About the Company
Our client is a leading European cosmetics company specialising in the development and manufacturing of high-quality color cosmetics for global beauty brands. With a strong focus on innovation, technical excellence, and product quality, the company supports international clients from formula development to finished products.
As part of its continued growth in Korea, the company is looking for a senior R&D professional to lead local laboratory activities, drive formulation projects, and ensure strong technical, regulatory, and customer-facing standards.
About the Job
The R&D Director will be responsible for managing the overall Korea laboratory with responsibility for people, projects, budget, deadlines, equipment, and technical performance.
This role will act as a key bridge between Korea and global R&D teams, ensuring that local laboratory activities are aligned with company standards, customer needs, marketing priorities, and innovation objectives. The position requires a senior cosmetics R&D professional with strong leadership experience, scientific expertise, project management skills, and a strong understanding of North Asian beauty, skincare, and color cosmetics trends.
Laboratory Leadership and Management
- Manage the overall Korea laboratory.
- Oversee people management, project priorities, budget, deadlines, equipment, and laboratory performance.
- Ensure the lab operates efficiently, safely, and in line with internal quality and technical standards.
- Support the R&D Managers in coordinating teams, resources, and project execution.
- Ensure laboratory activities are aligned with global R&D strategy and local business needs.
Project and Budget Oversight
- Oversee the planning and execution of R&D projects.
- Monitor project timelines, budget allocation, technical progress, and delivery milestones.
- Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and according to agreed technical standards.
- Identify risks, bottlenecks, or resource needs and support timely resolution.
- Validate project priorities in coordination with local and global stakeholders.
Main Activities
- Receive briefs from Product Management and Marketing teams.
- Translate product briefs, market needs, and innovation ideas into clear R&D priorities.
- Guide the team in developing new concepts, formulas, and technical solutions.
- Ensure projects are aligned with customer expectations, Korean market trends, and global innovation strategy.
- Receive formula transfer requests and product adjustment needs.
- Oversee formula adaptation, technical tweaking, and localisation when required.
- Ensure transferred formulas meet performance, regulatory, quality, and production requirements.
- Coordinate with local teams, global R&D, and external partners to support successful formula transfer and implementation.
Global Reporting and Collaboration
- Report regularly to global corporate R&D / CG teams.
- Visit global teams periodically for reporting, alignment, technical discussions, and project follow-up.
- Act as the key R&D representative for Korea in global discussions.
- Ensure transparent communication between the Korea lab and global stakeholders.
- Market, Scientific, and Technical Intelligence
- Feed other corporate teams with insights on marketing, scientific, and formulation trends in North Asia.
- Monitor Korean and North Asian beauty trends, scientific developments, skincare innovation, and color cosmetics market evolution.
- Share relevant technical and market intelligence with global R&D, marketing, and innovation teams.
- Support the company’s ability to anticipate regional trends and translate them into product opportunities.
Profile Requirements
Education
Master’s degree or PhD in one of the following fields: Cosmetic Science, Pharmacy, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Related scientific discipline.
Experience
Minimum 12 years of relevant professional experience in cosmetics R&D, formulation, laboratory management, or a closely related technical function.
Strong experience in color cosmetics, skincare-related cosmetics, or cosmetic formula development is required.
Proven experience managing R&D teams, laboratory operations, technical projects, budgets, and deadlines.
Experience leading both innovation and formula transfer projects is highly preferred.
Experience working with international teams, global headquarters, or cross-border R&D organizations is strongly preferred.
Previous experience in a senior R&D leadership role, such as R&D Manager, Laboratory Manager, R&D Head, or R&D Director, is highly desirable.
Technical Competencies
Strong scientific and technical expertise in cosmetics formulation and product development.
Solid understanding of laboratory management, product testing, technical validation, and formula scale-up.
Good knowledge of cosmetic regulatory requirements and product compliance.
Ability to oversee technical reports, formulation documentation, claims support, and customer-facing technical materials.
Strong understanding of project prioritisation, budget management, resource allocation, and delivery timelines.
Strong knowledge of Korean and North Asian beauty trends, especially in skincare, base makeup, and color cosmetics.
Ability to connect market insights with technical development priorities.
Experience supporting global R&D alignment and technical reporting.
Leadership & Soft Skills
Strong leadership and people management skills.
Able to guide, support, and challenge technical teams while maintaining clear priorities.
Strategic mindset with the ability to connect local R&D activity to global business goals.
Excellent communication skills with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Structured, detail-oriented, and quality-focused working style.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making ability.
Comfortable working in an international, matrix-style organisation.
Able to manage multiple stakeholders, projects, and priorities at the same time.
Language and Mobility
Fluency in Korean is required.
Professional English communication skills are required.
Ability and willingness to travel to Europe from time to time are required.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is a senior cosmetics R&D leader with strong scientific expertise, proven laboratory management experience, and a deep understanding of Korean and North Asian beauty trends.
They should be able to manage the Korea lab, oversee people, projects, budget, deadlines, and equipment, and act as a strategic bridge between local innovation needs and global R&D priorities.
This person should bring both technical credibility and leadership maturity, with the ability to support formula development, formula transfer, trend intelligence, and international collaboration at a senior level.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From 120,000,000원 per year
Work Location: In person
