Product Development & Sourcing Manager

The Product Development & Sourcing Manager owns the front end of the product lifecycle across the company's full portfolio of 100-150 SKUs, turning product concepts into finalized, production-ready specifications. Bridging brand/marketing intent with manufacturing execution, this role ensures every SKU — whether produced domestically or through international turnkey manufacturing — is fully specified, formulation-sound, regulatory-compliant, and ready for handoff to the appropriate Production Manager. With roughly 75% of the portfolio turning over on a 3-4 month cycle, the role carries a high, continuous volume of concurrent SKU development, making it a high-throughput, high-judgment position suited to someone who thrives on managing many concurrent projects in a fast, speed-to-market environment

Core Responsibilities

• Meet regularly with the VP of Creative and COO to discuss upcoming innovation concepts, ensuring packaging design direction and sourcing feasibility are considered together rather than sequentially
• Share sourcing constraints and opportunities (component availability, MOQs, cost bands, lead times) with Creative early in concept development to keep design direction realistic and achievable
• Surface new component or manufacturing capabilities discovered through sourcing efforts that could inform or inspire upcoming creative and innovation concepts

Concept & Formulation Development

• Translate brand and marketing concepts into detailed product specifications (formula direction, sensory profile, claims, target cost)
• Manage the relationship with contract manufacturers' in-house R&D/formulation teams; review and approve formula submissions and bench samples
• Coordinate stability testing, compatibility testing, and formula iteration cycles to meet launch timelines
• Select component type, material, and design to meet functional, aesthetic, and formula-compatibility requirements (e.g., airless packaging for oxidation-sensitive actives)
• Set initial target cost and MOQ parameters for components as part of the product business case
• Confirm formula-packaging compatibility before handoff to production

Sourcing — Components & Turnkey Products

• Identify and vet potential component suppliers (bottles, pumps, closures, and other packaging) to support new SKU specifications, evaluating cost, quality, and lead-time fit before handoff to the relevant Production Manager for negotiation and procurement
• Identify and vet potential turnkey/private-label manufacturers for new product concepts, assessing formulation capability, MOQ ranges, and cost competitiveness as part of the concept development process
• Maintain a working knowledge of the supplier landscape (domestic and international) across both components and turnkey manufacturing to inform sourcing recommendations early in the concept phase
• Partner with the Domestic and International/Turnkey Production Managers on new-supplier introductions, ensuring sourcing leads are evaluated collaboratively rather than handed off without context

Initial Sample Execution

• Coordinate production of Initial Samples and prototypes needed for buyer presentations, trade shows, and new business pitches, working with contract manufacturers to secure quick-turn sample runs
• Ensure Initial Samples accurately reflect final formula, scent/color, and packaging intent, flagging any variance between sample and production-intent spec
• Prioritize and sequence sample requests from the sales/wholesale team alongside standard SKU development timelines to avoid delaying core launch work
• If Initial Samples are being skipped for a given SKU, coordinate directly with the appropriate Production Manager (Domestic or International) to arrange Pre-Production samples instead, ensuring formula, color, and packaging intent are still verified before full production begins

Regulatory & Compliance Oversight

• Track labeling and claims compliance across all SKUs (INCI labeling, FDA cosmetic requirements, California Prop 65, and other applicable jurisdictions)
• Ensure MOCRA (Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act) compliance across the portfolio, including facility registration, product listing, safety substantiation records, and adverse event reporting and record-keeping requirements
• Maintain and update FDA product registration filings for new and reformulated SKUs, coordinating with Production Managers so registration timing aligns with production and launch schedules
• Flag SKUs requiring outside regulatory counsel or fractional consultant review; manage that engagement
• Maintain a consistent compliance standard across both domestic and international production channels
• Track every active SKU's development status and decide the order and timing in which they move to production, prioritizing based on launch deadlines, lead times, and business needs
• Hand off finalized formula direction and component specs to the appropriate Production Manager (Domestic or International) simultaneously, not sequentially, to prevent lead-time mismatches
• Keep spec status current and consistent across the full SKU portfolio so anyone checking can see exactly where each SKU stands
• Build and maintain the master Bill of Materials (BOM) structure in the ERP system for each SKU (ingredients, packaging components, and quantities), ensuring one consistent BOM structure across domestic and international versions of the same SKU before handing off to the relevant Production Manager

Qualifications

Required

• 5+ years in personal care/cosmetics product development, formulation management, or R&D coordination
• Working knowledge of cosmetic regulatory requirements (FDA, INCI labeling, Prop 65)
• Experience managing multiple concurrent SKU development cycles in a fast-paced CPG environment
• Comfort working with contract manufacturer R&D teams rather than an in-house lab
• Experience identifying and vetting component and/or turnkey manufacturing suppliers, domestically and internationally

Preferred

• Experience spanning both domestic and international (turnkey) manufacturing models
• Familiarity with claims substantiation and stability testing protocols
• Existing network of component and turnkey manufacturer contacts in key sourcing markets

This position is fully On-Site at our Los Angeles, CA office.