Director, Analytical Stability & Innovation, L'Oréal Research & Innovation

Director, Analytical Stability & Innovation, Research & Innovation - Clark, New Jersey

Life is too short for a boring career, so build an extraordinary one with us. We believe your career should spark the same thrill and curiosity as your personal interests. Creativity drives everything we do, turning ideas into meaningful impact. With opportunities across brands, markets, and divisions, your growth knows no boundaries.

Who We Are

Join us at L’Oréal, the world's #1 beauty company present in over 150 markets. For over a century, we have been transforming; fueled by data, tech, innovation, and science. Together, we tackle big challenges while making sure we stay committed to making the world a more inclusive and a better place for everyone & our planet.

At L’Oréal Research & Innovation we are pushing the boundaries of Science & Tech. We invest heavily in cutting-edge research, leveraging advanced technologies to understand skin, hair, and microbiome, while discovering new active ingredients and launching outperforming formulas. Our 3,500 L'Oréal R&I experts leverage Science & Technology to invent safe, trustable, sustainable & responsible beauty products and experiences that will change people’s lives.

We are seeking a Director to join our Analytical Chemistry team in our state-of-the-art Clark, New Jersey research facility, leading our end-to-end R&I stability programs and managing the Analytical Innovation & Expertise team. In this role, you will provide strategic operational and scientific leadership to ensure robust stability, regulatory compliance, and data-driven insights for our OTC and beauty care portfolios, while continuing to champion analytical capability building and innovation. You will be responsible for the management, development, and technical upskilling of the team.

A Day in the Life:

• Lead End-to-End Stability Programs: Create, review, approve, and oversee comprehensive stability study protocols and timelines (covering OTC and cosmetics) including sample collection, storage conditions, and analytical testing to support product development and go-to-market initiatives.
• Drive Digital & Predictive Analytical Transformation: Shape the strategy for predictive chemical stability using advanced modeling, data visualization, statistical tools, and kinetic modeling to forecast shelf-life and degradation pathways across the product lifecycle. 
• Regulatory & Audit SME: Serve as the primary subject matter expert for analytical methodologies, stability programs, and compliance during internal and external audits. Ensure strict adherence to FDA, Health Canada, GMP, GLP, and ICH guidelines.
• Team Leadership & Upskilling: Manage the daily functional work of the analytical Innovation & Expertise team (7 direct reports with diverse expertise, including trace and surface science), mentoring and upskilling the team in new digital and analytical techniques.
• Cross-Functional & Métier Partnership: Partner closely with key métiers, process development, formulation, manufacturing, QA, and regulatory affairs teams to manage testing expectations, resolve project bottlenecks, and align analytical strategies with business priorities.
• Strategic Leadership: Be a creative and strategic leader with passion for innovation and show ability to build a forward-thinking outlook, remove barriers, develop people, and continuously thrive to raise the technical skills/expertise of the staff members.
• CRO Management: Oversee external contract research organizations and contract manufacturing partners regarding vendor selection, qualification, and analytical contracting.
• Capability Development: Guide assay, trace, impurity, and degradation product analysis, ensuring robust method development, validation, and transfer (internally and externally), ensuring compliance with relevant ICH, GMPs, and regulatory guidelines.

We Are Looking For: You’re a great match for this role if you are an operational leader, integrator, and problem-solver with deep expertise in stability programs, regulatory compliance, and laboratory capability building.

• Education: A PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific/engineering discipline is required.
• Experience: 7+ years of relevant industry experience in analytical chemistry supporting OTC and/or stability programs.
• Strong, demonstrated experience managing end-to-end stability programs from product development to launch in a GMP/OTC environment is a must.
• Strong knowledge and practical experience in statistics, predictive analytics/modeling (e.g., chemometrics, stability kinetics/Arrhenius Law), and data visualization.
• Strong regulatory knowledge of FDA, Health Canada, ICH guidelines, and compendial standards pertaining to OTC products, quality systems, and method validation.
• Experience overseeing and working with contract research organizations (CROs) and external vendors.
• Strong experience managing direct reports in a laboratory setting, with a track record of innovation, capability building, and upskilling technical teams.
• Strong experimental background in chromatography (LC/GC), mass spectrometry and LC/GC-MS-based systems (QTrap LC-MS/MS, TripleTOF LC-MS/MS, etc.) to guide expert teams effectively.
• Excellent cross-functional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to manage expectations across diverse business métiers.
• Highly effective organizational planning, project management, and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to be onsite, in the office/laboratory at least 5 days a week, as this is an essential function of the position (required).
• Authorization to work in the United States is required. No sponsorship is offered for this role. (required).
• The ability to lift 25 lbs (11.3 kg) (required).

What’s In It For You

• A place for you to leave your comfort zone and grow beyond your potential (here, you’ll be encouraged to try new things and take risks!)
• Real responsibility from day 1, there’s no sitting on the sidelines at L’Oréal
• An environment where people of every ethnicity, social background, age, religion, gender and sexual orientation as well as people with disabilities are accepted, can speak up, will thrive and are celebrated!
• A place where you can contribute to something bigger! Many of our brands have societal/environmental causes to make concrete difference
• Base Salary Range: $126,900 - $184,000 (The actual compensation will depend on a variety of job-related factors which may include geographic location, work experience, education, and skill level) 
• Competitive Benefits 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, Monthly Mobile Allowance)
• Learning and 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’re committed to guaranteeing inclusive recruitment processes and advocating for hiring and promoting each candidate in an ethical and equitable way. The Group strictly prohibits discrimination against any applicant for employment because of the individual’s gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, visible and/or invisible disabilities, socio-economic and/or multicultural origins, health conditions, age, religion, or any other characteristics protected by law.