The Company

G&M Cosmetics Pty Ltd is a renowned, skincare company having been manufacturing and selling to national and global retailers, pharmacy and health groups for over 26 years.

In March 2018, G&M Cosmetics was recognised as the Most Trusted Australian Brand in China. The Australian Creams brand was ranked highest overall, which outperformed such brands as Qantas, Coles, Weet-Bix, Myer, Chemist Warehouse, and others, and became an absolute leader in the Beauty & Cosmetics category.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Chemist Engineer with a strong manufacturing background to join a multi-award-winning skincare business.

Working hours: 7.30am – 4.00pm Monday to Thursday; 7.30am – 1.30pm Friday

• Assist the General Manager in ensuring that quality standards are met.

• Investigate and offer advice on technical complaints.

• Knowledge of raw materials and manufacturing procedures to ensure quality.

• Ensure that the technical department has procedures in place that will maintain the quality system within the company.

• Update technical records such as raw material specification sheets, laboratory testing sheets and batch sheets to ensure the correct quality of materials and products on site and to ensure compliance with the company’s quality system.

• Train all personnel within the company QMS requirements.

• Conduct and lead internal and external Audits (GMP, ACO, HALAL, etc.)

• Coordinate NPD projects with R&D and Sales for Contract Manufacturing projects. 

• Interpret and report results for stability tests and laboratory tests. 

• Schedule and maintained records updated (Water testing, pest control, calibration of equipment, etc). 

• Provide assistance with troubleshooting issues in production batches.

Skills

• Quality Management System ISO 27716. 

• Experience with GMP, Halal, ACO audits. 

• Formulation Personal Care Products (Previous experience as R&D desired). 

• Chemicals (raw material) knowledge & Suppliers.

• Leadership

• Communication

• Attention to detail

• Work ethics / Attitude

• Teamwork

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced R&D Manager to lead our cosmetics and skincare product development activities. This role oversees formulation development, product improvement, technical support and the R&D team, taking products from initial concept through laboratory development to commercial production.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development

• Lead the development of new cosmetics and skincare products in line with brand positioning, customer requirements and market trends.

• Oversee formulation design, laboratory trials, sample evaluation and formulation approval.

• Work closely with sales, marketing and customers to translate product briefs into commercially viable formulations.

Formulation Optimisation and Raw Materials

• Improve existing formulations to enhance stability, sensory performance, product efficacy and manufacturing efficiency.

• Evaluate new and alternative raw materials, considering performance, cost, quality and supply continuity.

• Develop and validate replacement formulations when raw materials become unavailable or specifications change.

Testing and Quality Support

• Establish and oversee stability and packaging compatibility testing, and coordinate microbiological, preservative efficacy and product performance testing as required.

• Work with quality and regulatory teams to ensure formulations, ingredients and technical documentation meet target market requirements.

• Investigate product quality issues and customer complaints, implement corrective actions and verify their effectiveness.

Scale-up and Manufacturing Support

• Lead the transfer of formulations from laboratory trials to pilot batches and commercial production.

• Establish manufacturing procedures, processing parameters and critical control points.

• Prepare and review formulations, bills of materials (BOMs), manufacturing instructions, raw material specifications and technical documentation.

• Support production teams in resolving issues involving emulsification, viscosity, pH, appearance and batch consistency.

Team and Project Management

• Manage, mentor and develop the R&D team, including workload allocation, technical training and performance management.

• Manage project timelines, development budgets and laboratory resources.

• Maintain effective R&D procedures, formulation version control and technical records.

• Coordinate with production, quality, procurement and commercial teams to deliver projects on schedule.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Cosmetic Science, Chemistry, Applied Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or a related discipline.

• At least five years of cosmetics or skincare formulation experience, including two years of team leadership or R&D project management experience.

• Strong technical knowledge of creams, lotions, cleansers and body care formulations, including raw material functionality and manufacturing processes.

• Demonstrated experience independently developing formulations and successfully scaling them up for commercial production.

• Sound understanding of stability testing, packaging compatibility and technical troubleshooting.

• Strong project management, problem-solving and cross-functional communication skills.

• Commercial awareness and the ability to balance product performance, cost and development timelines.

• Strong written and verbal English skills, including the ability to prepare and review technical documentation.

Desirable Experience

• Experience in a cosmetics manufacturing or OEM/ODM environment.

• Experience developing products for Australian and international markets.

• Familiarity with cosmetics GMP and ISO 22716.

• Formulation experience involving natural oils, lanolin or related skincare ingredients.