Our client, a leading and rapidly growing beauty manufacturing company, is seeking an experienced and innovative R&D Formulation Manager to join its research and development team. This is an exciting opportunity for a formulation expert who is passionate about creating breakthrough personal care products, leading innovation initiatives, and driving product development from concept to commercialisation. Select Headhunter is delighted to partner with our client in identifying an exceptional R&D leader for this strategic position.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the research, development, and innovation of personal care formulations from concept through commercial production, creating original formulations that respond to market trends, consumer insights, and emerging ingredients.
Manage the end-to-end product development process, including laboratory formulation, stability testing, pilot trials, scale-up, and manufacturing transfer while ensuring product quality, safety, and regulatory compliance.
Build, lead, and develop the local R&D team by establishing technical direction, strengthening team capabilities, managing project timelines, and driving a culture of continuous innovation.
Collaborate closely with Marketing, Production, Procurement, QA/QC, and other cross-functional teams to ensure new product development aligns with business objectives, manufacturing capabilities, and customer expectations.
Ensure all formulations comply with BPOM Indonesia and relevant international cosmetic regulations while maintaining complete technical documentation, formulation records, and research data.
Evaluate and introduce new raw materials, active ingredients, and formulation technologies by leveraging supplier networks across Asia, particularly China, to strengthen the company's innovation pipeline across skincare, haircare, and body care categories.
Job Requirements
Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline. A Master's degree will be an advantage.
Minimum 7–10 years of experience in personal care formulation, with proven success in developing original formulations from scratch rather than incremental product improvements.
Demonstrated experience leading an R&D or Formulation team within the cosmetics or personal care manufacturing industry, with strong project management and people leadership capabilities.
Deep technical expertise in emulsion systems, surfactant chemistry, active ingredient technologies, formulation stability, scale-up processes, and commercial manufacturing.
Strong understanding of cosmetic regulations, including NMPA/CFDA, international cosmetic standards, and preferably BPOM Indonesia, with familiarity in Asian raw material sourcing, particularly China.
Able to work effectively in a multicultural environment and relocate to Indonesia if required. Chinese nationality is preferred, while proficiency in English or Bahasa Indonesia is not mandatory.
If you are a passionate formulation expert who enjoys transforming innovative ideas into commercially successful products, we would love to hear from you. This is an excellent opportunity to lead product innovation, influence the future direction of a growing beauty manufacturer, and work alongside a dynamic team committed to excellence.