Manager Research & Development

Job Location

Smyrna, TN 37167

The R&D Manager is responsible for managing personnel and projects that grow and maintain the business. This requires developing new personal care product formulas, reformulating and improving the existing product portfolio, and evaluating optimization of materials, formulas, and processes. The position manages projects and specialists assigned to those projects. The R&D Manager works with multiple departments:
Marketing, Sales, Regulatory Affairs, Legal, Analytical Services, Cost Accounting, Purchasing, Engineering, and Production Planning. The role requires a team member who works across multiple teams in a fast‑paced, high‑volume environment to accomplish goals and objectives.

• Exhibit team player qualities of cooperation and coordination; professional interaction in all business contacts, all day, every day.
• Present for work when scheduled is a mandatory function. Work hours may extend past normal business hours based on workload.
• Compliance and enforcement of all company safety rules, procedures and guidelines is essential. Reporting safety issues is mandatory.
• Manage projects and personnel to develop/reformulate/optimize robust, quality formulas to meet all specifications and requirements as indicated by a New Product Profile through bench experimentation.
• Work with Regulatory Affairs, Legal, Marketing/Sales and Project Management to establish product/project profiles, specifications, timelines, and claims/testing requirements.
• Manage projects to meet agreed upon specifications and timelines.
• Assist chemists with formulation difficulties/issues to ensure completion on time and to meet quality standards.
• Optimize formulations to meet minimal cost and process objectives.
• Manage raw material requirements and obsolescence by engaging relative departments for the project (Regulatory, Purchasing, Quality, Project Management).
• Prepare product/project communication timelines and reviews—including analytical, technical and financial data—for guidance and support to other departments and customers.
• Create, review, and approve technical documents to support product development (Ingredient Statements, Formula Cards, Cost Formulas, Raw Material Supplement Forms, Waivers, etc.).
• Train personnel to execute project commitments and pursue contingency plans within compliance and enforcement of company policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of product categories to communicate effectively the requirements, specifications, and regulations needed for product integrity, quality, and safety.
• Monitor brand products for changes that might prompt new products, reformulations, or optimizations.
• Interact with suppliers, contract facilities, customers, and governing agencies to achieve robust, quality, cost‑effective products.
• Investigate and implement appropriate corrective actions to customer formula complaints.
• Write and deliver technical presentations and/or demonstrations for internal and external factions, to train and illustrate the benefits and mechanisms of technologies built into products.
• Submit, manage, and/or assist other departments with detailed product information to third‑party certification programs (e.g., USDA, Safer Choice, Green Seal, Ecologo, NSF, ADA, TTB, etc.).
• Prepare research proposals including analytical, technical, and financial data for developing and testing new or improved products, internally and with external labs, suppliers, and customers.
• Evaluate and review multiple forms of data from internal experiments and reports, as well as third‑party reports, to manage and regulate products and their technologies.

R&D Specialists (Senior Chemists, Chemists and Technicians).

A Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry or related science; eight years of related experience and/or training or a combination of 15 years education and related experience.

• 8+ years formulating experience in personal care or related field.
• Experience with MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint reporting tools and all Microsoft applications.
• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and…