At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovation and product development for groundbreaking beauty products.
- Company: Join Trinny London, a fast-growing beauty brand revolutionising skincare and makeup.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous holiday, and a £500 annual product allowance.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with exciting career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of beauty with cutting-edge science and creativity.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in beauty NPD and a relevant scientific degree.
The predicted salary is between 99000 - 121000 £ per year.
We're hiring a Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) to lead our NPD and Innovation team.
This role will be the main driver in the conception and development of new products, using industry and technical knowledge to bring signature Trinny London products to life.
The CIO will lead and manage our product development team while working very closely with our Founder, Trinny Woodall, and the rest of the business.
The ideal candidate will be responsible for throwing out the rule book, developing industry leading and profoundly innovative breakthrough ideas whilst blending innovative vision with complex technical formulation expertise.
Welcome to Trinny London!
Here at Trinny London, we’re changing the face of makeup and demystifying skincare, and we're only just getting started.
Founded in 2017 by Trinny Woodall, Trinny London is challenging people all over the world to rethink their routines.
We have achieved tremendous growth since 2017 and we’re proud to be one of Europe’s fastest-growing beauty brands.
We’re generating millions in sales by developing innovative products, acquiring hundreds of thousands of supporters and customers all over the world, and more importantly, building a talented and motivated team to support our fantastic growth.
Our Values
We live by three core values: we bring fearless passion, we act with smart intent and we all wear yellow.
We always go the extra mile, working together to push boundaries and celebrate our wins and learnings as a team.
We listen to every idea, big or small, and make considered decisions.
We support each other to achieve our goals and thrive on collaboration.
The Role
As Chief Innovation Officer, working closely with our Founder, Trinny Woodall, you will define what comes next for Trinny London - and challenge what comes next for beauty.
You will lead our innovation vision, turning breakthrough science, emerging technologies, customer insight and bold ideas into industry leading products that genuinely change the way people experience and think about beauty.
From the first spark of an idea through to formulation, clinical validation, development and launch, you will own the full NPD and Innovation journey - building a pipeline that is technically exceptional, commercially powerful and unmistakably Trinny London.
You will bring together the worlds of science, technology, creativity and consumer need, pushing our partners and our team to go further and create products that are not simply new to market, but meaningfully ahead of it.
Responsibilities
- Strategic Innovation & Pipeline Leadership
- Challenge what is possible in beauty - spot the next breakthrough before it becomes mainstream and bring new thinking, ingredients, technologies and formats into the brand.
- Own the Trinny London innovation pipeline, ensuring the product roadmap reflects our vision and commercial targets.
- Partner directly with Trinny and the leadership team to turn ambitious ideas, customer insight and emerging science into products people genuinely want to use.
- Build a forward-looking innovation pipeline across new ingredients, delivery systems, formulation technologies, clinical science and emerging areas of skin health.
- Bring an external lens to the business - constantly scanning scientific research, technology, consumer behaviour, ingredient innovation and competitor developments to identify what we should be exploring next.
- Translate complex scientific and technical developments into clear opportunities for the brand, balancing scientific ambition with consumer relevance and commercial potential.
- Product Development & Scale-Up
- Manage the product lifecycle from the first spark of inspiration through to formulation and manufacturing to a flawless commercial launch.
- Direct our technical strategy across unique formulation to Trinny London, texture engineering, and sensory performance
- Implement thorough testing protocols, claims testing, stability assessments, and safety reviews to ensure every product meets our exacting standards.
- Innovation Lifecycle Governance
- Direct regulatory strategies so all Trinny London products and marketing claims align with global compliance frameworks.
- Oversee the preparation of technical documentation, safety assessments, and registrations in coordination with internal legal experts.
- Create a best in class external innovation network across formulators, manufacturers, ingredient innovators, laboratories and technical partners.
- Oversee NPD budgets and COGS management to maintain strong margins without compromising on product performance or quality.
- Team Leadership & Collaboration
- Lead, develop and inspire a high-performing NPD team, setting a culture of ambition, curiosity and scientific rigour.
- Build strong, collaborative relationships across Marketing, Commercial, Operations and the wider Leadership Team.
- Partner closely with the business to turn bold ideas and emerging science into commercially successful products.
- Raise the technical capability and confidence of the wider business, bringing scientific expertise into key product decisions.
- Proven senior leadership experience within an NPD beauty environment, with an extensive background in skinare product creation, formula engineering, or cosmetic advancement across the beauty and wellness industry, with a specific focus on skincare formulation.
- Experience in leading high performing Product and Formulation teams
- Master’s degree or Ph D in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Cosmetic Science, Biology, or a related scientific/technical field strongly preferred.
- Innovative and customer obsessed commercial thinker, with the ability to bring ideas to life, whilst meeting deadlines and budget margins.
- Proven history of developing and successfully launching award-winning or commercially disruptive skincare from concept to market.
- Good understanding of global cosmetic regulatory standards, labelling guidelines, safety protocols, and claims testing methodologies.
- An impactful communicator who presents with confidence and can influence stakeholders at all levels, including Founder and C suite
- Thrives in a fast-paced, agile environment balancing attention to detail with strong organisational skills.
This role is based in London, but we’re open-minded about where the right person is currently based. We welcome international applications and are open to relocation and visa sponsorship for the right candidate.
Our mission is to give our customers the tools they need to be their best. And the same goes for our team through our benefits:
- Hybrid and flexible working, with core working hours
- 25 days holiday (we're also partial to a handful of spontaneous and well-earned Wellbeing Days throughout the year, as well as Early Finish Fridays and Summer Fridays)
- Welcome to Trinny London Starter Stack and swag
- Your Beauty Wallet: You'll receive a £500 annual product allowance to explore and enjoy our full range of Trinny London products
- Company discount for yourself, your friends, and family
- Vitality health scheme, EAP and Medicash (including dental, optical & audiological care)
- An annual personal training and development budget
- Enhanced family friendly packagesto support birthing & non-birthing parents
- Pension scheme
- Workplace nursery scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- T-Parties = many office socials as well as summer and festive celebrations!
- Rewards and Recognition Scheme (awarding length of service with gifts, vouchers and additional annual leave)
- Equal Opportunities
We celebrate diversity in our customers, our products, and the teams we build. We champion inclusivity and want everyone to be the best versions of themselves.
We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome people from all backgrounds, with their unique perspectives, ideas and experiences.
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Chief Innovation Officer employer: Trinny London
At Trinny London, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that champions collaboration and innovation. Located in the heart of Chelsea, our team enjoys flexible working arrangements, generous holiday allowances, and unique perks like a £500 annual product allowance and regular social events. We are committed to employee growth, providing annual training budgets and enhanced family-friendly packages, making us a truly rewarding place to build your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Innovation Officer
✨Leverage Innovation Hubs
Tap into local innovation hubs and research centres. These places often host events and workshops where you can meet like-minded people and industry leaders. Plus, they might have job openings that aren't widely advertised, so keep your ears open!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Turn your past innovation projects into compelling stories. Create a portfolio showcasing your creativity and problem-solving skills. This can give hiring managers a real flavour of what you can bring to the table at companies like Trinny London.
✨Connect at Industry Conferences
Make it a point to attend industry conferences and seminars focused on R&D and innovation management. These events are fantastic for networking and often have job boards or career fairs where you can connect directly with firms looking for talent.
✨Use Your University’s Resources
If you're fresh out of university, don't forget to tap into your institution's career services. They often have exclusive partnerships with companies seeking new talent in R&D, especially for full-time roles. It's a good shortcut to landing a gig at places like Trinny London.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Innovation Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Creative Thinking:In innovation and R&D management, it's all about thinking outside the box. Make sure your CV highlights any projects or experiences that showcase your creative problem-solving skills. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've developed and implemented innovative ideas in previous roles.
Tailor Your Experience to R&D:When you're crafting your CV, focus on your experience in research and development. Highlight any relevant projects you've worked on, including methodologies used and results achieved. This will show us at Trinny London that you understand the R&D process and can contribute meaningfully to our projects.
Let Your Passion Shine in the Cover Letter:For a full-time role like this, your cover letter should reflect your genuine passion for innovation and development. Share your excitement about the opportunity to work at Trinny London and touch on how your goals align with our mission. This helps us see your motivation for wanting to join our team!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in R&D! Whenever possible, quantify your achievements in your CV. Whether it’s a percentage improvement in project outcomes, the budget size you’ve managed, or the number of successful products you've launched, these figures will help paint a clearer picture of your impact and capabilities.
How to prepare for a job interview at Trinny London
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at Trinny London, they're going to want to see how you approach problem-solving. Be ready to discuss previous projects where you introduced a new idea or process. Highlight your ability to think outside the box and provide examples where your innovations drove significant results.
✨Familiarity with Tools and Technologies
Make sure you're clued up on the latest tools and technologies related to innovation management, such as project management software and data analysis platforms. Being able to discuss specific tools you’ve used or have experience with will show Trinny London that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
Since this is a full-time gig, emphasising your teamwork skills will be essential. In innovation, collaboration often sparks the best ideas, so be ready to talk about how you've worked effectively within cross-functional teams in your past roles. Have concrete examples at the ready!
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions in your interview that reflect real challenges you might face in the role. £At Trinny London, they might want to see how you handle tight deadlines or manage conflicting ideas within a team. Prepare some responses that demonstrate your critical thinking and decisiveness in high-pressure situations.
