Manager - Formulation Development (Hair Care)

Job Title: Manager - Formulation Development (Hair Care)

Experience Required: 7–8 Years

Location: Mumbai

Department: R&D / Product Development

Reports To: Head – R&D / Innovation

Role Overview

We are seeking a Formulation Value Engineering Manager who will lead initiatives to

optimize existing formulations through cost-effective alternatives, raw material and

packaging material substitutions, and value engineering without compromising product

quality, performance, or compliance. This role requires strong formulation expertise, deep

technical understanding of ingredient functionalities, and hands-on experience in stability,

compatibility, and performance evaluation.

Key Responsibilities

Value Engineering & Cost Optimization:

○ Analyze existing formulations and packaging materials to identify high-cost

contributors and opportunities for optimization.

○ Evaluate and implement alternate raw materials and packaging material,

technologies, or processes to reduce formulation / packaging cost while

maintaining product integrity.

Technical Evaluation & Validation:

○ Lead and execute comprehensive stability studies, compatibility tests, and

performance validation on revised formulations / packaging.

○ Ensure all modifications meet internal quality standards and regulatory

requirements.

Raw Material & PM Benchmarking & Supplier Management:

○ Work with sourcing and procurement to identify, screen, and qualify alternate

suppliers, ingredients & packaging.

○ Assess technical equivalency and impact of substitutions on product attributes

and shelf-life.

Cross-functional Collaboration:

○ Liaise with regulatory, quality assurance, packaging, and manufacturing teams to

ensure seamless implementation of formulation changes.

○ Partner with marketing and commercial teams to align optimization efforts with

brand positioning and claims.

Documentation & Compliance:

○ Maintain detailed records of trials, formulation adjustments, evaluation protocols,

and outcomes.

○ Ensure compliance with global regulatory frameworks and internal product

standards.

Continuous Improvement:

○ Monitor market trends, ingredient innovations, and competitor activity to identify

strategic cost-saving opportunities.

○ Contribute to formulation knowledge databases, libraries, and internal best

practices.

Required Skills & Qualifications

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Cosmetic Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences,

Chemistry, or related field.

7–8 years of experience in cosmetic, personal care, or pharmaceutical formulation

development.

Proven expertise in cost engineering, technical reformulation, and raw material

evaluation.

Strong background in stability testing, compatibility studies, and analytical

interpretation.

Familiarity with global cosmetic regulations (e.g., BIS, FDA, EU, ISO).Excellent documentation, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Preferred Attributes

Strong technical acumen and a solution-oriented mindset.Ability to manage multiple reformulation projects with minimal supervision.Experience working with cross-functional and vendor teams.Agile, self-motivated, and proactive in identifying and executing optimization

opportunities.

High sense of ownership and accountability over assigned projects.Ability to work independently while effectively collaborating with cross-functional teams.Comfortable managing multiple projects in a dynamic, evolving environment.Collaborative approachFast and quick learners

About Company

Founded in 2011, Purplle has emerged as one of India’s premier omnichannel beauty destinations, redefining the way millions shop for beauty. With 1,000+ brands, 60,000+ products, and over 7 million monthly active users, Purplle has built a powerhouse platform that seamlessly blends online and offline experiences.

Expanding its footprint in 2022, Purplle introduced 6,000+ offline touchpoints and launched 100+ stores, strengthening its presence beyond digital. Beyond hosting third-party brands, Purplle has successfully scaled its own D2C powerhouses—FACES CANADA, Good Vibes, Carmesi, Purplle, and NY Bae—offering trend-driven, high-quality beauty essentials.

What sets Purplle apart is its technology driven hyper-personalized shopping experience. By curating detailed user personas, enabling virtual makeup trials, and delivering tailored product recommendations based on personality, search intent, and purchase behavior, Purplle ensures a unique, customer-first approach.

In 2022, Purplle achieved unicorn status, becoming India’s 102nd unicorn, backed by an esteemed group of investors including ADIA, Kedaara, Premji Invest, Sequoia Capital India, JSW Ventures, Goldman Sachs, Verlinvest, Blume Ventures, and Paramark Ventures.

With a 3,000+ strong team and an unstoppable vision, Purplle is set to lead the charge in India’s booming beauty landscape, revolutionizing the way the nation experiences beauty.