SmartyPants, Inc.
Product Development Scientist
SmartyPants, Inc., El Segundo, California, United States, 90245
Position Overview
The Product Development Scientist is responsible for all aspects of the technical product formulation and process development through commercialization of all dosage forms, including gummies, capsules, “etc.” across the SmartyPants Vitamins business. The role will develop and utilize best practices and procedures in product and process development, leveraging ingredient and processing innovation to deliver new, improved and cost‑optimized formulations.
Ideally, the candidate will be motivated, dedicated, detail‑oriented, and possess strong project‑management agility to manage multiple projects at once, championing them from concept through commercialization. This individual must demonstrate strong leadership and collaboration skills and have a passion for making a big impact at a high‑growth company that is revolutionizing the dietary supplement and wellness industries.
What You’ll Do
Deliver product development activities with agility from technical formulation design, prototype development of new products and reformulations through scale‑up and commercialization.
In collaboration with Nutrition Science partners, develop product formulations that meet company financial targets.
Lead the scale‑up, technical transfer, product development of new and existing products and oversee the seamless commercialization of all products with our co‑Manufacturing partners.
Collaborate with Quality and Regulatory Affairs in the standardization of blend, raw material, product stability and formulation specifications in accordance with QA/RA requirements, while meeting developmental and financial targets.
Build relationships and partner with suppliers, development labs and contract manufacturers to develop and commercialize new products that meet all product critical attributes and timelines.
The R&D Scientist understands and explains the importance of basic scientific principles as well as experimental design, and then clearly manages and communicates results to project teams.
Effectively troubleshoot and solve complex formulation & technical challenges in collaboration with our development partners & co-manufacturing partners with speed and robustness.
Maintain timely and accurate records of all developmental projects.
Collaborate with Quality and Operations in the sourcing and technical qualification of new raw materials, highlighting supply‑chain and cost implications as appropriate, and collaborating with cross‑functional partners to resolve.
Optimize supply‑chain logistics and ensure supply‑chain continuity by effectively managing material substitutions, quality issues and/or product disruptions.
Develop strategic partnerships with external industry leaders and internal stakeholders to generate innovation and new opportunities.
Ensure proper prototype organoleptic evaluations and documentation.
Provide leadership vigilance on our product portfolio. Identify risk and champion opportunities for product optimization that improve consumer experience, deliver cost savings, and support the company’s strategic objectives.
Identify and champion new technologies, ingredients and processes that support continuous product improvement and in‑market differentiation.
Responsible for production of product samples for market research and clinical studies under GMP conditions.
Keep current with the dietary supplement category, competition, formulation/processing technologies and nutritional ingredients trends and bring those insights into the organization.
Support other product development tasks as needed.
Other job‑related duties as requested.
What You Have
Requires a college degree in Food Science/Technology, Biology, Chemistry, Nutrition or a related science; a graduate degree is a plus.
Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of 4 years of experience in dietary supplement, pharmaceutical and/or food product development.
Master’s degree plus a minimum of 3 years of experience in dietary supplement, pharmaceutical and/or food product development.
PhD degree plus a minimum of 2 years of experience in dietary supplement, pharmaceutical and/or food product development.
Excellent track record of partnering with co‑manufacturing sites for product development, scale‑up and commercialization.
Proven track record of leading product development from ideation to commercialization.
Proven technical project expertise in the development and process scale‑up of gummies. Tablets, 2‑piece hard capsules, soft gels and powders is a plus.
Experience identifying project risk and developing strategies to mitigate them.
Project management & prioritization of projects, balancing multiple project initiatives simultaneously and being flexible to changing directions.
The individual must be able to deal with ambiguity, adapt to change and persevere.
It also requires the ability to identify critical path items and risks, and effectively communicate these to both the business team and management.
Capacity to maintain a high degree of organization across multiple projects.
Technically proficient and skilled at forging strong relationships with internal and external partners to assess risk and drive decisions.
Thorough understanding of GMP requirements and experience implementing standards and processes that ensure compliance with the FDA Part 111 for Dietary Supplements.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills: ability to interact with all personality types and behaviors; flexibility.
Ability to work effectively in a high‑pressure, fast‑paced environment.
Compensation: The pay range for this position is $100,000 to $115,000. This position is bonus eligible. SmartyPants Vitamins employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Benefits may include health insurance, retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, and other company‑specific benefits.
About Us We are SmartyPants Vitamins – the best‑selling vitamin and supplement brand known for making high‑quality, nutrient‑dense, unbelievably delicious gummy multivitamins for the whole family. In 2020 we joined Unilever as part of the Health & Wellbeing Collective, yielding additional support as we continue to grow the brand globally. From the start, SmartyPants Vitamins has been about family, authenticity and a core commitment to our collective well‑being. SmartyPants believes in making it easier to stay healthy by providing best‑in‑class products that also taste great.
We’re industry leaders in testing, transparency, and advocacy, from sourcing the highest-quality ingredients to testing and packaging. We have an appreciation for the comedy and intensity that comes from working in a company with explosive growth and a strong sense of social responsibility.
Our mission is to bring better health to the real world. How? By making premium products that are crafted to fit delightfully into the lives of real families, and by giving back to women and children in need with the help of our partners at Vitamin Angels. With over 27 MM nutrient grants donated to date, and happy customers all over the world, we are well on our way to accomplishing our goal.
What To Expect During The Interview Process
Initial video screen with a member of our Talent team.
Round 1: Conversation with the Hiring Manager + 1–2 conversations with other team members.
Round 2: 2–3 conversations with team or cross‑functional partners.
Final Round: Homework.
Our final round is called Homework. Candidates who participate are given 3 questions in advance to answer and present to the interview panel they previously spoke with in the process. We understand every candidate is different. If you need a reasonable accommodation to adjust this procedure, please let us know so we can evaluate and provide other options that work for your needs.
DETAILS Location: El Segundo, CA Hours: Full time, exempt (salaried) Manager: Product Development Director PLEASE NOTE: Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
What We Offer
An opportunity to work with an intelligent, inspiring, and extraordinarily fun team.
100% employer‑paid medical coverage for employee-only, dental + ortho, and vision insurance.
4 weeks PTO + paid holidays + 12 mental health days per year.
100% paid parental leave, fertility and adoption benefits.
Annual bonus + long‑term incentive plan.
401(k) plan with employer match.
Hybrid work + wellness + cell phone stipends.
Free product.
And much more!
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at SmartyPants Vitamins by 2x.
Sign in to set job alerts for “Product Development Scientist” roles.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Ideally, the candidate will be motivated, dedicated, detail‑oriented, and possess strong project‑management agility to manage multiple projects at once, championing them from concept through commercialization. This individual must demonstrate strong leadership and collaboration skills and have a passion for making a big impact at a high‑growth company that is revolutionizing the dietary supplement and wellness industries.
What You’ll Do
Deliver product development activities with agility from technical formulation design, prototype development of new products and reformulations through scale‑up and commercialization.
In collaboration with Nutrition Science partners, develop product formulations that meet company financial targets.
Lead the scale‑up, technical transfer, product development of new and existing products and oversee the seamless commercialization of all products with our co‑Manufacturing partners.
Collaborate with Quality and Regulatory Affairs in the standardization of blend, raw material, product stability and formulation specifications in accordance with QA/RA requirements, while meeting developmental and financial targets.
Build relationships and partner with suppliers, development labs and contract manufacturers to develop and commercialize new products that meet all product critical attributes and timelines.
The R&D Scientist understands and explains the importance of basic scientific principles as well as experimental design, and then clearly manages and communicates results to project teams.
Effectively troubleshoot and solve complex formulation & technical challenges in collaboration with our development partners & co-manufacturing partners with speed and robustness.
Maintain timely and accurate records of all developmental projects.
Collaborate with Quality and Operations in the sourcing and technical qualification of new raw materials, highlighting supply‑chain and cost implications as appropriate, and collaborating with cross‑functional partners to resolve.
Optimize supply‑chain logistics and ensure supply‑chain continuity by effectively managing material substitutions, quality issues and/or product disruptions.
Develop strategic partnerships with external industry leaders and internal stakeholders to generate innovation and new opportunities.
Ensure proper prototype organoleptic evaluations and documentation.
Provide leadership vigilance on our product portfolio. Identify risk and champion opportunities for product optimization that improve consumer experience, deliver cost savings, and support the company’s strategic objectives.
Identify and champion new technologies, ingredients and processes that support continuous product improvement and in‑market differentiation.
Responsible for production of product samples for market research and clinical studies under GMP conditions.
Keep current with the dietary supplement category, competition, formulation/processing technologies and nutritional ingredients trends and bring those insights into the organization.
Support other product development tasks as needed.
Other job‑related duties as requested.
What You Have
Requires a college degree in Food Science/Technology, Biology, Chemistry, Nutrition or a related science; a graduate degree is a plus.
Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of 4 years of experience in dietary supplement, pharmaceutical and/or food product development.
Master’s degree plus a minimum of 3 years of experience in dietary supplement, pharmaceutical and/or food product development.
PhD degree plus a minimum of 2 years of experience in dietary supplement, pharmaceutical and/or food product development.
Excellent track record of partnering with co‑manufacturing sites for product development, scale‑up and commercialization.
Proven track record of leading product development from ideation to commercialization.
Proven technical project expertise in the development and process scale‑up of gummies. Tablets, 2‑piece hard capsules, soft gels and powders is a plus.
Experience identifying project risk and developing strategies to mitigate them.
Project management & prioritization of projects, balancing multiple project initiatives simultaneously and being flexible to changing directions.
The individual must be able to deal with ambiguity, adapt to change and persevere.
It also requires the ability to identify critical path items and risks, and effectively communicate these to both the business team and management.
Capacity to maintain a high degree of organization across multiple projects.
Technically proficient and skilled at forging strong relationships with internal and external partners to assess risk and drive decisions.
Thorough understanding of GMP requirements and experience implementing standards and processes that ensure compliance with the FDA Part 111 for Dietary Supplements.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills: ability to interact with all personality types and behaviors; flexibility.
Ability to work effectively in a high‑pressure, fast‑paced environment.
Compensation: The pay range for this position is $100,000 to $115,000. This position is bonus eligible. SmartyPants Vitamins employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Benefits may include health insurance, retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, and other company‑specific benefits.
About Us We are SmartyPants Vitamins – the best‑selling vitamin and supplement brand known for making high‑quality, nutrient‑dense, unbelievably delicious gummy multivitamins for the whole family. In 2020 we joined Unilever as part of the Health & Wellbeing Collective, yielding additional support as we continue to grow the brand globally. From the start, SmartyPants Vitamins has been about family, authenticity and a core commitment to our collective well‑being. SmartyPants believes in making it easier to stay healthy by providing best‑in‑class products that also taste great.
We’re industry leaders in testing, transparency, and advocacy, from sourcing the highest-quality ingredients to testing and packaging. We have an appreciation for the comedy and intensity that comes from working in a company with explosive growth and a strong sense of social responsibility.
Our mission is to bring better health to the real world. How? By making premium products that are crafted to fit delightfully into the lives of real families, and by giving back to women and children in need with the help of our partners at Vitamin Angels. With over 27 MM nutrient grants donated to date, and happy customers all over the world, we are well on our way to accomplishing our goal.
What To Expect During The Interview Process
Initial video screen with a member of our Talent team.
Round 1: Conversation with the Hiring Manager + 1–2 conversations with other team members.
Round 2: 2–3 conversations with team or cross‑functional partners.
Final Round: Homework.
Our final round is called Homework. Candidates who participate are given 3 questions in advance to answer and present to the interview panel they previously spoke with in the process. We understand every candidate is different. If you need a reasonable accommodation to adjust this procedure, please let us know so we can evaluate and provide other options that work for your needs.
DETAILS Location: El Segundo, CA Hours: Full time, exempt (salaried) Manager: Product Development Director PLEASE NOTE: Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
What We Offer
An opportunity to work with an intelligent, inspiring, and extraordinarily fun team.
100% employer‑paid medical coverage for employee-only, dental + ortho, and vision insurance.
4 weeks PTO + paid holidays + 12 mental health days per year.
100% paid parental leave, fertility and adoption benefits.
Annual bonus + long‑term incentive plan.
401(k) plan with employer match.
Hybrid work + wellness + cell phone stipends.
Free product.
And much more!
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at SmartyPants Vitamins by 2x.
Sign in to set job alerts for “Product Development Scientist” roles.
#J-18808-Ljbffr