Job Description

Cohere Beauty CDMO is a leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization specializing in the creation of innovative skincare and cosmetic products. With established relationships in the industry and a commitment to excellence, we offer comprehensive services from formulation to production. Our team is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of skincare science and delivering high-quality products to our clients.

Job Summary


Cohere Beauty is seeking an experienced R&D Manager to lead our Phoenix R&D team. This position requires a hands-on, agile leader with broad experience in cosmetic formulation and team management across multiple product categories. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment, balancing technical excellence with strong organizational and leadership skills. This role will also support the Innovation department as needed, ensuring seamless alignment between formulation development and customer-facing initiatives

This is what you will do:

Leadership & Team Development

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 4-6 formulation chemists, fostering collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning. Promote a culture of agility and adaptability to meet changing customer and business priorities.

Product Development & Technical Execution

Oversee the formulation and development of products across multiple categories, including hair, skin, body, and specialty care. Guide chemists in formulation design, troubleshooting, and optimization to meet performance, cost, and manufacturing requirements. Ensure formulation reproducibility, stability, and compliance with internal quality standards.

Project Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration

Manage multiple projects concurrently, ensuring timely completion and technical accuracy. Partner closely with Regulatory, Operations, Sourcing, Quality, and Commercial teams to align project goals and deliverables. Collaborate with the Innovation department to support sample batching, technical point of view documentation, and customer presentations, as needed. Work with the Director of Innovation to track, analyze, and report KPIs for weekly, monthly, and quarterly business reviews.

Customer Engagement

Collaborate directly with customers to understand project needs, provide technical insights, and present formulation options. Offer clear and confident communication in both written and verbal formats to support customer success.

Scale-Up & Manufacturing Support

Partner with Manufacturing and Process Engineering to successfully scale formulations from lab to production. Support process validations, pilot batches, and troubleshooting to ensure consistency and quality.

Documentation & Compliance

Maintain complete and accurate records of formulations, testing, and revisions in internal systems. Ensure site stability programs are current and properly maintained, collaborating with the R&D Commercialization Manager to coordinate stability, PET, and micro testing, review results, and communicate findings to relevant stakeholders. Ensure adherence to applicable regulatory, safety, and documentation standards. Adaptability & Continuous Improvement Stay current on ingredient technologies, formulation techniques, and industry regulations. Drive process efficiency and standardization within the R&D function. Support ad hoc initiatives and cross-functional projects as assigned.

Other Duties

Perform other duties or special projects assigned to support R&D and the Innovation department in achieving company goals and customer satisfaction.

This is what you will need:

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Cosmetic Science, or related field. Minimum of 10 years of formulation experience in the cosmetics or personal care industry, ideally within a CDMO or manufacturing environment (DOE). Minimum of 2-3 years of direct management experience leading technical teams (DOE). Proven success developing formulations from concept through commercialization. Strong technical foundation in emulsions, surfactants, actives, and preservation systems. Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities with an agile, solution-driven mindset. Exceptional communication and collaboration skills across technical and commercial functions. Highly organized with strong prioritization and project management capabilities. Commitment to quality, compliance, and operational excellence. Familiarity with cosmetic regulatory requirements (FDA, MOCRA, EU, etc.). Experience with cost optimization and raw material substitution strategies. Exposure to multiple product categories or formulation types (ex: hair, body, skin

This position offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects in a dynamic environment. If you possess the required skills and are looking to make a significant impact in the field of beauty, we encourage you to apply.