Scientist - NPD Materials
Kenvue · Asia Pacific
Kenvue is currently recruiting for a:
What we do
At Kenvue, we realize the extraordinary power of everyday care. Built on over a century of heritage and rooted in science, we’re the house of iconic brands - including NEUTROGENA®, AVEENO®, TYLENOL®, LISTERINE®, JOHNSON’S® and BAND-AID® that you already know and love. Science is our passion; care is our talent.
Who We Are
Our global team is ~ 22,000 brilliant people with a workplace culture where every voice matters, and every contribution is appreciated. We are passionate about insights, innovation and committed to delivering the best products to our customers. With expertise and empathy, being a Kenvuer means having the power to impact millions of people every day. We put people first, care fiercely, earn trust with science and solve with courage – and have brilliant opportunities waiting for you! Join us in shaping our future–and yours. For more information, click here.
Role reports to:
Manager R&D MaterialsLocation:
Asia Pacific, India, Maharashtra, Greater MumbaiWork Location:
Fully OnsiteWhat you will do
Kenvue is currently recruiting for:
Scientist
New Product Development - Materials Qualification Workstream
This position reports into APAC Materials Manager and is based at Mumbai India.
Who We Are
At Kenvue, we realize the extraordinary power of everyday care. Built on over a century of heritage and rooted in science, we’re the house of iconic brands - including NEUTROGENA®, AVEENO®, LISTERINE®, JOHNSON’S® and BAND-AID® that you already know and love. Science is our passion; care is our talent. Our global team is made up with 22,000 diverse and brilliant people, passionate about insights, innovation and committed to deliver the best products to our customers. With expertise and empathy, being a Kenvuer means to have the power to impact life of millions of people every day. We put people first, care fiercely, earn trust with science and solve with courage – and have brilliant opportunities waiting for you! Join us in shaping our future–and yours. For more information, click here.
What You Will Do
The Scientist, New Product Development (NPD) Materials Qualification, will govern the Materials NPD portfolio across the Asia Pacific Region (APAC), ensuring clear prioritization, effective technical execution, and timely delivery of material and formula qualification activities for innovation projects. The role will connect portfolio governance with strong scientific decision-making to support robust, compliant, and consumer-relevant product launches.
Working closely with Product Development, R&D, Regulatory, Quality, Procurement, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Packaging, and external partners, the Scientist will qualify innovation materials and associated formulas, proactively resolve technical risks, and enable speed to market through agile ways of working and disciplined project management.
Key Responsibilities
As a Scientist in the New Product Development Materials Qualification workstream at the APAC Materials Center, this role will be responsible for:
- Govern the APAC NPD Materials portfolio by establishing visibility of projects, priorities, milestones, dependencies, risks, and resource needs.
- Lead end-to-end qualification of new and innovative raw materials for NPD projects, including technical assessment, specification review, supplier data evaluation, documentation, and readiness for use in formulations.
- Partner with Product Development teams to assess material-formula interactions, define qualification requirements, and support formula evaluations that demonstrate technical suitability and product performance.
- Develop fit-for-purpose, science-based qualification strategies that balance technical rigor, compliance, business risk, and introduce process improvements for innovations agility.
- Drive timely decisions and closure of technical gaps by proactively identifying risks, escalating constraints, and coordinating mitigation plans with cross-functional stakeholders.
- Collaborate across R&D, Regulatory, Quality, Procurement, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Packaging, and suppliers to enable accelerated development and quick, compliant product launches.
- Represent Materials R&D in NPD project teams and governance forums, communicating portfolio status, technical recommendations, key risks, and decisions required.
Enable speed to market through simultaneous working, early stakeholder engagement, simplified workflows, clear accountability, and continuous process improvement.
Build deeper scientific understanding of raw material chemistry, functionality, processing behavior, and impact on finished-product quality, stability, performance, safety, and consumer experience.
Create and maintain high-quality technical documentation, qualification summaries, specifications, risk assessments, and knowledge records in line with applicable quality systems.
Engage suppliers and external partners to obtain robust technical packages, resolve data gaps, and identify new material technologies that strengthen the innovation pipeline.
Capture and share learning across projects to improve repeatability, capability, and future NPD material qualification strategies.
5-8 years of relevant experience in the FMCG, personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, or consumer healthcare sector, with demonstrated experience in new product development and/or materials qualification.
Proven experience in cross-functional project or portfolio management, including prioritization, risk management, stakeholder alignment, and delivery against launch timelines.
Master of Pharmacy, Cosmetics Technology, Chemical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline is preferred for this role.
What We Are Looking For
Required Qualifications
- Strong knowledge of personal care or consumer product development, formulation principles, and the role of raw materials in finished-product performance.
- Demonstrated experience in raw material qualification, formula assessment, technical risk evaluation, and preparation of science-based qualification strategies.
- Ability to govern a portfolio of NPD projects, manage competing priorities, maintain milestone visibility, and drive timely cross-functional decisions.
Working knowledge of GxP principles, quality systems, specifications, technical documentation, and relevant regulatory requirements.
Strong scientific problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate material chemistry and data into clear recommendations for product teams.
- Excellent communication, influencing, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across diverse global and regional teams.
- Proven ability to collaborate with internal functions, manufacturing sites, suppliers, and external partners to deliver shared project outcomes.
- Agile and action-oriented mindset, with a focus on simplification, early risk resolution, and speed to market without compromising quality or compliance.
- Comfortable navigating ambiguity and unforeseen technical challenges while maintaining momentum and stakeholder alignment.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital portfolio or project-tracking tools for effective governance, documentation, and communication.
- Ability to coach colleagues, share technical knowledge, and contribute to capability building within the Materials and broader R&D organization.
- Holds a strong understanding of raw material chemistry, recognizing its usage and function in the development of finished products.
- Demonstrates proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, ensuring efficient documentation and communication.
- Exhibits the ability to manage and resolve interpersonally challenging situations, contributing to a harmonious working environment.
- Displays a notable ability to successfully navigate unknown or unforeseen challenges, showcasing resilience and problem-solving skills.
- Take on a leadership role by training employees, planning work for others, and reviewing work for both quality and quantity, fostering team growth and efficiency.
What’s In It For You
- Competitive Benefit Package
- Paid Company Holidays, Paid Vacation, Volunteer Time, Summer Fridays & More!
- Learning & Development Opportunities
- Employee Resource Groups
- This list could vary based on location/region
Kenvue is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
If you are an individual with a disability, please check our Disability Assistance page for information on how to request an accommodation.