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Director of Research and Development

We are seeking a Director of Research & Development to lead technical product development for our core portfolio and future adjacencies.  This role owns material science, product design, and claims substantiation from concept through commercialization, partnering closely with suppliers, co-manufacturers, and their network of R&D experts and medical advisors to ensure their products deliver on consumer expectations for comfort, absorbency, and clean ingredients.

You’ll work closely with the Senior Director of Innovation on product development initiatives and site on the cross-functional team that brings new products and product improvements to market.  This role reports to the Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer.

Technical Strategy & Pipeline

• Lead technical product strategy and roadmap in support of their 3-year product pipeline.
• Evaluate the technical feasibility of new product concepts across nonwoven materials, absorbent core design, and applicator design, in partnership with suppliers and their network of R&D experts and medical advisors.
• Maintain close working relationships with material suppliers and manufacturing partners to drive development of new raw materials and proprietary components, and to optimize the performance of materials already in use.
• Monitor the technical and competitive landscape in absorbent hygiene – fibers, superabsorbent materials, organic cotton sourcing, plastics/injection molding, and adjacent innovations – to recommend technologies for their strategic pipeline.
• Proactively stay ahead of trends and technical developments.

Product Development & Commercialization

• Lead technical workstreams for their annual new product pipeline. Partner with innovation to translate concepts into actionable product briefs for our partners; advising on material selection and product design to meet consumer needs and project timelines.
• Translate product briefs into technical specifications for suppliers, including the development of proprietary materials and components.
• Oversee rigorous laboratory evaluations, including fluid retention, strike-through, and absorbency testing, to ensure products clear all launch hurdles. Translate consumer insights and clinical trial data into actionable product optimizations.
• Spearhead clinical testing initiatives to support new item launches where relevant.
• Assess technical and manufacturing risk throughout the development process; build mitigation plans and escalate to the executive team as needed.
• Keep the Customer Service team current on product information and monitor customer feedback for optimization opportunities. Support CS with answering product-related inquiries.

Claims, Certifications & Compliance

• Substantiate consumer-relevant product claims that drive trial, grounded in lab data and clinical/consumer testing, including ingredient-level claims.
• Lead third party product certifications across their portfolio; partner with Marketing to prioritize and manage certification portfolio.
• Oversee the technical documentation and testing required for regulatory submissions. Collaborate with Regulatory and Quality to ensure all products comply with US standards, including FDA regulations for medical devices (where applicable), ISO standards, and state hygiene mandates.
• Maintain working knowledge of their quality management system as it relates to innovation launches and medical device-related documentation.

Salary

$200,000 - $240,000

Benefits Available

Technical Qualifications:

• BS to PhD in Material Science, Chemistry, Engineering, or related degree
• 8-10 years of R&D experience, ideally in absorbent hygiene or a closely related consumer products category
• Hands-on technical depth in materials relevant to tampons, pads, and liners – nonwovens, absorbent core design, superabsorbent materials, plastics / injection molding, and organic / natural fiber sourcing
• Working knowledge of the US regulatory landscape for menstrual products (FDA medical device requirements for tampons, pads, and liners)
• Experience designing or overseeing lab and consumer testing protocols and translating results into defensible product claims
• Experience managing relationships with suppliers and co-manufacturers through the product development lifecycle, ideally including experience working with international partners

**If you’d like to hear more about this opportunity and others we are currently working on, please reach out to Devin Heffernan at dheffernan@cps4jobs.com.

JO:  9.22.26DH
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