Position Title: Senior Scientist I, Hair Color Applied Research, L'Oréal Research & Innovation

Location: Clark, New Jersey

Department: Hair Color Application Domain

For more than one hundred years, L’Oréal believes that beauty needs Science. In a world now transformed by digital technology and the emergence of new scientific domains, we are confident in our ability to turn these opportunities into major innovations, closely linked to the new consumer expectations all over the world. Science & Technology are allowing us to invent safe, trustable, sustainable & responsible beauty products and experiences that will change people’s lives. 

L’Oréal Research & Innovation (R&I) has continuously invested upstream in its research with a high level of ambition. Our 4,100 L'Oréal R&I people are talented and highly skilled, located in major markets, working in a cooperative way, open to the world. L’Oréal, Research & Innovation is a vast, multidisciplinary, scientific community working in more than 30 specialized fields, spread out across the world in 21 research centers across 6 regional hubs, 14 evaluation centers, and 49 scientific and regulatory departments. Our employees represent over 60 nationalities and are united for one passion: to invent and perfect innovative, high-performance products for the well-being of all across the world.

To discover more on our scientific and technical functions at L'Oréal Research & Innovation, please check out our website

As a Global organization, the Hair Color Application Domain is responsible for developing formulations, novel formats and product design prototypes that deliver superior hair color experience for consumers as well as professionals. In partnership with other domains such as Invention & Discovery Domains, and Product Development Domains, test concepts and prototypes. As a global, multi-polar organization, the Hair Color Application Domain operates from several hubs (i.e., France, Brazil) and L’Oréal USA is embedded in various strategic program stakes & projects, as relevant for the US market. A key measure of success for the Domain is to create high performing formulations & prototypes that are protected by strong, strategic and holistic intellectual property & meets the group vision for a sustainable future. Working closely with cross functional teams, this position requires high technical skills as well as a strong attitude for working in multi-expertise, multi-cultural teams with agility.

We are looking for a talented and highly motivated Senior Scientist I to join our Hair Color Application Domain in our Clark, New Jersey research facility.

As a Senior Scientist I for our Hair Color Application Domain research team, your main responsibilities are:

• Create new hair color products/technologies from concept to formulation and evaluation, by translating consumer needs into technical problems and solutions, identifying key raw materials and technologies that allow to deliver on the project objectives.
• Design sustainable hair color formulas to meet the project objectives, evaluate them, generate and validate hypotheses to understand mechanism of action and bring perceivable benefits to the consumer through creative and proactive problem solving.
• Be responsible for quality, documentation, stability and data management related to product development, leveraging various digital tools; and maintaining a safe and organized laboratory. 
• Collaborate and work effectively in a team-oriented international environment (US, France, China, and Japan). Work closely with Project Leader and Project Manager to ensure a smooth project development, anticipating challenges, as well as with project partners such as Safety, Analytical and Product Evaluation teams. 
• Establish technical paths and milestones to meet project objectives and propose recommendations to the Project Leader and the Project Manager to prioritize them on the overall project planning. 
• Communicate and present results and technologies effectively to colleagues and senior management. 
• Develop and maintain good knowledge of relevant scientific literature, raw material technologies, marketing and consumer trends, consumer need gaps and patent landscape.  
• Implement patent strategies to safeguard internal technologies.

To Succeed in this Position, You Have:

• A completed advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in a scientific (Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Materials Science etc.) or engineering (Chemical, Materials, Biomedical) (required)
• 0-2 years (PhD)/3-5 years (Masters) of relevant industry experience in color product formulations (required). Experience in personal care industries is preferred
• Experience with color science & color theory (preferred)
• Experience with Hair Structure, Formulations, Hair Reactive Chemistry, Material Sciences & problem solving & experimental design/execution (preferred)
• The ability to lift 25 lbs (11.3 kg) (required)
• The ability to be onsite, in the office 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: 

• Corporate Short-Term Incentives (Corporate Profit-Sharing Bonus, Individual Performance Bonuses based on level)
• Competitive Benefit 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)
• Learning & 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 do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, medical condition or disability, or any other legally protected status.

If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application for a recognized disability under applicable law, please email [email protected]. Please note this email will only respond to specific requests for assistance completing the application as a request for accommodation for a disability. All others will not be considered.

Our Safe Together Plan: Your safety is our highest priority. We will proceed with caution and adhere to enhanced protection standards to ensure our sites are safe for all employees. We must all operate with the shared responsibility for each other’s health & safety in mind.