R&D Manager (Chemist - Korean Bilingual)

[Position]
R&D Manager

[About Our Client]
*****

[Job Summary]
The R&D Manager will lead end-to-end formulation and product development for new launches, ensuring high-quality, safe, and innovative products aligned with market trends and regulatory standards. This role requires deep technical expertise, strong project management skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams?including Quality, Production, Compliance, and Marketing. The ideal candidate will be a bilingual (Korean/English) professional with significant experience in formulation, regulatory documentation, and scale-up support for manufacturing.

[Job Description]
1. New Product Development & Formulation
- Lead concept-to-launch formulation projects, overseeing ingredient selection, prototype creation, and stability/compatibility testing.
- Conduct raw material evaluations; secure and analyze technical documentation such as INCI lists, COA, MSDS, and allergen statements.
- Source and assess new ingredients, share material trends, and benchmark competing products.
- Provide samples for internal evaluation and incorporate sensory feedback into formula optimization.
- Participate in product concept discussions and planning meetings with Marketing and Product teams.

2. Regulatory, Quality, and Compliance Collaboration
- Prepare technical documentation required for FDA submissions and global certifications.
- Ensure all formulations and procedures adhere to domestic and international regulations.
- Establish standard testing methods and define quality specifications for new products.
- Conduct safety assessments for raw materials and finished goods in collaboration with QA and Compliance.
- Maintain thorough documentation, batch records, and development history in alignment with GMP and SOP requirements.

3. Cross-Functional Collaboration with Production
- Evaluate scale-up feasibility of formulations for pilot and mass production.
- Support pilot batch executions, manufacturing trials, and troubleshooting during production runs.
- Assist in optimizing and standardizing processing conditions to ensure product consistency.
- Verify compatibility between formulations, equipment, and packaging materials.
- Conduct technical reviews for new equipment introduction and collaborate on production logs and technical documentation.

[Qualifications]
- Bachelor's degree or higher in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Cosmetic Science, or a related field.
8?10 years of experience in R&D formulation, preferably within cosmetics, personal care, or related consumer goods industries.
- Proven experience leading new product development projects from concept to commercialization.
- Strong understanding of raw materials, stability testing, quality standards, and regulatory requirements (FDA, GMP, global cosmetic regulations).
- Experience supporting scale-up, pilot batches, and manufacturing process optimization.
- Excellent project management skills with the ability to handle multiple concurrent projects.
- Strong cross-functional communication skills and experience collaborating with QA, Production, Compliance, and Marketing.
- Bilingual fluency in Korean and English required.
- High attention to detail, strong analytical mindset, and ability to interpret technical documentation.
- Familiarity with documentation management, SOP development, and regulatory submissions.

[What's On Offer]
- Salary DOE
- Health insurance, PTO, 401k 5% matching, Bonus