Head - Product Innovation & R&D - Beauty/Personal Care

Location: Bangalore

Industry: Beauty / Personal Care

About the Role

We are looking for a seasoned leader to head Product, R&D, and Quality for a fast-growing beauty and personal care brand. This role will own the end-to-end product lifecycle, from innovation and formulation to commercialization, quality, and compliance. The individual will be responsible for shaping the product vision, ensuring consistent quality standards, and enabling efficient scale-up, while working closely with internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities :

Product Creation & Innovation

- Build a strong pipeline of new products based on consumer insights and market opportunities

- Translate ideas into viable formulations and commercially successful launches

End-to-End Development Ownership

- Oversee the journey from concept development to final product readiness

- Ensure products meet performance, safety, and timeline expectations

Quality & Standards

- Define and uphold product quality benchmarks across all offerings

- Ensure adherence to relevant regulatory and compliance frameworks

Scale & Execution

- Enable smooth transition from development to large-scale production

- Work with external manufacturing partners to ensure consistency and efficiency

Cost & Performance Optimization

- Continuously improve product formulations for better performance and cost efficiency

- Identify opportunities for process improvements and smarter sourcing

Cross-Functional Alignment

- Collaborate with teams across brand, supply, and operations to deliver successful launches

- Act as a key problem-solver for product-related challenges

Team & Capability Building

- Lead and mentor a team focused on product development and quality

- Build a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous learning

Requirements:

- Proven experience in developing and launching products in beauty, personal care, or related sectors

- Strong understanding of formulation, product performance, and quality expectations

- Ability to manage external partners and scale production effectively

- Demonstrated experience in leading teams and driving cross-functional initiatives

- Commercial mindset with the ability to balance innovation, speed, and cost

Qualifications

- Background in Chemical Engineering, Cosmetic Science, Pharmacy, or similar fields

- 15+ years of relevant experience in product development / innovation roles