Director, Product Development Employment Type:

Full-Time On-Site 5 days Greenwich, CT Position Summary We are seeking a strategic and technically skilled Sr. Manager, Product Development to lead the creation and commercialization of innovative beauty and personal care products. This leadership role will oversee the product development lifecycle—from concept and formulation through testing, scale-up, and launch—while partnering closely with cross-functional teams and external development partners. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in complexion and color cosmetics, strong project leadership capabilities, and a passion for developing high-performing, consumer-centered products. Key Responsibilities Lead multiple product development programs from concept through commercialization, ensuring alignment with quality, timeline, budget, and performance objectives. Develop and execute product innovation roadmaps informed by consumer insights, marketplace trends, competitive activity, and brand strategy. Guide the development of complexion and color cosmetic products, including foundation, concealer, powder, primer, blush, bronzer, and setting products. Drive inclusive shade development with attention to undertones, shade matching, product performance, and wear across a broad range of skin tones. Partner with R D, packaging, quality, regulatory, marketing, sourcing, and manufacturing teams to advance products through stage-gate milestones. Manage external vendors, laboratories, contract manufacturers, and packaging partners; evaluate submissions and provide actionable technical feedback. Establish development timelines, project requirements, risk mitigation plans, and implementation priorities for new product initiatives. Coordinate formula evaluation, product benchmarking, stability testing, consumer-use testing, and approval processes. Ensure product development activities comply with applicable safety, labeling, ingredient, and environmental requirements. Monitor ingredient, formulation, packaging, and technology trends to identify opportunities for product differentiation and innovation. Support quality investigations and continuous-improvement initiatives related to product performance, manufacturing processes, and product standards. Present product concepts, development updates, recommendations, and risks to internal stakeholders and external partners. Mentor and develop team members while promoting collaboration, accountability, and operational excellence. Qualifications Strong knowledge of color cosmetics, complexion product formats, formulation principles, raw materials, and product performance testing. Demonstrated success managing complex product development and launch programs in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment. Experience assessing shade range, undertone, complexion match, visual performance, and consumer product preferences. Knowledge of cosmetic product safety, ingredient restrictions, labeling requirements, and sustainability considerations. Excellent project management, communication, organization, negotiation, and problem-solving skills. Ability to translate technical information into clear recommendations for technical and non-technical stakeholders. Strong attention to detail and a commitment to product quality, consumer experience, and continuous improvement. Comfort working independently while building alignment across internal teams and external partners. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project management tools; experience with PLM systems is preferred. Ability to travel up to 10% as business needs require. Education & Experience Bachelor's degree in Cosmetic Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Product Development, or a related field; an advanced degree is a plus. 7+ years of product development experience in beauty, personal care, color cosmetics, complexion products, or related consumer product categories. Previous leadership or people-management experience preferred. Benefits Paid time off, including vacation, company holidays, and floating holidays Medical, dental, and vision insurance 401(k) plan with company match Life insurance and disability coverage