Senior Scientist Product Formulation
Research & Development
The R&D teams at Mary Kay are passionate about science. They continuously research products that allow our consultants to offer their end-users an experience of unsurpassed quality and unrivaled benefit. The products we develop must make people feel confident about themselves and their choice of Mary Kay. Our research teams travel internationally, finding new ideas and presenting Mary Kay science on a worldwide stage. Our innovative teams include roles in product safety, product formulation, skin and clinical research, nutritionals, regulatory affairs, quality and other disciplines.
Job Summary:
Under general guidance, responsible for creating unique skin and color cosmetic formulations that deliver on specific benefits and market-driven needs. Leverage knowledge of the scientific principles of formulation, ingredient chemistry, and industry trends to conduct all facets of product development. Ability to independently conduct development work requiring a thorough knowledge of cosmetic formulation, application of advanced technical knowledge and demonstrated successful stability. Works with agility in an increasingly ambiguous environment to execute formula development from design through scaleup for multiple formulation projects. Serves as a technical leader in formula development for new product development and uses critical thinking to resolve development issues. Demonstrated agility to flow to the work and ability to manage multiple projects with limited supervision. Partner across the organization to lead new formula development from the bench to finished goods with general supervision.
About the Role:
• Advanced understanding/application of principles of formulation chemistry, with growing expertise in skin care and/or color cosmetic formula design. Consistently applies formulation knowledge and experience to anticipate potential issues and to propose solutions to observed/anticipated problems. Independently creates formulations and innovates against chassis and ingredient simplification. Expected to provide recommendations/ resolve problems of increasing complexity & difficulty in direct project work
• Proactively investigates and resolves formula issues through scale-up and line trials. Provides recommendations/resolve problems of increasing complexity & difficulty in project work. Understand trends and key drivers that may result in out of Spec products and lead steps to facilitate changes. Independently recognizes formula instability issues and understand roles/responsibilities for resolution. Collaborates with cross-functional departments to ensure successful commercialization. Function as a point contact for specific formulas to identify, document and resolve issues. Delivers against multiple project priorities, analyze and interpret information from a variety of sources to meet project deliverables.
• Proactively seeks consultation when new technical issues arise to ensure quality of work. Use of critical thinking skills to assess project risks outside of functional areas and potential impact in execution of work deliverables. Analyze project circumstances and data, develop a point of view, communicate/articulate recommended course of action. Apply critical thinking skills in analyzing formula stability, creating bulk specifications, and providing recommendations against project needs. Collaborates across R&D to accomplish projects & initiative objectives
• Independently innovates against chassis formula design and ingredient simplification. Analyze competitive formulations and evaluate new raw material technology to leverage chassis design. Routinely reviews and evaluates current competitive patent environment. Begins to develop unique Intellectual property for patent and create Invention Disclosure Documents (IDDs).
• Full proficiency in technical writing and communication, including oral presentations and deliver technical communications on project timelines. Skilled in summarizing work/key concepts for decision making. Skilled in business communication throughout the organization. Proactively, communicates project results effectively with peers and management, and begins to serve as an internal resource for staff.
• This job requires on-site work at a Mary Kay facility.
Skills & Experience:
Education: Master’s or Doctorate Degree in Chemistry
Experience: 7+ years Cosmetic industry and/or equivalent formulation experience
Additional Skills & Abilities
• Demonstrated experience in formulating skin care and color cosmetic products and knowledge of emerging product and technology trends in the cosmetic industry
• Demonstrated critical thinking skills to enable experimental design and data analysis that informs technical and business relevant recommendations
• Understanding of the scientific principles of formulation, ingredient chemistry, physical chemistry, and polymer and interface science.
• Must be able to provide solutions to a wide range of formulation challenges which may require the use of ingenuity and creativity.
• Strong communication and presentation skills. Demonstrated written technical and business communication. Ability to summarize technical information for communication with technical and non-technical personnel.
• Able to independently execute multiple projects in an environment of uncertainty and changing demands.
• Ability to work effectively with internal and external colleagues and customers, and across functional boundaries.
Company Overview
Looking for a career where you can make a difference?
At Mary Kay we are committed to enriching the lives of women and their families around the world, we offer careers with unlimited opportunities to do something beautiful every day. More than 5,000 employees work in locations around the world. They provide the products, marketing and other support to millions of Independent Beauty Consultants (IBCs) who work as independent contractors, selling our products directly to consumers in nearly 40 markets on five continents.
We are a company that believes in our people and cares for them with truly exceptional benefits. We offer:
• A comprehensive health plan which includes medical, dental, and vision with low premiums
• 401(k) plan
• A generous profit-sharing program
• Free access to on-site fitness center and on-site clinic
