Manager, R&D Lab

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Champaign, IL, US

University of Illinois Research Park (Urbana Champaign, IL)

The R&D Lab Manager provides hands‑on technical expertise while leading a small team of student interns and coordinating an offsite lab located at the University of Illinois Research Park. This role owns day‑to‑day lab operations and capability (equipment readiness, materials, safety, documentation, and data integrity) and supports formulation work through bench execution, sample preparation, and testing as needed. The position partners primarily with the Gurnee‑based R&D organization and collaborates as needed with Quality and Regulatory to ensure compliant, well‑documented products and testing/claims support.

This role requires strong self‑direction, clear communication, and disciplined execution across locations, with periodic onsite presence at Gurnee R&D for critical work, trials, and team collaboration.

• Manage lab operations, including scheduling, sample management, supplies, equipment readiness, and method/record control.
• Provide technical leadership on experimental design and execution; perform and/or direct bench testing and troubleshoot formulation, process, and equipment issues.
• Lead, train, and mentor student interns (and other temporary/contract support as applicable), including onboarding, defining project scopes, providing day‑to‑day technical guidance, and reviewing data quality and deliverables.
• Plan and execute projects with the Gurnee‑based R&D team, aligning priorities, timelines, and deliverables; communicate risks, tradeoffs, and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Lead performance and analytical testing programs to support competitive assessments, product optimization, compliance needs, and claim substantiation; develop and maintain internal technical metrics/scorecards as needed.
• Support formulation development through bench work, sample preparation, and testing—helping translate requirements into stable, effective formulas.
• Ensure lab safety and compliance (cGMP/GLP, ISO as applicable), including training, audits/readiness, SOP adherence, and incident prevention/corrective actions.
• Document work clearly and compliantly, including lab notebooks/records, test methods, protocols, technical reports, and regulatory/customer documentation as needed.
• Collaborate with Regulatory and external partners to support ingredient/formula compliance, registrations, claims substantiation, and required testing.

• Demonstrated experience leading and developing technical talent, including mentoring/coaching (e.g., student interns, technicians, or junior scientists) and setting clear priorities and deliverables.
• Hands‑on experience managing lab operations (equipment, supplies, calibration/maintenance coordination, sample retention, and documentation systems).
• Proven ability to collaborate cross‑functionally and communicate clearly across stakeholders, with primary partnership to Gurnee R&D and regular interaction with Quality and Regulatory.
• High attention to detail with strong project management skills (scope, timeline, budget/cost awareness, and risk management).
• BSc/MS in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related scientific discipline.
• 7+ years of hands‑on R&D experience, with demonstrated leadership responsibility (formal or informal people leadership).
• Experience with common formulation and analytical methods (e.g., viscosity, pH, density, stability, compatibility, performance testing, and basic instrumental analysis as needed).
• Nice to have:
  Consumer or specialty chemicals formulation experience (e.g., surfactant systems, solvents, acids/bases, builders, fragrances, preservatives) and familiarity with stability and performance testing; working knowledge of quality and compliance expectations (cGMP/GLP, ISO, food safety systems such as GFSI/BRC as applicable) and strong data integrity habits.

$85,000‑$103,000

• Generous paid time off
• Competitive salaries and bonus incentives
• 401K company match
• Unmatched employee discount on all products