Research and Innovation Manager
KDC is a network of best-in-class custom formulators and manufacturers of color cosmetics, skincare, haircare, bath & body, fragrance, deodorant, home, health, industrial, and auto care products. KDC delivers high-touch innovation, operational excellence, and speed to market to well-known and emerging beauty, personal, and specialty companies from coast to coast. KDC has its head office in Longueuil, Québec. In addition, KDC has 10 operating facilities located throughout North America. Altogether, the company employs nearly 4,800 talented and dedicated employees in North America.
kdc/one Groveport is part of the kdc/one network, the leading best-in-class producer of beauty and personal care products. We are a diverse and passionate team of experts offering innovative, turn-key solutions to our customers through ideation, formulation, design, packaging and manufacturing of products. With over 15,000 passionate, innovative employees working in 25 manufacturing sites across the world, we want you to join our growing team.
We have an immediate opening for an experienced Manager of Research and Innovation who will be responsible for responsible for leading and managing the Research & Innovation team, and building product development vision, ideas and technologies so the company can meet its financial goals and objectives.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Leads, assigns and manages the various projects based on customer briefs or KDC Innovation Pipeline/CoE to ensure performance expectations and objectives are met timely and with the highest level of quality.
- Trains, motivates, coaches and develops the R&I team; communicates department strategy, objectives and performance expectations to employees and delivers feedback as required; provides guidance and technical direction on project briefs, formulations and lab trials.
- Attends weekly calls with customers to provide updates on projects and to discuss re-directs.
- Responsible for the upkeep of the Groveport R&I lab (e.g. staff, 6S, safety, SOP’s, calibrations, inventory of raw materials and consumables)
- Develops and maintains collaborative partnerships with key vendors and cross-functional teams within the KDC Innovation Group to target innovation and new technology.
- Evaluates and provides guidance based on the performance of new prototypes against project goals and benchmarks.
- Supports Research and Development, Production and New Projects teams as needed (e.g. technology transfers, pilots, troubleshooting/problem solving).
- Aligns with Regulatory Specialist to support projects and with the sourcing teams to support the business and new vendor qualification projects as needed.
- Supports PD/marketing and technical assistance in creating marketing sales sheets.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, or science related field.
- 8-10 years’ experience in personal care, cosmetics and/or skin care product formulation and development.
- Minimum of 3 years previous supervisory experience.
- Previous project management experience is strongly preferred.
We offer a fast-paced work environment and a competitive compensative package.
KDC-ONE is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. I understand that employment with KDC-ONE Company is at-will, meaning that I or KDC-ONE Company may terminate my employment at any time, or for any reason consistent with applicable state or federal law. I understand that KDC-One requires the successful completion of a drug and/or alcohol test as a condition of employment.
Other details
- Pay Type Salary
- Employment Indicator SG&A
- kdc/one Groveport, 4400 South Hamilton Rd, Groveport, Ohio, United States of America