We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Industrial Chemist - Cosmetics Manufacturing & Product Development
Location: Remote but must be based in Jos Plateau
Employment Type: Full-time
Resumption: Immediate
Role Overview
- We are seeking an experienced and technically strong Industrial Chemist to support our cosmetics manufacturing and product commercialization initiatives.
- This role is critical to the transition from product concept and pilot formulation to full-scale manufacturing, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, and market launch.
- The successful candidate will provide both hands-on technical leadership and advisory support across formulation, production, quality control, process optimization, and regulatory documentation.
- The ideal candidate must have practical experience in cosmetic product manufacturing, understand the operational realities of scaling production, and be capable of working with cross-functional teams including business development, regulatory, production, procurement, and external manufacturing partners.
Key Responsibilities
Product Formulation & Development:
- Lead the development and refinement of cosmetic formulations including skincare, haircare, personal care, and related products.
- Evaluate raw materials, active ingredients, emulsifiers, preservatives, fragrances, and other cosmetic components for performance, safety, stability, and cost-effectiveness.
- Conduct formulation trials, prototype development, and product optimization activities.
- Ensure formulations meet desired sensory, efficacy, and performance standards.
- Recommend suitable ingredient substitutions where necessary without compromising product quality.
Manufacturing & Scale-Up:
- Support the scale-up of products from laboratory or pilot batches to commercial production.
- Develop batch manufacturing procedures and production protocols.
- Work closely with production teams to optimize mixing, heating, cooling, filling, and packaging processes.
- Identify and resolve manufacturing bottlenecks, yield losses, and process inefficiencies.
- Recommend improvements that enhance production efficiency, reduce waste, and improve consistency.
Quality Control & Quality Assurance:
- Develop and implement quality control procedures for raw materials, in-process products, and finished goods.
- Establish product specifications, testing protocols, and acceptance criteria.
- Monitor batch quality and investigate deviations, non-conformances, and customer complaints.
- Ensure product consistency across production batches.
- Maintain proper quality documentation, records, and traceability systems.
Regulatory Compliance:
- Ensure all products comply with NAFDAC regulations and applicable cosmetic manufacturing standards.
- Prepare and review technical documentation required for product registration and regulatory submissions.
- Verify ingredient compliance with national and international cosmetic ingredient restrictions and safety guidelines.
- Support product labeling compliance, claims review, and documentation management.
- Monitor regulatory updates and advise management on compliance implications.
Research, Innovation & Process Improvement:
- Conduct research on emerging cosmetic ingredients, technologies, and industry trends.
- Evaluate opportunities for product innovation and portfolio expansion.
- Analyze production and quality data to identify improvement opportunities.
- Recommend cost optimization initiatives related to raw materials, formulations, packaging, and manufacturing processes.
- Support continuous improvement projects across the cosmetics department.
Technical Consultancy & Cross-Functional Support
- Provide technical guidance to internal teams on formulation, manufacturing, quality, and regulatory matters.
- Participate in client-facing consultations where technical expertise is required.
- Collaborate with business development teams on product feasibility, technical proposals, and commercialization planning.
- Support procurement teams in the evaluation and qualification of raw material suppliers.
- Contribute technical insights during product launch and market readiness discussions.
Qualifications & Experience
Education:
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Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Chemistry, Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, or a related field.
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A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is an added advantage.
Experience:
- 3–5 years of practical experience in cosmetic manufacturing, industrial chemistry, product formulation, or related production environments.
- Candidates must have demonstrated experience taking cosmetic products from formulation through manufacturing and market readiness.
- Candidates must have experience working within a regulated manufacturing environment.
- Exposure to contract manufacturing, pilot production, or scale-up projects is highly desirable.
- Experience providing technical advisory or consultancy services is an advantage.
Technical Skills:
- Cosmetic formulation and ingredient chemistry
- Manufacturing process optimization
- Batch processing and scale-up
- Quality control and laboratory testing
- NAFDAC registration processes
- GMP, quality assurance, and documentation
- Root cause analysis and corrective actions
- Raw material evaluation and supplier qualification
- Data analysis and technical reporting
Core Competencies:
- Strong scientific reasoning and problem-solving ability
- Excellent attention to detail and quality orientation
- Ability to analyze formulation and production data
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
- Strong cross-functional collaboration capability
- High level of accountability and ownership
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Results-driven mindset with focus on production and commercialization outcomes
What We Are Looking For
- We are not seeking a purely academic chemist. We require a practical industrial chemist who understands how cosmetic products are manufactured, tested, registered, scaled, and commercialized.
The ideal candidate should:
- Have hands-on manufacturing experience.
- Understand the relationship between formulation decisions and production outcomes.
- Be comfortable working in a fast-paced, project-driven environment.
- Balance scientific rigor with commercial realities.
- Contribute directly to product launch readiness and manufacturing success.
Performance Indicators (KPIs)
The Industrial Chemist will be evaluated based on:
- Successful formulation and product development outcomes.
- Product stability and batch consistency.
- Manufacturing efficiency improvements.
- Reduction in production waste and quality deviations.
- Timely completion of regulatory documentation.
- NAFDAC registration support effectiveness.
- Speed of product scale-up and commercialization readiness.
- Technical support responsiveness and stakeholder satisfaction.