Product Development Manager

Pierre Fabre USA is seeking a Product Development Manager with a strong focus on project and product management to drive the end-to-end development of innovative skincare and haircare products. Reporting to the Executive Director of Brand Marketing, this role bridges the gap between strategic brand vision, category expertise and flawless execution, ensuring timely delivery, operational excellence, and cross-functional alignment.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience in the beauty and skincare industry, coupled with a proven track record of leading multi-phase projects, managing timelines and budgets, and steering cross-functional teams to successful product launches. This role is perfect for a detail-oriented professional who is passionate about innovation, skincare, science, process optimization, and delivering team-centric solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

Project & Product Management

• Lead and manage the full product lifecycle—from concept brief through launch—ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and in line with strategic goals.
• Expertise and understanding of skincare and/or haircare science, ingredients and formulation, clinical testing, ability to analyze clinical and consumer results and provide recommendations to optimize and improve product concepts with data.
• Leverage data-driven insights, industry experience/knowledge and leverage proprietary brand science to develop trend-driven best-in-class product formulation and go-to-market plans.
• Brief, develop and partner with project team to manage and action on detailed project plans, timelines, critical paths, and risk assessments across multiple concurrent projects.
• Serve as the central point of contact across internal departments (US Brand Marketing, Global Marketing, R&D, Regulatory, Packaging, Finance, Operations) and external partners.
• Facilitate regular status meetings, track progress against milestones, and escalate issues when necessary.
• Lead copywriting and packaging artwork reviews and approvals in collaboration with cross-functional teams (creative, global, R&D, regulatory and legal)
• Partner with Finance and Brand Marketing Director to lead new product pricing analysis and P&L recommendations for gross margin management
• Partner with Brand Director to lead go-to-market product communication and validate claims and campaign communication

Strategic Innovation & Roadmapping

• Partner with Brand Marketing team and Global Marketing to build the product development roadmap aligned with brand strategy and consumer insights.
• Translate strategic ideas into actionable project briefs and manage ideation-to-execution workflows.
• Leverage market data and insights to inform US brand portfolio strategy
• Conduct ongoing analysis of category performance, competitive landscape, and consumer trends to identify white space and refine innovation strategies.

Briefing & Formulation Oversight

• Create detailed product and project briefs including objectives, performance targets, testing requirements, and timelines.
• Collaborate with internal R&D and external vendors to ensure formulations meet brand expectations, regulatory requirements, and testing protocols.
• Manage formula evaluations, consumer testing or focus groups and provide feedback to vendors and R&D
• Regulatory, claims & testing management
• Coordinate with Regulatory and R&D to manage all testing phases—safety, efficacy, stability, and claims—ensuring compliance with market standards.
• Track testing milestones and proactively flag risks to timelines or approvals.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Manage relationships with external manufacturers and suppliers in partnership with Regional CDMO team and global business partners, coordinate kick-off meetings, innovation reviews, and site visits.
• Ensure vendors are aligned with project objectives, timing, and quality standards.
• Process & operational excellence
• Drive process improvements across the product development cycle; define tools and frameworks to improve visibility, accountability, and execution across teams.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement and cross-functional partnership.
• Other duties as described by the business.

Qualifications & Experience:

• 5+ years of experience in product or project management within the beauty industry (skincare and/or haircare strongly preferred)
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Project Management, Cosmetic Science, or a related field;
• Proven ability to manage multiple high-impact projects simultaneously with attention to detail and cross-functional coordination
• Strong understanding of cosmetic formulations, ingredients, and consumer-centric innovation
• Previous experience with OTC skincare product development (FDA-regulated categories such as: Sunscreen, Acne, Eczema, Anti-dandruff, Hair thinning etc) are required.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Experience using project management tools a strong plus
• Passion for beauty and innovation, with a strong pulse on industry trends

 Work Environment / physical demands / position type and expected hours of work:

• This position based out of NJ with a flexible, hybrid work from home 2 days per week.
• This job operates in a clerical, office setting. This role routinely uses standard office equipment This is a largely sedentary role; however, it requires the ability to lift marketing materials, open product cabinets and bend or stand on a stool as necessary. 
• The normal working hours of the office are from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary Range: $85,000 – $120,000

This range represents the base annual full-time salary for all positions within the applicable job grade. The actual salary offer will depend on a range of factors including experience, education, location, and other relevant qualifications. This position is also eligible for a Pierre Fabre bonus, commission, or incentive program in addition to the base pay.

Employees will be eligible to participate in a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, voluntary benefits, a 401(k) retirement plan, a generous PTO policy, paid company holidays, and paid parental leave. Additional offerings include employee discounts on our products, professional development opportunities, and access to mental health and wellness programs.

Pierre Fabre

Pierre Fabre has been recognized by Forbes as one of the "World's Best Employers" for the 3rd year running.

Pierre Fabre is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any applicant because of race, creed, color, age, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression and identity, disability, genetic information, veteran status, military status, application for military service or any other class protected by state or federal law.