Director of Product Development

About the role

The Senior Director of Product Innovation will lead the end‑to‑end creation, development and commercialization of breakthrough hair‑care products at K18Hair. Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Research & Innovation, this role combines strategic vision with hands‑on operational oversight across product development, formulation and regulatory affairs.

Key responsibilities

• Define and own the multi‑year innovation strategy and product roadmap aligned with brand and revenue goals.
• Lead, mentor and coordinate cross‑functional teams in Formulation Science, Product Development and Regulatory Affairs.
• Translate consumer insights, scientific trends and market opportunities into viable product concepts.
• Manage the NPD budget, resource planning and external partnerships with CMOs, labs and ingredient suppliers.
• Oversee the full product lifecycle from ideation through launch, ensuring performance targets, cost of goods and timelines are met.
• Drive technical problem‑solving, risk assessment and contingency planning throughout development.
• Guide formulation strategy across hair‑care and related categories, delivering stable, safe and high‑performing prototypes.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and alignment with brand standards for all new products.

Required profile

• Proven senior leadership experience in product innovation, preferably within the cosmetics or personal‑care industry.
• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to align product pipelines to business objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage complex projects.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder‑management skills across Marketing, Operations, Quality and Supply Chain.

Required skills

• Formulation Science
• Product Development lifecycle management
• Regulatory Affairs compliance
• Budget and resource planning
• External partnership management (CMOs, labs, suppliers)