Head of R&D -Skincare & Beauty

Job Purpose

Lead the R&D function across NPD, Science & Innovation, and Compliance & Regulatory. The role sets functional strategy, priorities and technical governance to deliver safe, stable, effective, compliant and commercially viable cosmetic products. It is accountable for product development, scale-up and transfer to commercial manufacturing; oversees product registration, regulatory intelligence, Halal and COSMOS compliance and audit coordination; and ensures appropriate claims substantiation, product-safety input, complaint support and post-market technical review.

Key Responsibilities

1. Product formulation, innovation and portfolio delivery

· Set product-development priorities and ensure the NPD team develops and modifies formulations in line with approved briefs, brand positioning, consumer needs, cost targets and applicable market requirements.

· Govern the R&D pipeline from brief and feasibility through prototypes, testing, approval, scale-up and launch using defined stage gates, clear ownership and documented decisions.

· Ensure formulation decisions apply sound scientific principles covering ingredients, preservation, compatibility, processing, sensory performance and foreseeable product risks.

· Approve reformulation, value-engineering and product-improvement priorities, ensuring changes do not compromise safety, quality, performance or registration status.

1. Regulatory affairs, product registration, Halal and COSMOS compliance

· Ensure the Compliance & Regulatory monitors and interprets cosmetic regulations in the UAE, KSA and other target markets and translates changes into clear business actions.

· Oversee regulatory and scientific assessment of formulas, ingredients, labels, artwork and claims before launch or change implementation.

· Oversee product registrations, renewals, variations, authority queries and market-by-market compliance tracking. Ensure effective Halal and COSMOS compliance and audit coordination, including formula and ingredient eligibility, certification documentation, renewals, audit evidence and action closure in collaboration with QA/QC.

· Ensure the responsible teams maintain current regulatory files and support product claims with appropriate scientific, stability, safety or performance evidence throughout the product lifecycle.

1. Product safety, stability and technical substantiation

· Ensure appropriate stability, packaging-compatibility, challenge/microbiological and safety or efficacy testing plans are defined and aligned with QA/QC based on product and market risk.

· Ensure results and adverse trends are reviewed by the appropriate technical owners and approve R&D recommendations on shelf life, storage conditions and specifications before formal QA/QC assessment.

· Ensure development reports, technical rationales, testing protocols and evidence supporting product safety and claims are complete, current and traceable.

1. Raw material, packaging and technical qualification

· Ensure technical and functional requirements for new or changed ingredients and packaging are defined and assessed for formulation suitability, compatibility, sustainability and regulatory status.

· Oversee R&D collaboration with QA/QC and Procurement on supplier and material qualification; R&D remains accountable for fitness for formulation use while QA/QC owns quality approval and control.

· Ensure approved technical specifications are maintained and changes are processed through formal change control before implementation.

1. Scale-up, process design and manufacturing support

· Ensure the NPD team plans and supports pilot and commercial trials and converts laboratory formulas into robust, repeatable manufacturing processes.

· Approve manufacturing instructions, critical process parameters and technical acceptance criteria, and ensure formal handover to Production and QA/QC is completed.

· Provide governance and escalation support for significant formulation and process issues while preserving QA/QC independence over batch disposition and release.

1. Technical documentation, IP and external projects

· Ensure effective control of master formulas, specifications, development history, raw-material data, samples, test reports and product information files.

· Remain accountable for protecting formulation know-how, confidential information and assigned intellectual property, including technical packages for contract-manufacturing clients.

· Oversee technical governance of external laboratories, consultants, contract clients and development partners, ensuring agreed briefs, samples, changes and deliverables are controlled.

1. Complaints and post-market technical support

· Ensure complaints and quality events receive timely assessment for formulation, ingredient, safety, claims or regulatory implications and that clear technical conclusions are provided.

· Ensure the appropriate R&D owners support QA/QC-led investigations, trend review and CAPA with relevant technical evidence, with immediate escalation of potential consumer-safety or regulatory risks.

· Ensure appropriate product-risk and regulatory input is provided for recall or market-withdrawal assessments when required.

1. Functional, project and laboratory leadership

· Oversee the portfolio of NPD, reformulation and contract-manufacturing projects against timeline, scope, cost, MOQ, capacity and margin expectations.

· Ensure the R&D laboratory operates with effective controls for safe chemical handling, samples and retains, equipment fitness, housekeeping, consumables and external testing.

· Lead the NPD, Compliance & Regulatory, and Science & Innovation functions; set clear objectives and priorities, hold team leaders accountable for delivery, coach and develop technical talent, strengthen scientific and regulatory capabilities, and build succession and career-development pathways across the function.

· Collaborate closely with Marketing, QA/QC, Production, Procurement, Packaging and Supply Chain while communicating technical trade-offs and risks clearly.

Qualifications and Experience

· Bachelor’s degree in Cosmetic Science, Chemistry, Pharmacy or a closely related discipline; postgraduate qualification is advantageous.

· Typically 8–12 years of relevant cosmetic or personal-care R&D experience, including hands-on formulation, scale-up and regulatory exposure, with demonstrated experience leading a multidisciplinary R&D and regulatory compliance function.

· Demonstrated experience with stability, compatibility, microbiological/challenge testing, technical dossiers, claims support and product registration in the UAE and/or KSA. Experience coordinating Halal and/or COSMOS compliance, certification or audits is strongly preferred.

· Strong project management, scientific writing, data interpretation, stakeholder management and commercial judgment.