The Role
Lead product development for color cosmetics, collaborating with the founder to create innovative products from concept to launch while managing cross-functional teams and ensuring compliance with regulations.
Summary Generated by Built In
About the Company
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. stands with every eye, lip, face and paw. Our deep commitment to clean, cruelty free beauty at an incredible value has fueled the success of our flagship brand e.l.f. Cosmetics since 2004 and driven our portfolio expansion. Today, our multi-brand portfolio includes e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. SKIN, pioneering clean beauty brand Well People, Keys Soulcare, a groundbreaking lifestyle beauty brand created with Alicia Keys, Naturium, high-performance, biocompatible, clinically-effective and accessible skin care, and our newest brand, rhode, a line of curated skincare essentials, formulated for a variety of skin types and needs with high performance ingredients, it’s a daily routine that nourishes your skin barrier over time.
In our Fiscal year 25, we had net sales of $1 Billion and our business performance has been nothing short of extraordinary with 26 consecutive quarters of net sales growth. We are the #2 mass cosmetics brand in the US and are the fastest growing mass cosmetics brand among the top 5. Our total compensation philosophy offers every full-time new hire competitive pay and benefits, bonus eligibility (200% of target over the last six fiscal years), equity, flexible time off, year-round half-day Fridays, and a hybrid 3 day in office, 2 day at home work environment. We believe the combination of our unique culture, total compensation, workplace flexibility and care for the team is unmatched across not just beauty but any industry.
Visit our Career Page to learn more about our team: https://www.elfbeauty.com/work-with-us
We’re seeking a hands-on product development leader to shape and execute the vision for our color cosmetics portfolio. This role is highly collaborative with our founder, working side-by-side to translate her creative vision, artistry instincts, and consumer connection into breakthrough products. You’ll lead development from concept to launch, and partner cross-functionally to bring high quality products to market at speed.
The ideal candidate has developed top performing color cosmetics and has expertise in relevant trends and innovation, ingredients and product development. This position will be responsible for the innovation, development, evaluation and execution of new product development.
What You'll Do
- Co-Create with the Founder – Work directly with the founder to shape product concepts, and shade strategy.
- Lead Development – Oversee formula and shade development from concept through testing, scale-up and launch.
- Oversee safety and stability testing to ensure product requirements are met. Manage and report all clinical, sensory and consumer testing for products in development.
- Deliver inclusive, high-performance shades and finishes that meet the founder’s standards and exceed consumer expectations.
- Move with Speed – Ensure launches hit timing and margin targets while balancing creativity, quality, and feasibility.
- Collaborate Cross-Functionally – Partner with Project Management, Marketing, Ops, and Regulatory to deliver 360° launches with impact.
- Partner with Project Management to develop and communicate timeline expectations and key milestones to vendors and ensure timing is met.
- Work with Regulatory team to ensure compliance with all regulations.
- Assist with resolution of quality or production issues to ensure on-time launches
- Manage Vendors – Build strong lab and supplier partnerships (domestic and international) to unlock innovation and ensure execution at scale. Travel to contract manufacturers for on-site formula development, shade matching, pilot/scale up, and production batching, as needed.
- Lead & Inspire – Mentor and grow a team of product developers.
What You'll Bring
- Bachelor's degree in related field
- 10+ years in product development with deep expertise in color cosmetics.
- Proven ability to translate creative vision into successful scalable products.
- Expertise in formula development, pigments, shade matching, and regulatory standards.
- A collaborative, founder-facing approach with strong communication skills.
- Experience thriving in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, high-expectation environment.
- Strong communication skills and enthusiasm for collaboration
- You’re a self-starter who possesses an entrepreneurial spirit.
- You thrive in a fast-paced, agile environment.
- You are a team player who approaches solutions from a place of curiosity and positivity.
- Strong project management skills and cross-functional communication to ensure projects meet timelines and budget
- You have a passion for making data-driven decisions regarding product
- Must be organized, have impeccable attention to detail and a strong multitasker
- Must be a strategic thinker, flexible, self-starter, and possess an entrepreneurial spirit
- Team player, reliable partner, and collaborative thinker is a must
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally
Other Details for Consideration
- Location of position: Los Angeles, California
- In-office requirement: at least 3 days a week
- Reports to: SVP, Research and Development
- Salary range budgeted for position: $180K - $200K
This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed in this position. It also reflects the general details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job identified, and shall not be considered, as detailed description of all the work required inherent in the job. It is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities, and it is subject to changes and exceptions at the supervisors’ discretion.
e.l.f. Beauty respects your privacy. Please see our Job Applicant Privacy Notice (www.elfbeauty.com/us-job-applicant-privacy-notice) for how your personal information is used and shared.
Top Skills
Color Cosmetics
Formula Development
Product Development
Shade Matching
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The Company
What We Do
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. stands with every eye, lip, face and paw. Celebrating the beauty of every eye, lip and face is fundamental to our DNA. It’s in our name and inspires us as a company. We are committed to creating a culture internally – and in the world around us – where all individuals are encouraged to express their truest selves, are empowered to succeed and where we do the right thing for people, the planet and animals.
Our deep commitment to inclusive, accessible, cruelty-free beauty has fueled the success of the e.l.f. Cosmetics brand online and at retail since 2004. With the 2020 acquisition of the pioneering clean-beauty brand W3LL People, and the new lifestyle beauty brand Keys Soulcare created with Alicia Keys, we continue to strategically expand our portfolio with brands that support our purpose and values. Our brands are widely available online, and at leading beauty, mass-market, and natural specialty retailers.
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