Director, Analytical Stability & Innovation, L'Oréal Research & Innovation

Director, Analytical Stability & Innovation, Research & Innovation - Clark, New Jersey

Life is too short for a boring career, so build an extraordinary one with us. We believe your career should spark the same thrill and curiosity as your personal interests. Creativity drives everything we do, turning ideas into meaningful impact. With opportunities across brands, markets, and divisions, your growth knows no boundaries.

Join us at L’Oréal, the world's #1 beauty company present in over 150 markets. For over a century, we have been transforming; fueled by data, tech, innovation, and science. Together, we tackle big challenges while making sure we stay committed to making the world a more inclusive and a better place for everyone & our planet.

At L’Oréal Research & Innovation we are pushing the boundaries of Science & Tech. We invest heavily in cutting-edge research, leveraging advanced technologies to understand skin, hair, and microbiome, while discovering new active ingredients and launching outperforming formulas. Our 3,500 L'Oréal R&I experts leverage Science & Technology to invent safe, trustable, sustainable & responsible beauty products and experiences that will change people’s lives.

We are seeking a Director to join our Analytical Chemistry team in our state-of-the-art Clark, New Jersey research facility, leading our end-to-end R&I stability programs and managing the Analytical Innovation & Expertise team. In this role, you will provide strategic operational and scientific leadership to ensure robust stability, regulatory compliance, and data-driven insights for our OTC and beauty care portfolios, while continuing to champion analytical capability building and innovation.

You will be responsible for the management, development, and technical upskilling of the team.

• Lead End-to-End Stability Programs: Create, review, approve, and oversee comprehensive stability study protocols and timelines (covering OTC and cosmetics) including sample collection, storage conditions, and analytical testing to support product development and go-to-market initiatives.
• Drive Digital & Predictive Analytical Transformation: Shape the strategy for predictive chemical stability using advanced modeling, data visualization, statistical tools, and kinetic modeling to forecast shelf-life and degradation pathways across the product lifecycle.
• Regulatory & Audit SME: Serve as the primary subject matter expert for analytical methodologies, stability programs, and compliance during internal and external audits. Ensure strict adherence to FDA, Health Canada, GMP, GLP, and ICH guidelines.
• Team Leadership & Upskilling: Manage the daily functional work of the analytical Innovation & Expertise team (7 direct reports with diverse expertise, including trace and surface science), mentoring and upskilling the team in new digital and analytical techniques.
• Cross-Functional & Métier Partnership: Partner closely with key métiers, process development, formulation, manufacturing, QA, and regulatory affairs teams to manage testing expectations, resolve project bottlenecks, and align analytical strategies with business priorities.
• Strategic Leadership: Be a creative and strategic leader with passion for innovation and show ability to build a forward-thinking outlook, remove barriers, develop people, and continuously thrive to raise the technical skills/expertise of the staff members.
• CRO Management: Oversee external contract research organizations and contract manufacturing partners regarding vendor selection, qualification, and analytical contracting.
• Capability Development: Guide assay, trace, impurity, and degradation product analysis, ensuring robust method development, validation, and transfer…