R&D Formulation Manager (Personal Care) - Cikupa, Indonesia

Location: Cikupa, Tangerang Regency, Indonesia (Relocation provided)

Reporting To: R&D Director

Contract Type: Full Time

Start Date: ASAP (Urgent Position)

Salary Package: IDR 200 Million / Month (depending on potential & experience)

Benefits: Medical insurance (single person basis)

Other Benefits: Relocation package provided

•Great career opportunity

•Privilege to evolve in a very-well established company which cares about the environment and sustainability.

About Our Client

Our client is an international Indonesian holding founded in 2016 and headquartered in Tangerang, Banten, specialized in the manufacturing of cosmetics products and various fast-moving consuming goods. It positions itself as a “people-oriented company” that owns its own factory to ensure product quality and delivery.

Here is a snapshot of the company’s key details:

• Core Business: Manufactures a wide range of products, including face, hair, and body care, as well as fragrances and home care items. It also offers contract manufacturing services for other brands.
• Company Values: Guided by the values of Integrity, Care, Innovation, and Customer Satisfaction (IC-2).
• Company Size: Employs around 800 people worldwide in South-East Asia.
• Vision & Mission: Its vision is to be a leading and innovative cosmetics company that delivers safe and quality products, with a mission to adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (CPKB.

Our client is also renowned for its focus on creating a supportive and millennial-friendly work environment that offers significant learning opportunities

Role Overview 

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or Chemical Engineering
• Chinese national from Mainland China (preferred)
• Willing to relocate and reside in Indonesia; full accommodation and work visa arrangement provided by the company
• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Technology, Cosmetology, or a related field; Master’s degree is a plus
• Minimum 7–10 years of experience in personal care product formulation
• Must have a demonstrable portfolio of genuine formulation innovation, creating new formulas from scratch, not merely optimizing or iterating on existing ones
• Experience leading an R&D team at a managerial level
• Deep technical expertise in emulsion technology, surfactant chemistry, active ingredient incorporation, and related disciplines
• Familiarity with personal care raw material supply chains in Asia, particularly China
• Knowledge of cosmetic regulations (NMPA/CFDA China and/or international standards); familiarity with BPOM Indonesia is a plus
• Proficient in product stability testing (accelerated and real-time stability tests)
• Able to work in a cross-cultural environment and collaborate with local Indonesian teams
• Full proficiency in English or Bahasa Indonesia is not required; language is not a barrier for this role

Key Responsibilities:

• Formulation Innovation: Lead research and innovation of personal care product formulations from concept stage through to production-ready formula; identify innovation opportunities based on market trends, new ingredients, and consumer insights — focusing on true innovation, not incremental improvement.
• Product Development: Oversee the full product development cycle including formula design, lab trials, stability testing, and scale-up from lab to mass production; ensure all formulations meet quality, safety, and regulatory standards.
• R&D Team Leadership: Lead and develop the local R&D formulation team in Indonesia; build team capability, set R&D roadmaps, and ensure projects are delivered on schedule.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with Marketing, Production, and QC/QA teams to align product development with brand objectives, manufacturing capabilities, and quality requirements.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all formulations comply with BPOM Indonesia regulations and relevant international cosmetic safety standards; maintain thorough documentation of all formulation processes and research results.
• Raw Material Sourcing: Evaluate and recommend new raw materials and active ingredients; collaborate with the procurement team and leverage knowledge of Asian, particularly Chinese, ingredient supply chains.
• Category Coverage: Develop and innovate across key personal care categories including skincare (serums, moisturizers, sunscreen), haircare (shampoo, conditioner, treatment), and body care.