Senior Director of Innovation

About You

Nutrafol is seeking a natural leader, a scientist, with a comprehensive understanding of hair biology. You’re a scientific thinker who can lead the research and innovation to identify new mechanisms, technologies and trends in the wellness space. Innovation that will translate in new formulations for next generation ingestible and topical products for both longer-term and mid-term initiatives to meet our marketing strategy and align with our ingredient policy and customer expectations. You’re a passionate leader who builds teams and partners with internal teams and vendors, both domestic and international.

Responsibilities

• Directing the Innovation team with the goal of bringing insights/network/collaborations in hair biology to identify targets/ingredients for next-gen ingestible and topical products
• Partner with laboratories, CROs, Universities, Suppliers to identify and develop new ingredients and formulations
• Manage a team of scientists, making sure that objectives are clearly defined and achievable in a timely manner, while managing team workload and incorporating feedback
• Conducts research, reporting findings and leads internal conversations with Chief Science Officer 
• Develop a strategic product innovation funnel with internal teams across all product categories, launching top of the class innovation that can be patented 
• Involved in the ideation, creation, management, and execution of technologies for product launches and planning for highly successful product introductions and post-launch marketing campaigns, with a 360-degree field-oriented approach
• Assists internal teams with creating scientific material for presentations at conferences and peer review publications
• Source ingredients for innovation, while leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) for target and ingredients identification
• Develop, own, manage, and track execution of the innovation portfolio, from concept through transfer, to formulation and product development 
• Regularly present findings on new innovations to internal teams and lead discussions, acting as the subject matter expert
• Manage timelines and deliverables of innovation for new product launches
• Ensures testing of ingredients meet safety regulations, both domestically and internationally 
• Drive and optimize team performance, engagement and productivity by empowering and developing each individual within your team

Requirements:

• 15+ years of experience in Hair and/or Skin Biology, within academia and/or the beauty, health, and wellness products space in domestic and international markets; Ph.D. preferred
• Prior experience in formulations and developing new ingredients, including supplements and topicals
• 10+ years of experience leading people and/or coaching a team
• Record of Scientific publications and achievements (patents, presentation at conferences, etc.)
• Strong ​​understanding US and international regulations; dietary supplement cGMP process for ingestible and topical products a plus
• Driven self-starter & strategist in thinking and execution
• Detail-oriented with highly developed business acumen, curious, passionate, and possess strong critical reasoning skills
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage high complexity and multiple projects simultaneously while working across company functions
• You contribute to the professional development of a team and provide innovative leadership
• Passionate about Science and Biological Pathways

Preferred:

• AI experience