Assistant Manager – Hair Care Formulation

Function: Research & Development – Hair Care
Location: Mumbai
Experience: 5–8 Years
Industry: Personal Care / Cosmetics / FMCG

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Assistant Manager – Hair Care Formulation to join the R&D team. The role will be responsible for developing, optimizing and troubleshooting hair care formulations across various product formats, while ensuring product performance, stability, quality and commercial feasibility.

Key Responsibilities

1. Product Formulation & Development

• Develop formulations for shampoos, conditioners, hair oils, hair masks, serums and other hair care products.
• Translate product briefs, consumer requirements and brand expectations into feasible formulations.
• Conduct laboratory trials, prototype development and formulation optimization.
• Work on new product development as well as improvement of existing formulations.

2. Formula Optimization & Troubleshooting

• Optimize formulations for performance, sensory attributes, stability and cost-effectiveness.
• Conduct benchmarking against existing and competitive products.
• Troubleshoot formulation issues such as:
  • Viscosity variation
  • Phase separation
  • Colour and odour changes
  • Ingredient compatibility
  • Stability-related issues
• Recommend suitable corrective actions and formulation improvements.

3. Stability & Product Performance

• Plan and monitor stability studies under different storage conditions.
• Evaluate parameters including appearance, colour, odour, pH, viscosity, specific gravity and microbiological quality.
• Coordinate sensory, performance and instrumental evaluations wherever required.
• Analyse stability trends and recommend appropriate corrective measures.

4. Scale-Up & Manufacturing Support

• Support formulation scale-up from laboratory to pilot/manufacturing batches.
• Coordinate with manufacturing and cross-functional teams during trials and commercialization.
• Provide technical support for formulation-related manufacturing issues.

5. Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain formulation records, trial reports, specifications and technical documentation.
• Ensure formulations and processes comply with applicable cosmetic regulatory and quality requirements.
• Follow relevant R&D, GMP, SOP and documentation practices.

Required Skills & Expertise

• Strong hands-on experience in Hair Care formulation and product development.
• Good knowledge of cosmetic ingredients and their functionality.
• Strong understanding of:
  • Surfactants
  • Conditioning agents
  • Silicones
  • Polymers
  • Actives
  • Preservatives
  • Rheology modifiers
• Practical experience in shampoo, conditioner and/or hair oil formulation.
• Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills.
• Knowledge of stability testing, scale-up and manufacturing processes.
• Understanding of cosmetic regulatory requirements and technical documentation.
• Good project management and cross-functional coordination skills.
• Strong communication and technical documentation skills.
• Ability to independently manage multiple R&D projects.

Qualification

• M.Sc. / M.Tech. / B.Tech. in Cosmetic Science, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Chemical Technology or related discipline.
• Specialization in Cosmetic / Personal Care Formulation will be an added advantage.

Ideal Candidate

Candidates with 5–8 years of hands-on Hair Care R&D/Formulation experience, particularly in shampoo, conditioner, hair oil, hair mask or serum development, will be preferred.