Vantage Specialty Chemicals

Position Summary

This position requires the individual to conduct laboratory experiments including product innovation, application research, formula development and performance testing as well as managing lab and people.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Senior Scientist, Formulation and Application Development at Vantage Personal Care is a science-driven project leader responsible for planning, managing, executing, and supporting product innovation and formulation development projects. This role requires deep technical expertise in personal care categories, including skin care, hair care, color cosmetics, sun care, baby care, toiletries, and more, as well as a strong understanding of formulation science and application techniques. The candidate will ensure alignment with the product innovation team, leading formulation development and application studies while conducting experiments to enhance the value proposition of Vantage products and technologies. They will also develop new personal care applications and formulations, showcasing Vantage technologies through customer meetings, marketing campaigns, industry events, and trade shows. This role involves cross-functional collaboration with global laboratories, production plants, business units, suppliers, customers, and external partners to support new product launches, problem-solving for customer challenges, and process optimization. The candidate is expected to maintain strong expertise in Vantage products and technologies while staying informed about advancements in the cosmetic industry.

This full-time, on-site position requires laboratory presence 5 days per week, in accordance with the local return-to-office policy. The lab is based in the Barcelona Science Innovation District, with occasional visits to the Barcelona office site as needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Collaborate with Global R&D and Marketing teams to lead new product innovation and in-market product development, enhancing the VPC product portfolio based on Vantage strategy, market trends, and customer feedback. Responsibilities include assessing technical feasibility and business viability, developing new products, conducting performance tests, and finalizing product specifications.
• Develop cosmetic formulations that showcase Vantage technologies, highlighting their added value in marketing campaigns, trade shows, customer briefs, workshops, and industry trends.
• Monitor product and formulation stability, generating reports with findings.
• Conduct qualification studies on Vantage ingredients, documenting results in detailed reports.
• Provide technical support, addressing customer inquiries and formulation-related challenges.
• Apply knowledge of laboratory safety procedures, SDS guidelines, and hazard/toxicity data to ensure compliance with site safety policies and the written safety manual.
• Promote a culture of safety, continuously driving awareness and ensuring a safe work environment for all employees.
• Maintain laboratory efficiency, following SOPs and GLP guidelines, while managing raw materials and packaging inventory.
• Understand formulation procedures and Vantage technologies, integrating this expertise into applications that enhance customer products.
• Keep accurate records of all laboratory work and research, ensuring alignment with standard laboratory principles.

Note: The duties listed above are not all inclusive and may be subject to periodic updating or revision.

Education & Experience

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Cosmetic Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Polymer Science, or a related field.
• Master’s or PhD preferred, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant industry experience.
• Fluent in Spanish and English; proficiency in additional languages is a plus.

Experience:

• 8-10 years of experience in the personal care industry, specializing in formulation, product development, application, or research.
• Strong ability to collaborate with internal and external partners at all levels, driving project development, execution, and customer satisfaction.
• Experience participating in industry events, trade shows, and technical symposiums; presenting at such events is a plus
• Proficiency in commonly used business and scientific applications, software, and market research databases; experience in intellectual property and patent filings is beneficial.
• Expertise in cosmetic formulation, with a focus on skin care and hair care applications.
• Strong planning and organizational abilities, with keen attention to detail.
• Analytical and scientific problem-solving skills, capable of addressing diverse technical and practical challenges
• Ability to work independently within cross-functional teams, managing multiple projects efficiently while meeting deadlines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, ensuring effective collaboration across teams and stakeholders.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Vantage is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other protected category.

About Vantage

Vantage provides natural solutions to our customers’ technical performance and marketing needs through a unique combination of chemistry, application expertise and service. Underpinned by our broad portfolio of formulations, ingredients and actives that are built on a backbone of sustainable oils, fats and their derivatives, Vantage targets selected markets and applications including personal care, food, surface treatment, agriculture, pharma, and consumer and industrial performance. Vantage is headquartered in Deerfield, IL., operates in 11 countries worldwide and employs more than 1,000 talented professionals focused on delivering exceptional customer experiences with every interaction.

We are a dynamic people-centered organization where you’ll be part of a collaborative global team. Embracing our cultural diversity, we learn from each other to constantly improve, adapt and iterate. We value the voices and talents of our colleagues, empowering them to drive their unique ideas to completion. We’re convinced that exceptionally motivated employees produce outstanding results and we celebrate them by fostering a culture of recognition, development, learning, excellence and shared achievement. Most importantly, we know you’re going to like it here. For more information visit: vantagegrp.com or LinkedIn/vantage.