
- Substantiate claims by composing comprehensive summaries of clinical research that support product claims
- Manage project coordination in tracking, expediting, and facilitating the progress of each product’s development through the product’s launch date
- Assist with the artwork development process to proof and ensure proper routing and compliance to regulatory requirements
- Provide scientific support on marketing campaigns, landing pages, and other customer-facing literature
- Provide feedback on samples submissions and ensure formulations meet OP’s specifications, are efficacious and fall within budget requirements
- Support the reformulation of existing products to ensure products continue to be differentiated and meet marketing and customer expectations
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience in Science (e.g. Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, etc.), Food Science, Pharmaceutical Science or related field
- 4-8+ years of experience working in product development, R&D, and/or regulatory affairs within the functional foods, supplements, or skincare industry
Required Skills
- Exceptional expertise in technical research including ingredient pathology, project management, and vendor relationship management
- Strong leadership & communication skills: listen, mentor, and teach by example
- Thrives in fast-paced environments
- Strong project management and prioritization skills
- Ability to manage multiple moving pieces and lead different groups of individuals
- Adaptable to new technology and innovations
- Thoughtful and self-reflective, willingness to learn and adapt
- Team-player, hard-working, organized, and goal-oriented
- Excitement for startups and building from the ground up