Product Development Manager, Haircare– Drybar & Curlsmith

Our Beauty & Wellness division empowers consumers with trusted products that support self-care, from salon-quality styling tools to wellness devices like humidifiers and air purifiers. Our innovative products and solutions promote healthy living, elevating the lives of consumers every day. This business unit includes Braun, PUR, Honeywell, Vicks, Hot Tools, Drybar, Curlsmith, and Revlon brands, and this role may support one or more of these brands.

We are powered by knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and forward-thinking people committed to developing a culture of inclusion. Whether you are just starting your career or in need of a challenge, we recognise, develop, and empower talent!

Work Location: 100% Remote in the Greater London Area. Due to required travel into Central London, only candidates based within Greater London will be considered.

What you will be doing:

• Managing and executing all phases of the product development process from concept to launch of liquids.
• Staying up to date on the latest beauty industry trends, ingredients, packaging and consumer and competitor activity to generate product vision backed with data to inspire and inform briefs and manage product innovation ideation.
• Maintaining strong product and brand focus, keeping the customer top of mind.
• Creating new product development briefs that address consumer needs and ensure product experience and uniqueness are delivered, with alignment of marketing on key ingredients, features, and benefits.
• Overseeing daily functions of product development, sourcing raw materials, and working directly with contract manufacturers.
• Reviewing submissions, providing direction to contract manufacturers, managing timing, pilot, and production to ensure product meets requirements and remains consistent through scale-up for final approvals and sign-off.
• Monitoring the manufacturing schedule to ensure batching and fill dates stay on track and resolve delays to ensure timely receipt of finished goods.
• Overseeing packaging development from brief and sizing based on competitive analysis that meet pricing targets, timing, and delivery functionality.
• Creating COGS sheets for margin and MSRP analysis and alignment with marketing.
• Working with outside vendors, tracking on-time launches, and signing off on specs.
• Managing multiple product development projects and milestones concurrently.
• Aligning on claim substantiation plan with marketing and R&D/regulatory/legal.
• Collaborating across cross-functional teams (creative, sales, marketing, operations, quality, R&D, packaging and regulatory) to execute product launch strategies for on-time, successful, and high-quality launches.
• Tracking key product development milestones, elevating delays, identifying challenges, and proposing solutions.
• Communicating milestone updates as dates change.

Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to prioritise, know when to seek help, and coordinate with appropriate parties.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with problem-solving ability.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to switch between projects without sacrificing quality.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
• Experience working with contract manufacturers and third-party labs.
• Strong understanding of cosmetic formulation, ingredients, and manufacturing processes.
• Proactive and self-motivated with a passion for product development in beauty, staying up to date with industry trends.
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple launches simultaneously.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree
• 5+ years in the personal care industry within Product Development
• Experience in product development in personal care industry
• Experience working with contract manufacturers and packaging suppliers

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven track record of launching successful products in competitive beauty markets

Helen of Troy welcomes people as diverse as our brands. Have the confidence to come as who you are because your point of view, skills, and experience will make us stronger. If you’re eager to share new ideas and try new things, we want to hear from you.