Paula's Choice Skincare
Senior Vice President, Research & Development
Paula’s Choice is Your Right Choice!
Paula's Choice is a leading multinational skincare brand with over 29 years in the industry! Our mission is to empower people around the world with the knowledge and products they need to achieve their own definition of beauty. We're looking for passionate and talented people to join our team as we continue to revolutionize the beauty industry.
Paula’s Choice is committed to diversity. Our customers come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it makes our company stronger. We hope you agree. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for empowering people to achieve their own definition of beautiful, Paula’s Choice could be a wonderful fit for you.
*What we offer you:
- A robust benefits package including health, vision, dental, retirement and more
- Flexible spending account, Employee assistance program
- Fitness perks, meditation app membership, and more
- Product samples and discounts
- Most roles are fully remote (roles that are required to be at our Seattle HQ can be found in the details section of this job post)
- Great location – for roles that are hybrid or fully onsite, we’re in the heart of Seattle’s beautiful International District
- Did we mention we’re a dog-friendly office?
*Please note these benefits are only available to full-time Paula's Choice employees.
In addition to our core benefits outlined above, here’s some additional reasons you should consider a career at Paula's Choice:
- We're committed to innovation – we’re constantly developing new and innovative products that are based on the latest scientific research.
- We're customer centric – we believe that our customers deserve the best possible products and services.
- We’re a diverse and inclusive workplace – we value diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our business and are committed to learning along the way. We believe that our employees' unique perspectives and experiences make us a stronger company.
- We're passionate about making a difference – we believe that beauty is more than just skin deep. We're committed to using our platform to share research, education, and skin positivity.
If you're looking for a career where you can make a real difference, join Paula's Choice today! We're looking for talented and passionate individuals to help us change the world one face at a time.
How you’ll have an impact at Paula’s Choice:
Are you a visionary leader with a passion for skincare innovation and a track record of delivering groundbreaking products? Paula’s Choice Skincare is seeking a Senior Vice President (SVP) of Research & Development to drive our R&D strategy and oversee the Product Development, Packaging Development, Global Regulatory Affairs, and Research & Innovation teams.
This is a high-impact, executive role responsible for shaping the future of our product portfolio, fostering innovation, and ensuring the highest standards of product safety, quality, efficacy, sustainability, and compliance. The ideal candidate is a seasoned professional with deep technical expertise, a strategic mindset, and exceptional leadership skills to guide cross-functional teams and drive the development of transformative skincare solutions in the prestige beauty market.
If you’re ready to lead a dynamic team and make a lasting impact on the prestige skincare industry, we’d love to hear from you!
As an SVP of Research & Development, a typical day might include a mix of the following:
Strategic Leadership
- Inspire a culture of innovation and forward-thinking by setting a clear vision for R&D that pushes boundaries, embraces cutting-edge technologies, and drives the development of transformative, market-leading skincare solutions.
- Oversee and lead the Product Development, Packaging Development, Global Regulatory Affairs, and Research & Innovation teams, ensuring alignment with brand goals, compliance with global regulations, and successful product launches while driving innovation, sustainability, and efficiency.
- Define and execute the global R&D strategy, aligning with market needs, company vision, and business goals.
- Partner with the CMO and other senior executives to shape the product portfolio, 3-year NPD pipeline, and innovation roadmap.
- Collaborate with cross-functional leadership, including Marketing, Supply Chain, and Sales, to ensure seamless product development and launch processes.
- Manage the department budget and annual strategic plan.
Innovation & Formula Development
- Oversee the entire product development process from concept to launch, including stability and consumer/clinical testing.
- Drive innovation across product, packaging, and technology to establish a competitive edge in the prestige skincare market.
- Identify new product opportunities, portfolio whitespace, technology advancements, and product improvements in collaboration with Brand Marketing.
- Lead Discovery & Ideation processes, fostering a steady pipeline of forward-looking innovations and new technologies.
- Oversee blue sky development and proof-of-concept workstreams to explore breakthrough opportunities.
- Cultivate strategic partnerships with external research organizations, ingredient suppliers, and academic institutions to enhance innovation capabilities.
- Build in-house expertise to assess and develop new technologies, leveraging parent company resources (e.g., Unilever) to accelerate progress.
- Approve all formulations throughout development, including NPD and product improvement efforts.
- Collaborate with Legal to manage formula intellectual property (IP) and patents, ensuring innovation protection and regulatory alignment.
- Champion sustainability initiatives across formulations, packaging, and ingredient sourcing.
Cost Optimization
- Identify and drive cost-saving initiatives across formulations, packaging, and processes without compromising product quality or brand standards.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to align on cost-efficiency goals and ensure successful execution of savings projects.
The Details:
- Location: Seattle, WA (In-office - Downtown Seattle)
- Hours: Typical PST Business Hours, some flexibility
- Physical requirements: Ability to handle both sitting and screen time for long periods of time
- Travel requirements: ~ 25%
What you’ll bring to the table:
- Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, cosmetic science, or a related scientific field (or equivalent work experience).
- 10+ years of R&D leadership experience in a global personal care products company.
- Knowledge in dermatology and skin physiology.
- Strong technical skills in formulation, raw material knowledge, stability, and formula evaluation.
- Proven track record of launching innovative and successful products.
- Ability to evaluate and improve formulations to meet performance and stability goals.
- Experience with formula transfer, manufacturing processes, and troubleshooting stability issues.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop high-performing teams.
- Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
- Passion for skincare and a drive to create and improve effective formulations.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
What can help you really stand out:
- In-depth knowledge of skin physiology and contemporary skincare science.
- Expertise in cosmetic chemistry across various product types (e.g., emulsions, powders, anhydrous formulations).
Approximate Salary Range Based on Experience and Location:
$230,000 - $300,000 USD/annually
#LI-NG1
Paula’s Choice Skincare determines the pay for positions using local, national, and industry-specific survey data. We evaluate external and internal equity and the cost of labor/prevailing wage index in the relative marketplace for jobs directly comparable to jobs within our company. Our posted salary range is based on national data and may be refined for a candidate's region/town/cost of living.
For new hires, we strive to make competitive offers allowing the new employee room for future growth. The exact base salary is determined by various factors including experience, skills, education, geographic location, and budget. This position is also eligible for participation in the company discretionary bonus plan.
Paula’s Choice Skincare is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender identity, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other classification protected by Federal, State or Local law.
We are committed to create a workplace that is inclusive of all. Where everyone feels empowered to bring their full authentic self to work. Where embracing cultural differences, accepting others without bias, and antiracism are reflexes, not an initiative.
Please note:
At any time, with or without notice, Paula’s Choice reserves the right to add/delete/change the position’s requirements.
If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at careers@paulaschoice.com. This email is intended for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses.
We take your privacy seriously. For details please see our Privacy Notice.
Paula's Choice Skincare Seattle, Washington, USA Office
705 5th Avenue South, Suite 200, Seattle, Washington, United States, 98104
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