Sr Manager, Product Development (Formulation Scientist), Nutrition
Ritual, United States

About RitualRitual is a personal health brand that is building the future of daily essentials. Our mission is simple: we help turn healthy habits into a Ritual. We started by creating the first visible supply chain of its kind and reinventing the daily multivitamin from the ground up. Now, together with some of the world’s leading scientists, researchers and advisors, we’re developing a new standard of high-quality, traceable daily products across new categories. Hundreds of thousands of customers across generations trust us, and we are growing quickly.We’ve built a team of over 120 (and counting) curious skeptics, world-class scientists, unconventional artists, expert marketers, and analytical strategists. We’re venture-backed and based in sunny Los Angeles. If you’re looking to challenge the status quo and be challenged to do the best work of your career, join us.
EssentialRitual is looking for a Senior Manager, Product Development to support innovation, new product development as well as brand maintenance. In this role, you’ll apply your expertise to manage nutrition innovations, ideation, and the development of science-based product formulas. This role is highly cross-functional, you will partner with Innovation strategy, Science, QA, Reg and Operations to innovate and develop products for successful launches. Someone with a passion for traceability and transparency from formulation to customer communication is highly desirable. This is a great opportunity to join a rapidly expanding organization and take on responsibilities that are key to our continued growth.What You'll Do:

• Manage projects and develop products with internal Ramp;D teams, third party contract manufacturers/formulation labs, and flavor houses
• Drive formulation, product development and scale up from concept to launch utilizing Stage-GATE process
• Lead product review assessment to define success criteria for pilot and production runsLead and coordinate prototype work, sensory evaluations over multiple product formats (capsules, powders, gummies and other).
• Work closely with project leaders, project managers, and operations teams to drive projects to meet cost targets and launch dates.
• Manage product efficacy testing, utilizing expertise and experience for testing product efficacy, validating new claims and developing product specifications
• Interpret science to ensure products and claims are compliant within US regulations
• Proactively stay on top of key product and regulatory trends that can unlock growth opportunities for our business in the product, ingredient or communications space
• Work closely with Marketing and Regulatory Affairs leadership to support marketing initiatives and brand assets (i.e. label copy, web content, marketing collateral etc.)
• Actively work on continuous improvement plans interpreting consumer insights to revise existing products
• Ideal to be in the office one day per week. Travel up to 15% of your time to contract sites, development partners and educational seminars.

Who You Are:

• Organized. Ability to manage communication with contract manufacturers, to stay on top of project expectations and delivery timelines
• Passion for science. Excited to innovate and apply evidence-based science to the category
• Research Focussed. Ability to translate the latest research studies into products and communications, as well as leading testing programs and human clinical trials
• Detail Oriented. Likes to get in the weeds when it comes to science and products
• Analytical. Your decisions are always supported by thoughtful data and support. You have a strong sense of risk management. You can develop formula specifications, pilot and stability protocol, sensory programs for the product category.
• Adaptable. As a company in high-growth mode, our processes, product offerings, and partners are constantly evolving. We need someone who can not only adapt to change but drive it and help the company adapt.
• Empowered. Brings solutions instead of problems. Challenges the status quo. Has the courage to take an unpopular stance.

What You Need:

• Education: BS in Pharmaceutical Science, Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, or other related science.
• Experience: 5+ years product development, formulation chemistry, commercialization, other related science. Experience in the nutraceutical and supplement industry is a must
• Experience in developing different formats including capsules, powders and gummiesExpertise in developing product specifications, product protocols, risk analysis and product cutting /360 reviews
• Knowledge of evaluating flavors and product sensory evaluation