Principal Chemist - Skincare Innovation

Job Description

Job Description

Senior R&D Chemist

Location: Providence, RI

Employment Type: Full-Time

Salary: 95-110k

Join a growing team driving innovation in personal care!
We’re seeking a Senior R&D Chemist who thrives in both the lab and in leadership. This is a “Coach and Player” role for an experienced formulator who’s ready to lead new product innovation and mentor junior chemists in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Mentorship

• Serve as a mentor and technical resource to junior chemists and laboratory staff, fostering a high-performance, innovation-driven culture.
• Establish and promote best practices in formulation, documentation, and lab operations.
• Assist the VP of Innovation in prioritizing R&D resources and defining project roadmaps.
• Lead technical knowledge transfer and succession planning within the R&D function.

Formulation & Development

• Develop and optimize formulations for personal care and cleansing products, including emulsions, surfactant systems, and specialty products.
• Conduct stability testing, troubleshooting, and product optimization.
• Evaluate and qualify raw materials for performance, cost, and regulatory compliance.
• Identify and implement new ingredient technologies to enhance product performance and market differentiation.

Project Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Lead technical execution of projects from concept through pilot and full-scale production.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, and Commercial teams to ensure seamless scale-up and product launch.
• Coordinate external testing partners for analytical, clinical, and regulatory studies.
• Communicate project status, risks, and technical insights to stakeholders and leadership.

Technical Operations & Compliance

• Ensure all formulations and processes comply with applicable regulatory standards and internal quality systems.
• Maintain accurate documentation of formulations, testing, raw material specifications, and project data.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives in formulation strategy, lab operations, and process efficiency.
• Support the development of analytical procedures where appropriate.

Application Laboratory Support

• Oversee scale-up of formulations from R&D lab to Application Lab, ensuring process alignment and batching consistency.
• Provide hands-on guidance to Applications staff on mixing, batching, and base-making protocols.
• Ensure smooth technical transfer from lab scale to manufacturing scale, identifying and addressing scale-up challenges proactively.

Qualifications:

Education:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline is required.
• Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) strongly preferred.

Experience:

• 7–15 years of progressive experience in product formulation and development within the personal care, cosmetic, or oleochemical industry.

Technical Proficiency:

• Expert-level knowledge of raw materials, surfactant systems, emulsions, pH modification, and preservative systems.
• Strong familiarity with formulation development lifecycle, including stability testing, scale-up, and validation.
• Skilled in analytical techniques, lab instrumentation, and formulation databases.
• Experience working within GMP, ISO, or FDA-regulated environments.

Leadership & Communication:

• Proven ability to lead and mentor R&D professionals in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including technical documentation and executive presentation.

Project & Digital Tools:

• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, formulation software, and ERP systems such as Oracle, SAP, HubSpot, or SmartSheets.

Why Join Us?

• Work with cutting-edge personal care technology
• Make a direct impact on new product launches.
• Be part of a collaborative, innovation-first culture
• Competitive salary and benefits package

Ready to bring fresh ideas and deep formulation knowledge to the table?
Apply today and help shape the future of personal care innovation.

Company DescriptionGreenKiss Staffing Solutions, Inc. brings over 30 years of industry expertise to the forefront of nationwide recruiting. Our team of dedicated talent acquisition specialists delivers customized staffing solutions, including contract, contract-to-hire, on-site managed services, and direct professional placements. We specialize in sourcing top-tier talent for manufacturing and regulatory environments, ensuring each candidate aligns seamlessly with your organizational needs. At GreenKiss, we don’t just fill roles — we build strong, lasting partnerships by delivering the right people at the right time

Company Description

GreenKiss Staffing Solutions, Inc. brings over 30 years of industry expertise to the forefront of nationwide recruiting. Our team of dedicated talent acquisition specialists delivers customized staffing solutions, including contract, contract-to-hire, on-site managed services, and direct professional placements. We specialize in sourcing top-tier talent for manufacturing and regulatory environments, ensuring each candidate aligns seamlessly with your organizational needs. At GreenKiss, we don’t just fill roles — we build strong, lasting partnerships by delivering the right people at the right time