Director, Hair Care & Style Application Domain, L'Oreal Research & Innovation

Director, Hair Care & Style Application Domain, L'Oreal Research & Innovation - Clark, New Jersey

Life is too short for a boring career, so build an extraordinary one with us. We believe your career should spark the same thrill and curiosity as your personal interests. Creativity drives everything we do, turning ideas into meaningful impact. With opportunities across brands, markets, and divisions, your growth knows no boundaries.

Who We Are

Join us at L’Oréal, the world's #1 beauty company present in over 150 markets. For over a century, we have been transforming; fueled by data, tech, innovation, and science. Together, we tackle big challenges while making sure we stay committed to making the world a more inclusive and a better place for everyone & our planet.

 At L’Oréal Research & Innovation we are pushing the boundaries of Science & Tech. We invest heavily in cutting-edge research, leveraging advanced technologies to understand skin, hair, and microbiome, while discovering new active ingredients and launching outperforming formulas. Our 3,500 L'Oréal R&I experts leverage Science & Technology to invent safe, trustable, sustainable & responsible beauty products and experiences that will change people’s lives. 

We are seeking a Director to join in the Hair Care & Style Application Domain, you’ll report to the Senior Project Leader of the Hair Care & Style Application Domain and work within a dynamic team of 10. You’ll be collaborating with global leads and cross-functional teams like Advanced Research and Hair Care & Style Formulation Development. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative projects in hair care science while driving advancements in green-driven formulation and hair fiber science. It is a full-time hybrid role and is based at L’Oreal state-of-the-art research center in Clark, New Jersey. 

Role Summary:
 In this role, you will be responsible for driving strategic project portfolios and providing exceptional people leadership to a team of scientists and technical experts. You will bridge advanced formulation concepts with practical hair application, ensuring the successful delivery of high-performance hair care innovations. 

A Day in the Life:

Project Leadership & Execution 

• Lead and manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, ensuring on-time and within budget delivery. This includes defining project scopes, developing timelines, managing resources and tracking progress against key performance indicators 
• Maintain rigorous standards of safety, quality, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence across all laboratory and pilot-scale initiatives
• Identify and address challenges proactively, developing creative solutions to complex problems 

Strategic Vision & Innovation Pipeline

• Define and direct the long-term strategic roadmap for hair care and styling, aligning R&I milestones with global brand ambitions.
• Identify, evaluate, and scale breakthrough technological opportunities to address unmet consumer needs 
• Anticipate emerging consumer, regulatory, and sustainability shifts to proactively adapt research strategies to maintain our competitive edge.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Drive critical innovation milestones from concept to launch by orchestrating seamless collaboration across global and regional partners, including formulation scientists, engineers, marketers and creative professionals. 
• Lead multidisciplinary initiatives across international hubs, ensuring harmonization of technical standards and regional responsiveness.

Team Management & Development

• Mentor and develop team of direct reports 
• Cultivate an inclusive, psychologically safe, and high-performing culture that celebrates diversity of thought and scientific curiosity.
• Champion continuous learning, mentorship, and career pathing to nurture the next generation of scientific leaders and technical experts.

Qualifications & Requirements

The ideal candidate possesses a strong blend of scientific expertise, project management skills, and leadership capabilities. They are a highly motivated and results-oriented individual with a passion for innovation and a commitment to excellence.

• Education: Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, or a related scientific discipline.
• Experience: 7–10+ years in cosmetic/personal care product formulation, with a proven track record of driving high-impact innovations from concept to development within complex, matrixed organizations.
• Technical Expertise: Strong foundation in formula chemistry and analytical skills, with expertise in hair care formulation and hair fiber science strongly preferred.
• People Leadership: Demonstrated success in leading, coaching, and developing high-performing scientific teams.
• Mindset & Influence: Entrepreneurial, resilient, and adaptable. Thrives in ambiguity, acts decisively, and excels at influencing and inspiring stakeholders at all levels.
• Project Management: Excellent ability to prioritize and manage multiple complex projects concurrently across cross-functional teams.
• Problem Solving: Strong problem-solving skills with a proven track record of successfully resolving complex issues.
• Global Collaboration & Communication: Exceptional communication and presentation skills (oral and written) with experience working in international, multi-disciplinary environments—able to clearly translate complex technical information for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Mandatory Requirements:
  • Authorization to work in the U.S. on a permanent, ongoing basis. No immigration support/sponsorship offered for this role 
  • The ability to be onsite, in the office at least 3 days a week as an essential function of the position.

What’s In It For You

• A place for you to leave your comfort zone and grow beyond your potential (here, you’ll be encouraged to try new things and take risks!)
• Real responsibility from day 1, there’s no sitting on the sidelines at L’Oréal
• An environment where people of every ethnicity, social background, age, religion, gender and sexual orientation as well as people with disabilities are accepted, can speak up, will thrive and are celebrated!
• A place where you can contribute to something bigger! Many of our brands have societal /environmental causes to make concrete difference
• Base Salary Range: $126,900 - $184,000 (The actual compensation will depend on a variety of job-related factors which may include geographic location, work experience, education, and skill level) 
• Competitive Benefits Package (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Pension Plan)
• Hybrid Work Policy (Up to 2 Days per week work from home for eligible roles, subject to manager approval)
• Flexible Time Off (Paid Company Holidays, Paid Vacation, Vacation Buy Program, Volunteer Time, Summer Fridays & More!)
• Access to Company Perks (VIP Access to L’Oréal’s Internal Shop for Discounted Products, Monthly Mobile Allowance)
• Learning and Development Opportunities (Unlimited Access to E-learnings, Lunch & Learn Sessions, Mentorship Programs, & More!)
• Employee Resource Groups (Think Tanks and Innovation Squads)
• Access to Mental Health & Wellness Programs

Don’t meet every single requirement? At L'Oréal, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and innovative workplace. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with the qualifications listed in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways! You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles!

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and take pride in a diverse environment. We’re committed to guaranteeing inclusive recruitment processes and advocating for hiring and promoting each candidate in an ethical and equitable way. The Group strictly prohibits discrimination against any applicant for employment because of the individual’s gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, visible and/or invisible disabilities, socio-economic and/or multicultural origins, health conditions, age, religion, or any other characteristics protected by law.