Description

WS Badger is a second-generation family business making organic skincare since 1995. Today, this iconic and mission-driven certified B Corp is led by Co-CEO sisters Rebecca Hamilton and Emily Schwerin-Whyte and boasts a majority female leadership team. We are committed to and advocate for legislation around fair pay, family-friendly benefits, and climate and social justice. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment that supports employees and the customers we serve.

We're on to something good here at Badger! Generous benefits package. Flexible working hours. Fun working environment. Babies at work. Daily free organic lunches. And that's just for starters. We don't just feel passionate about our work; we pour passion into our work. And it shows in every aspect of the way we do business … from the innovative products we make, to the way we treat each other, to the people we serve. We're also a certified Benefit Corporation, which means we meet rigorous standards of transparency as well as social and environmental performance.

If you have strong work habits, skills, and abilities, a passion for doing the right thing, and a desire to help us grow gracefully while staying true to our mission and principles, then you belong here.

The Lead Cosmetic Formulation Scientist furthers the Badger mission by providing RDI laboratory oversight and technical leadership supporting formulation strategy for lab scale cosmetic and OTC topical products.

This role combines advanced hands-on cosmetic formulation work with lab management responsibilities including inventory control, equipment upkeep, lab organization, safety compliance, and workflow coordination. The Lead Cosmetic Formulation Scientist provides workflow and technical guidance to the Lab & Scale-Up Technician in everyday laboratory product development activities and benchtop formulation.

Responsibilities:

Cosmetics and OTC Formulation and Product Development

Lead formulation development for natural cosmetic and OTC topical products (creams, oils, balms, lotions, sunscreens and others) following direction and process guidance provided by RDI Director.
Apply ingredient interaction knowledge to help build targeted experimental designs.
Support formulation strategy, including raw material evaluation, prototype development, and performance optimization.
Provide guidance to Laboratory & Scale up Technician on cosmetic science methods, formulation best practices, physical chemistry processing and experimental design.
Manage day-to-day laboratory workflows to enable efficient product development project execution and designate formulation tasks to Lab & Scale up Technician
Support RDI Director in troubleshooting challenges related to texture, viscosity, mixing, emulsion stability, mixing or ingredient variability.
Ensure formula stability before pilot manufacturing process and support Quality in product stability after pilots.
Support in the experimental design and analytical needs for quality investigations.
Perform precise formula math including scaling, percentage-to-weight conversions, and sample estimation for different needs.
Prepare accurate, reproducible small-scale batches with optimized processing parameters (order of addition, mixing speeds, temperatures, shear).
Assist Regulatory by participating in ingredient and product standard determination.
Support other activities as needed such as assisting in Scale up, Pilots, Tech transfer. etc.
 

Testing, Analysis & Documentation

Conduct standard cosmetic and OTC analyses including pH, viscosity, structural stability, density, microscopy and organoleptic evaluations.
Support in designing and standardizing laboratory analysis.
Interpret results to guide iteration and formulation improvement.
Maintain detailed batch records, formulation revisions, experimental records, and technical reports.
Lead internal sensory and efficacy evaluations including focus group panels for product assessment.
 

Laboratory Management

Maintain a highly organized, clean, and safe laboratory environment to support efficient RDI workflows.
Implement systems for ingredient organization, sample storage, labeling, and equipment placement.
Execute organization and cleaning tasks in coordination with the Lab & Scale-up technician.
Oversee raw material and packaging inventory for bench top formulation including tracking, ordering, receiving, and labeling.
Ensure appropriate storage conditions for temperature and light-sensitive materials. and light sensitive materials.
Coordinate and execute disposal of expired materials and chemical waste in compliance with regulations.
Manage laboratory equipment including routine cleaning, calibration, preventive maintenance, and records.
Manage consumable needs and laboratory supplies
 

Pay starting at $35/hour; salary is commensurate to experience.

Requirements

Experience & Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in Cosmetic Science or Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related field with a degree of formal coursework in Cosmetic Science.
3+ years of hands-on formulation experience specifically in cosmetics, natural personal care or OTC topical products.
Handson experience managing laboratory operations or lab resources is highly preferred.
 

Skills:

Demonstrated expertise in cosmetic structural physical chemistry such as emulsion systems, surfactants, gels, rheology and texture design. Natural or botanical formulations preferred
Proficiency with lab instruments including homogenizers, mixers, pH meters, viscometers, rheometers, and stability chambers.
Familiarity with cosmetic regulatory frameworks (FDA OTC monographs, cosmetic labeling, INCI nomenclature).
Highly organized with strong ownership of lab order and operational efficiency.
Leadership mindset with collaborative communication style.
Ability to manage multiple projects and adapt to shifting priorities.
 
Benefits:

Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
Short Term & Long Term Disability
Wellness Resources