Product Development Chemist (Beauty) - 2.5 Year FTC

The Body Shop

When Anita Roddick founded The Body Shop in 1976, she had a vision. Business as a force for good – that’s us. Over 40 years later, we’re proud to be pioneering cruelty-free beauty every step of the way. We’re the original ethical beauty brand. We’ve got a thing for empowering people and enriching our planet. We’re all about keeping it real, in every way possible. Our activist roots remain a huge part of everything we do, from our iconic window posters to our vegetarian products to our infamous campaigns. We’re never afraid to stand up and speak the truth. We like to do things a little differently around here. 

The Body Shop, along with Aesop and Natura, is part of Natura & Co, a global, multi-channel and multi-brand cosmetics group that is committed to generating positive economic, social and environmental impact. Group owner Natura is Brazil's number one cosmetics manufacturer. Sustainable development has been the company's guiding principle since it was founded in 1969. In fact, this is an incredibly exciting time for The Body Shop. We’re fighting for what we believe in now more than ever. No holding back. Breaking the mould has always come naturally to us, and we need someone who’s not afraid to mix things up. 

Your role in a nutshell

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Beauty Product Development Chemist to join our team on a 2.5 year Fixed Term Contract. Reporting into the Head of Bath and Body Fragrance, you will be responsible for developing  safe and efficacious products  suitable for mass production, that meets Brand’s brief requirements and is in- line with R&I strategy whilst ensuring that launch deadlines are met and within budget.

More about the role

• Create products through development stages defined with managers: raw materials selection, formulation, appropriate testing plan depending on the project
• Ensure the quality and safety of formulas
• Evaluate product performance and sensoriality: ensure the closest sensoriality, stability and conformity 
• Work with support services and/ or contacts in industry; monitor and validate product manufacturing (Pilot, factories) at each stage of development
• Ensure lab resources are in good working order; ensure compliance with safety regulations and quality procedures in force in the laboratory
• Integrate and develop innovative technologies that offer results the consumer can perceive
• Propose and develop formulas in line with the marketing policy and consumer expectations
• Finalise formulas (FF) in a prompt manner by coordinating and validating all development phases and providing updates on formula availability
• Ensure successful follow-up: all the test results are available on time (formulation, stability, challenge test, safety test….) to commit with the agreed timing 
• Create, send and compile all official documents through development phases (Formula selection, development standards, Formula finalisation….)
• Anticipate fails and include plan B in retroplanning when relevant.
• Maintain good documentation practices (R&I Sharepoint, other shared platforms and drives)
• Commercially control spend within your specific remit, working creatively and in a SMART way to reduce both overall costs whilst increasing efficiency 

What we look for

You will have a science related degree with proven experience in Beauty Product Development in a lab environment, with a background in Bath, Body, Haircare, Fragrance or Face formula development. Experience in formulating with natural origin ingredients is a plus, as is experience of managing complexity in a fast pace environment, and end-to-end projects on time and within budget.

Benefits

You will have a science related degree and proven extensive industry work experience in Beauty Product Development in either Bath, Body, Haircare, Face and/or Fragrance.  Experience in formulating with natural origin ingredients is a plus, as is experience of managing complexity in a fast pace environment, and end-to-end projects on time and within budget.