Senior Development Chemist

DCL is a 30-year-old company in East Haven CT that pioneered the use of AHA’s and other potent and effective ingredients in the beauty business and was the first dermo-cosmetics manufacturer. DCL was acquired two years ago by small team of successful personal care and beauty enthusiasts. The team is looking for a senior formulation chemist to help lead the R&D function, “wear many hats”, and be an integral part of the leadership team of a growing business. You will report in to an experienced Director but interface with all the senior leadership and accounts daily. You help develop new and interesting formulations and be customer-facing with 3rd party brand executives thinking about innovative segments. This is an exciting leadership role where the successful candidate will have an opportunity to be exposed and have an impact on every part of the building the business. Help lead the formulation process for personal care products, including skin and hair care, and Over-the-Counter (OTC) products, guiding them from the initial development phase through to product launch. Serve as the in-house formulation scientist and expert, providing insights and guidance on all new development projects and reformulations in the realm of topical and personal care products. Scale successful formulations and facilitate the seamless transition of new formulations to our production facility. Collaborate as an integral part of cross-functional teams, ensuring project activities are prioritized effectively to meet projected launch deadlines. Maintain close interaction with our production facility to troubleshoot and ensure the streamlined production of formulated products. Engage with customers, assuming the role of a subject matter expert in the field of formulation science, thereby enhancing customer relations. Foster close partnerships with raw material vendors, actively identifying emerging ingredient technologies and untapped areas for innovation and co-development. Develop and build a small team of bench chemists to the point where they can independently work on customer projects and understand all the customer tradeoffs and communication parameters. Manage relationships with contract research organizations, external laboratories, and partners to conduct comprehensive testing of personal care products, encompassing safety, performance, and efficacy evaluations. Requirements: A Bachelor's and/or Master’s degree in Cosmetic Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline. A minimum of 5 years of pertinent industry experience, involving a track record of formulating cosmetic personal care products as a formulation scientist. Additional experience in formulating OTC personal care products is considered advantageous. Proficient understanding of the prevailing and evolving U.S. cosmetic regulatory landscape. Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, demonstrating the ability to forge and sustain effective relationships, building a high level of trust across multiple functional areas and with external customers. Strong organizational aptitude, underpinned by meticulous attention to detail and the capacity to complete tasks punctually with a high level of precision. Demonstrated initiative and capability to contribute effectively as a valued team member, whether as part of a high-level team collaboration or while working independently.

Created: 2025-10-05