Scientist - NPD Materials

Overview

Scientist, New Product Development (NPD) Materials Qualification, governing the Materials NPD portfolio across the Asia Pacific region and qualifying innovation materials and formulas for launches. Reports to the APAC Materials Manager and is based in Mumbai, India.

What you'll do

• Govern the APAC NPD Materials portfolio by establishing visibility of projects, priorities, milestones, dependencies, risks, and resource needs.
• Lead end-to-end qualification of new and innovative raw materials for NPD projects, including technical assessment, specification review, supplier data evaluation, documentation, and readiness for use in formulations.
• Partner with Product Development teams to assess material-formula interactions, define qualification requirements, and support formula evaluations that demonstrate technical suitability and product performance.
• Develop fit-for-purpose, science-based qualification strategies that balance technical rigor, compliance, business risk, and introduce process improvements for innovation agility.
• Drive timely decisions and closure of technical gaps by proactively identifying risks, escalating constraints, and coordinating mitigation plans with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Collaborate across R&D, Regulatory, Quality, Procurement, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Packaging, and suppliers to enable accelerated development and quick, compliant product launches.
• Represent Materials R&D in NPD project teams and governance forums, communicating portfolio status, technical recommendations, key risks, and decisions required.
• Enable speed to market through simultaneous working, early stakeholder engagement, simplified workflows, clear accountability, and continuous process improvement.
• Build deeper scientific understanding of raw material chemistry, functionality, processing behavior, and impact on finished-product quality, stability, performance, safety, and consumer experience.
• Create and maintain high-quality technical documentation, qualification summaries, specifications, risk assessments, and knowledge records in line with applicable quality systems.
• Engage suppliers and external partners to obtain robust technical packages, resolve data gaps, and identify new material technologies that strengthen the innovation pipeline.
• Capture and share learning across projects to improve repeatability, capability, and future NPD material qualification strategies.

What you'll need

• 5-8 years of relevant experience in the FMCG, personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, or consumer healthcare sector, with demonstrated experience in new product development and/or materials qualification.
• Proven experience in cross-functional project or portfolio management, including prioritization, risk management, stakeholder alignment, and delivery against launch timelines.
• Strong knowledge of personal care or consumer product development, formulation principles, and the role of raw materials in finished-product performance.
• Demonstrated experience in raw material qualification, formula assessment, technical risk evaluation, and preparation of science-based qualification strategies.
• Ability to govern a portfolio of NPD projects, manage competing priorities, maintain milestone visibility, and drive timely cross-functional decisions.
• Working knowledge of GxP principles, quality systems, specifications, technical documentation, and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Strong scientific problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate material chemistry and data into clear recommendations for product teams.
• Excellent communication, influencing, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across diverse global and regional teams.
• Proven ability to collaborate with internal functions, manufacturing sites, suppliers, and external partners to deliver shared project outcomes.
• Agile and action-oriented mindset, with a focus on simplification, early risk resolution, and speed to market without compromising quality or compliance.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and unforeseen technical challenges while maintaining momentum and stakeholder alignment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital portfolio or project-tracking tools for effective governance, documentation, and communication.
• Ability to coach colleagues, share technical knowledge, and contribute to capability building within the Materials and broader R&D organization.
• Strong understanding of raw material chemistry, recognizing its usage and function in the development of finished products.
• Ability to manage and resolve interpersonally challenging situations, contributing to a harmonious working environment.
• Ability to successfully navigate unknown or unforeseen challenges, showcasing resilience and problem-solving skills.
• Take on a leadership role by training employees, planning work for others, and reviewing work for both quality and quantity, fostering team growth and efficiency.

Nice to have

• Master of Pharmacy, Cosmetics Technology, Chemical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

Details

• Location: Asia Pacific, India, Maharashtra, Greater Mumbai.
• Work mode: Fully onsite.