We are actively seeking a highly innovative and strategic Senior Executive / Assistant Manager - Research and Development to join our client's team through Acme Services. This pivotal role is responsible for driving the full R&D process for a wide range of personal care and cosmetics categories, from concept to launch. The ideal candidate will possess strong project management skills, a keen eye for market trends, and the ability to collaborate cross-functionally to deliver exciting, high-quality products that meet both market demand and cost targets.
Key Responsibilities
- Product Innovation & Development: Lead the development of innovative and exciting products across a wide range of personal care and cosmetics categories based on innovative concepts, market trends, and customer requirements.
- End-to-End R&D Process Management: Take overall responsibility for managing the full R&D process for all cosmetics and personal care categories, ensuring timely delivery and high quality in the end product. Initiate and manage the NPD (New Product Development) / R&D process from start to finish, holding overall responsibility and accountability.
- Market Research & Trend Analysis: Conduct thorough market research and analysis to identify trends and the most current fashions (cosmetics). This includes identifying trends in packaging, fashion, colors, and new product formats. Provide regular competitor analysis and reports from the internet to identify emerging trends/ideas.
- Cross-functional Collaboration:
- Liaise with Brand teams to improve knowledge of different markets and feed these insights into the NPD process.
- Link up with R&D, Purchase, and Sales teams to ensure relevant insights are integrated into the R&D process, from concept to production readiness.
- Work with relevant departments to match product briefs to costing targets.
- Project Management & Accountability: Must have very strong project management skills. Hold relevant departments accountable for the delivery of inputs to ensure on-time delivery of projects. Will be responsible for overall project management.
- Concept & Brief Development: Develop concept briefs based on market insights and customer requirements.
- Product Portfolio & Pipeline Management: Deal with a large number of categories and a very rapid new product pipeline, managing multiple projects concurrently.
- Process Improvement: Build and improve internal processes and systems to make the R&D process effective and efficient.
- Range Assessment & Gap Analysis: Assess all current own label ranges to identify product gaps and areas for improvement.
Skills
- Proven ability to develop innovative products in personal care and cosmetics.
- Experience in managing the full R&D process end-to-end.
- Strong skills in market research and trend analysis (packaging, fashion, colors, formats).
- Ability to conduct competitor analysis and generate reports.
- Excellent collaboration skills for linking with Brand, R&D, Purchase, and Sales teams.
- Very strong project management skills.
- Proficiency in holding departments accountable for delivery.
- Experience in developing concept briefs based on insights.
- Ability to manage a large number of categories and a rapid new product pipeline.
- Competence in matching product briefs to costing targets.
- Skills in building and improving internal R&D processes and systems.
- Aptitude for assessing current ranges to identify product gaps and areas for improvement.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant scientific or technical field (e.g., Chemistry, Cosmetics Science, Pharmacy, etc.).
- Proven experience in R&D within the personal care or cosmetics industry.
- Demonstrable track record of successful product launches.
