Associate Director, Hair, Bath and Body Formulation

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers, marketers, and sellers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products, and is a steward of luxury and prestige brands globally. The company’s products are sold in approximately 150 countries and territories under brand names including:
Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Lab Series, Origins, M
· A·C, La Mer, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Darphin Paris, TOM FORD, Smashbox, AERIN Beauty, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GLAMGLOW, KILIAN PARIS, Too Faced, Dr.Jart+, the DECIEM family of brands, including The Ordinary and NIOD, and BALMAIN Beauty.

Leads the development of new products and enhancements to existing products across projects of varying complexity. Oversees project timelines, formulation data integrity, and cross-functional alignment with Research & Innovation (R&I) and business partners to achieve key milestones. Ensures formulation development activities are completed on schedule and supports successful scale-up, production, and ongoing product maintenance. Trains, coaches, and supervise scientific professionals and may direct work across teams.

Uses scientific expertise and creativity to develop innovative products, concepts, technologies, and raw materials that support future business growth.

• Build organizational capability by coaching, mentoring, and developing scientists and laboratory technicians.
• Lead product development from concept through commercialization and provide ongoing formulation support.
• Apply scientific expertise and data-driven judgment to identify non-obvious connections across projects and technologies and anticipate technical risks.
• Set team priorities, direct work, and ensure appropriate resources are available to meet business needs, project timelines, and development calendars.
• Collaborate with external partners, including raw material suppliers, consultants, and independent testing laboratories, to advance product-development ideas and execute project responsibilities.
• Conduct performance reviews and career-development discussions with team members.
• Lead cross-functional teams in the planning and execution of special projects.
• Maintain strong working relationships across R&I, Quality Assurance, Technical Services, Manufacturing, and other teams.
• Align team activities and communicate project progress, risks, and setbacks to R&I management.
• Serve as a technical and organizational resource for colleagues at all levels.

• Maintain proficiency in established procedures and comply with all data integrity policies and initiatives.
• Partner with the process laboratory to align formulation and process requirements and support successful scale-up; coordinate timing based on resource and material availability.
• Use R&I formula-management systems and other required corporate applications effectively and accurately.
• Analyze consumer insights to identify emerging trends and technologies, and collaborate with external vendors to create novel ingredients, differentiated technologies, compelling marketing stories, and unique product performance.

• Provide ongoing support for existing products by investigating and resolving Quality Assurance and production issues.
• Design and execute studies, analyze results, and recommend next steps that balance speed, scientific rigor, and robust delivery of project objectives.
• Coach team members on best practices and effective approaches to technical problem-solving.

• Partner directly with cross-functional stakeholders, including Marketing, Creative, R&I, Claims,…