Product Innovation Manager, Skin Care - Iconic Global Luxury Beauty Brand

Hybrid working London HQ
International travel twice a year

KJ Talent & Partners are delighted to be exclusively partnering with our client in the search for a Product Innovation Manager to play a key role in influencing and bringing to life its Skin Care category.

This truly remarkable global luxury brand has enjoyed phenomenal growth to date and has further global expansion plans. One of the world’s most desirable luxury brands, our client is a pioneer in bringing exciting, category disrupting luxury skin care, fragrance, and haircare to market. Our client does not test on animals and all products are vegan. The brand is also on a journey to reduce its footprint on the planet that so generously sustains us. Progress so far has resulted in B CorpTM certification.

Throughout its growth, the brand has maintained a true SME culture at its heart. In this role, you can be sure that you will be heard a trusted voice of product expertise across the business. You’ll be able to execute ideas quickly and really feel like you’re moving the needle – no red tape!

This demanding role offers highly rewarding long-term opportunities for an individual with confidence, gravitas, and an ability to calmly think on their feet to perform well under pressure within a rapidly evolving working environment.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Product Innovation, Skin Care, you will bring a balance of creativity, strong project management skills; commercial acumen and a passion for Skin Care product development and evaluation to create products that are undeniably of the brand.

If you are a product expert with an obsession for ‘what’s inside the jar’ and the ability to think differently to translate trends and market opportunities into product innovation, then this is an ideal role.

Responsibilities:

Actively seek, synthesise, and share customer market insights, product trends and innovation
Support cross-functional teams with product line reviews, making recommendations for product improvement, reformulation, and reinforcement opportunities
Own product master data classification and PLC status for Skin care product portfolio
Consult with R&D on reformulation opportunities for enhanced efficacy and /or repositioning
Make the most of forced reformulations by working with R&D to understand the further improvements and elevations that can be driven
Engage with R&D to identify future generation efficacy, ingredients and materials and proactively share findings with senior Skin Care stakeholders
Drive and actively contribute to cross-functional ideation sessions for new product opportunities in line with category strategic frame
Partner with R&D to identify formula and ingredient opportunities to increase key sustainability metrics and measure and report on product portfolio sustainability gains and improvements
Work with Senior Manager, Product Innovation to support the Skin Care product innovation strategy in line with category strategic frame
Ensure feasibility and profitability; manage product design and claims testing budgets and manage legal aspects of product development
Work closely with Regulatory Affairs and R&D to understand global product compliance requirements
Make fact-based recommendations for product range rationalisation
Prepare comprehensive briefs for R&D and Packaging on required product benefits, claims, ingredients of interest and sensorial features, including definition and delivery of brand-aligned desired claims and visuals
Align with R&D on relevant formula testing to deliver revised claims and positioning
Partner with Marketing on Skin Care concept development and alignment
Support development of training and communications for Product Consultants

Experience & skills required:

Experience in creating successful, innovative products and formulations
‘Hands-on’ technical product development experience, from concept ideation to execution
Proven product concept development and briefing skills
Formulation expertise; sound technical capability in the assessment and validation of skin care and / or other cosmetic formulations
International work experience for global, multi-channel business
Strong understanding of regional and global market needs and dynamics, customer product preferences and practices, nuances, product innovation, and trends forecasting
Strong project management experience within consumer goods and / or beauty industry
Experience in collaborating with cross-functional teams across geographies; driving positive engagement and innovative thinking, and leading from within the team
Strong understanding of product development capabilities across packaging, décor; and retro planning
Scrupulous attention to detail
Well-honed communication skills
Proactive problem-solving capability
Experience managing cost / budget, scope, schedule, and risk
Degree qualification in business, science or marketing (skin care evaluation, science, and / or technical communication qualification highly regarded)

The nature of this role requires flexibility in working arrangements to accommodate work across multiple regions and time zones.

KJ Talent & Partners

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Product Innovation Manager