Associate Chemist - Powder Formulation

This role is an Onsite Role: This role requires full-time presence at our Kenilworth, NJ office.

The Associate Chemist supports the development and commercialization of innovative color cosmetic powder products through a combination of hands-on in-house formulation and technical partnership with external manufacturers. The role supports products across pressed, loose, baked, slurry-based, and hybrid powder formats, as applicable, including face powders, blush, bronzer, highlighter, eyeshadow, and related complexion and eye products.

Working under the guidance of senior R&D personnel, the Associate Chemist applies cosmetic science, powder-processing principles, structured experimentation, and competitive and consumer insights to develop high-performing products from concept through commercialization. The individual partners closely with Marketing, Safety, Regulatory, Quality, Packaging, Manufacturing, Procurement, Innovation Operations, raw-material suppliers, and external development and manufacturing partners.

The successful candidate will combine hands-on laboratory capability with strong project ownership, technical curiosity, attention to color and sensory detail, and the ability to manage multiple internal and externally developed projects against defined performance, quality, cost, compliance, and timing requirements.

Specific Duties:

In-House Powder Formulation and Technical Development

• Develop and optimize pressed, loose, powder formulations under appropriate supervision.
• Prepare laboratory batches and prototypes using powder blending, milling, pulverization, binder incorporation, pressing, and other relevant processing techniques.
• Evaluate raw materials and formulation variables to understand their impact on shade, texture, payoff, adhesion, blend ability, press ability, wear, sensory properties, and product integrity.
• Execute structured experiments, maintain complete laboratory records, analyze results, and recommend technically sound next steps.
• Conduct shade development and shade-matching with attention to undertone, color consistency, coverage, finish, and performance across intended applications and skin tones.
• Identify and troubleshoot issues including glazing, cracking, chipping, dusting, hard pan, insufficient payoff, poor pan adhesion, shade variability, and processing inconsistency.
• Translate product briefs, competitive benchmarks, trend insights, and consumer needs into measurable formulation and performance targets.
• Evaluate competitive launches and emerging powder technologies, document findings and identifying opportunities for differentiated product performance.

External Development and Manufacturer Partnership

• Serve as the R&D technical contact for assigned products developed with external contract manufacturers.
• Translate technical briefs, including formula, shade, sensory, performance, testing, quality, regulatory, cost, and timing expectations.
• Critically evaluate external prototypes, formula disclosures, raw-material information, test data, specifications, to Revlon Standard Protocols
• Provide clear and actionable technical feedback to external partners and track prototype revisions against agreed product targets.
• Coordinate the collection and review of required safety, regulatory, quality, claims, technical, and ingredient documentation.
• Identify & escalate technical and commercialization risks early, communicate those risks to project stakeholders, and support development of practical mitigation plans.
• Maintain effective working relationships with external manufacturers, suppliers, and technology partners while ensuring company technical and quality expectations are met.

Knowledge & Skills Required:

• Knowledge of basic principles of cosmetic science.
• Ability to apply interpersonal skills to resolve routine problems.
• Ability to conceptualize and apply innovative solutions
• B.S. in Chemistry or related discipline plus 0-3 years of experience.
• Strong organizational skills a must.
• Basic understanding of powder technology & R&D workflow
• Willingness to take ownership and accountability to drive projects forward in a timely and efficient manner.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Minimum Requirements:

• B.S. Chemistry or related science
• 0-3 years of experience

#LI-EM1

Revlon is unable to sponsor or transfer employment visas for this role; candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future visa support.

The base pay range for this position is $66,000.00 - $80,000.00 / year; however base pay offered may vary depending on skills, experience, job-related knowledge, and geographic location. Certain positions may also be eligible for short-term incentives as part of total compensation.

Employees (and their families) are eligible for medical, dental, and vision benefits. Employees are covered by the company-paid basic life insurance policy and company-paid short-term disability insurance (the benefit commences upon hire and allows for a portion of base salary for up to 26 weeks if you are disabled). Other benefits offered to employees include but are not limited to the following: long-term disability, supplemental life insurances, flexible spending accounts, critical illness insurance, group legal, identity theft protection, etc. Employees are also able to enroll in our 401k Retirement Savings Plan.

Employees will also receive 3 weeks of vacation, pro-rated based on date of hire for the 1st year of employment and twelve paid holidays throughout the calendar year. Vacation will depend on role.