Director, R&I Analytical Chemistry Innovation & Expertise

Director, Analytical Chemistry, Digital, Innovation & Expertise, L’Oréal Research & Innovation

Hello, we’re L’Oréal, we're not just building brands; we're shaping how the world experiences beauty (and it takes a lot of cool jobs to do it).

Intrigued? Keep reading, this might be the opportunity you've been searching for.

Who We Are

Join us at L’Oréal, the world's #1 beauty company present in over 150 markets. For over a century, we have been transforming; fueled by data, tech, innovation, and science. Together, we tackle big challenges while making sure we stay committed to making the world a more inclusive and a better place for everyone & our planet.

At L’Oréal Research & Innovation we are pushing the boundaries of Science & Tech. We invest heavily in cutting-edge research, leveraging advanced technologies to understand skin, hair, and microbiome, while discovering new active ingredients and launching outperforming formulas. Our 3,500 L'Oréal R&I experts leverage Science & Technology to invent safe, trustable, sustainable & responsible beauty products and experiences that will change people’s lives.

We are seeking a Director to join our Analytical Chemistry team in our state of the art Clark, New Jersey research facility, supporting our Analytical Innovation & Expertise Pillar. In this role, you will provide strategic leadership to ensure we provide the business with the highest quality data and insights needed to further our beauty care business. You will be responsible for management and development of the Innovation & Expertise analytical team to support the attainment of corporate goals.

A Day in the Life:

• Manage the daily functional work of a team of analytical chemists (7) with diverse expertise. Will assess team's needs, define and target specific and measurable goals for the team, and assign work in accordance with business priority and individual capability. 
• Be a creative and strategic leader with passion for innovation and show ability to build a forward-thinking outlook, remove barriers, develop people, and continuously thrive to raise the technical skills/expertise of the staff members.
• Champion innovation and leads the way to take the analytical Innovation & Expertise program to the next level. Identify innovation opportunity areas and creates a plan on how to implement, bring those to live, and promote/communicate benefits with our business partners. 
• Will shape the short & long-term strategy and technology choices for the Innovation & Expertise analytical team, with emphasis on predictive chemical stability using advanced modeling and data visualization tools. 
• Will provide guidance around trace, impurity, and degradation product analysis based on current regulatory bodies requirements. In addition, will bring a strong experimental background and skills using mass spectrometry to solve challenging technical problems and develop novel methods to support the program. 
• Lead the development and management of stability programs (including OTC and cosmetics). Creates, reviews, approves, and implement stability study protocols and timelines, including sample collection, storage conditions, and analytical testing, to support product development and go to market initiatives. 
• Serve as an SME for analytical methodologies, stability program, during internal and external audits. 
• Design and lead method development, validation, and transfer (internally and at contract research organizations) ensuring compliance with relevant ICH, GMPs, and regulatory guidelines. 
• Evaluate stability data using statistical analysis to establish product shelf-life, assess degradation pathways, assess stability trends and support product launches. 
• Experience with managing contract manufacturing organizations and familiar with vendor selection, qualification, and contracting activities. 
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including process development, formulation, manufacturing, QA, and regulatory affairs to ensure alignment of testing activities (e.g. stability, others) with overall project objectives and timelines.
• Represents the voice of the analytical department when engaged in product development activities. Provides strategic leadership in support and execution of testing strategies across brands to meet project timelines.
• Create an open & collaborative environment fostering team communication, enabling people to perform at their best. 
• Provide information to partners and upper management by preparing analyses, reports, and recommendations.
• Maintain knowledge, understanding, and adhere to safety policies, local/international regulations & practices, and company policies. 
• Drives problem-solving and provides technically sound recommendations. 
• Manage multiple priorities and work under tight deadlines.

We Are Looking For: You’re a great match for this role if you are an innovator, entrepreneur, integrator, and problem-solver with a research-minded approach, eager to contribute.

• Education: A PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific/engineering discipline is required.
• Experience: 7+ years of relevant industry experience in analytical chemistry supporting OTC and/or stability programs
• Strong experience managing stability programs from product development to launch is a must. This includes time in a GMP environment. 
• Strong knowledge on statistics, management of large data sets (e.g. chemometrics, neural networks, machine learning, Large Language Model), predictive analytics/modeling, and experience in data visualization is desired. 
• Strong regulatory knowledge around trace, impurity, and degradation product analysis and its implementation into chemical stability programs. 
• Prior experience overseeing and working with contract research organizations. 
• Strong method development, validations and implementations under regulated/non-regulated environments required. 
• Expert knowledge of quality systems, GMP compliance, ICH guidelines, compendial standards, and FDA regulations pertaining to OTC products manufacturing, method validations, stability programs and other activities.
• Strong experience managing direct reports in a laboratory setting required.
• Track record of innovation and capability building within a laboratory setting.  
• Have a strong experimental background and skills using mass spectrometry to solve challenging technical problems and develop novel methods/assays. 
• Strong experienced with LC/GC MS-based systems (QTrap LC-MS/MS, TripleTOF LC-MS/MS, GC-MSD, GC x GC-TOF, others). 
• General knowledge across multiple analytical disciplines, specifically surface science (AFM, SEM,..), mass spectrometry, and chromatography (LC & GC) is a plus.
• Visionary - Helps shape the short & long-term strategy and technology choices for the Innovation & Expertise analytical team. 
• Experience managing large projects within a complex matrixed organization. 
• Highly effective organizational planning skills and project management of multiple initiatives is required.
• Ability to act decisively and effectively deal with change.
• Ability to take calculated risks, be proactive and self-directed. 
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills ranging from conceptualization to implementation.
• Ability to motivate others and work collaboratively with cross-functional internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with an emphasis on presenting scientific data to technical and non-technical audiences
• Excellent knowledge of computer systems and software
• The ability to lift 25 lbs (11.3 kg) (required)
• The ability to be onsite, in the office/laboratory at least 4 days a week, as this is an essential function of the position (required)
• Authorization to work in the United States on a full-time, permanent, ongoing basis without the need for legal sponsorship now or in the future (required)

What’s In It For You

• A place for you to leave your comfort zone and grow beyond your potential (here, you’ll be encouraged to try new things and take risks!)
• Real responsibility from day 1, there’s no sitting on the sidelines at L’Oréal
• An environment where people of every ethnicity, social background, age, religion, gender and sexual orientation as well as people with disabilities are accepted, can speak up, will thrive and are celebrated!
• A place where you can contribute to something bigger! Many of our brands have societal /environmental causes to make concrete difference
• Base Salary Range: $126,900 - $184,000 (The actual compensation will depend on a variety of job-related factors which may include geographic location, work experience, education, and skill level) 
• Competitive Benefits Package (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Pension Plan)
• Flexible Time Off (Paid Company Holidays, Paid Vacation, Vacation Buy Program, Volunteer Time, Summer Fridays & More!)
• Access to Company Perks (VIP Access to L’Oréal’s Internal Shop for Discounted Products, Monthly Mobile Allowance)
• Learning and Development Opportunities (Unlimited Access to E-learnings, Lunch & Learn Sessions, Mentorship Programs, & More!)
• Employee Resource Groups (Think Tanks and Innovation Squads)
• Access to Mental Health & Wellness Programs

Don’t meet every single requirement? At L'Oréal, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and innovative workplace. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with the qualifications listed in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways! You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles!

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and take pride in a diverse environment. We’re committed to guaranteeing inclusive recruitment processes and advocating for hiring and promoting each candidate in an ethical and equitable way. The Group strictly prohibits discrimination against any applicant for employment because of the individual’s gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, visible and/or invisible disabilities, socio-economic and/or multicultural origins, health conditions, age, religion, or any other characteristics protected by law.