The posting
WHO WE ARE.
Glossier is a people-powered ecosystem, brought to life by engaging online and offline experiences. In 12 years, we have built an iconic brand that goes far beyond beauty. Our brand is built on trusted emotional connection, empathy, and consistency in how we show up for people every day. We are woven into everyday moments of people’s lives, becoming part of their routines, their self-expression, and their confidence. We are defined not just by what we make, but by how we make people feel and the relationships we build over time. Our north-star values are to be Human, Curious, Playful, and Helpful. We are driven by a shared mission to become the Most Loved Lifestyle Brand in the World.
THE FORMULA.
We’re looking for a Director, Product Development to help our products, and the operation behind them, be their very best. Think of this role as a carefully crafted formula: equal parts technical expertise, operational instinct, and follow through, with a healthy dose of curiosity about how things can work better.
With a primary focus on Color and Skincare, you’ll lead the daily execution and technical oversight of our product development programs, directly managing Packaging Development and partnering closely with Product leadership, Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, Creative, and external manufacturing partners. Reporting to [reporting line to be confirmed], you’ll translate established product priorities into clear plans, keep existing programs moving, and bring structure and visibility to the details that make great execution possible.
You know what it takes to run a development operation: clear ownership, realistic timelines, thoughtful technical decisions, and strong relationships. You’re comfortable getting into the details, asking the right questions, and identifying issues before they become obstacles. Just as important, you can step back, connect the dots, and find practical ways to improve the process.
The North Star: Make the way we develop and deliver products as thoughtful as the products themselves.
If you find satisfaction in solving a tricky technical challenge, untangling a process, or helping a team work better together, you may be exactly the ingredient we’re missing. So, is this you? Read on carefully to see what it takes to bring this formula to life.
BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER.
From keeping active programs on track to strengthening technical execution and finding smarter ways of working, the Director, Product Development will play a key role across Product Development Operations & Execution, Technical Oversight & Packaging Development, and Leadership & Cross Functional Partnership.
Product Development Operations & Execution
- Lead the daily operation of active Color and Skincare development programs, translating approved briefs and product priorities into clear timelines, milestones, responsibilities, and deliverables.
- Manage execution across established programs, including renovations, reformulations, packaging updates, shade extensions, and other portfolio maintenance initiatives.
- Maintain a master project list that gives partners across functions a shared view of program status, dependencies, upcoming decisions, and risks.
- Establish practical, consistent ways of working, including project kickoffs, development reviews, approval checkpoints, and clear handoffs between teams.
- Identify bottlenecks, competing priorities, and resource constraints early; recommend solutions and escalate decisions with clear options and implications.
- Improve development processes, tools, and documentation to reduce rework, strengthen accountability, and make execution more predictable.
- Track program timing, development costs, and performance against agreed targets, using lessons learned to improve future execution.
- Identify opportunities within the existing portfolio to improve product quality, simplify components and processes, reduce costs, and support supply continuity.
Technical Oversight & Packaging Development
- Provide technical oversight across formula and packaging development, helping teams evaluate feasibility, resolve issues, and meet agreed product performance, quality, cost, and timing requirements.
- Directly manage the Packaging Development team, setting priorities, reviewing technical work, and supporting effective execution across primary and secondary packaging programs.
- Guide packaging decisions across materials, components, functionality, tooling, decoration, and manufacturability, balancing the Glossier experience with operational requirements.
- Partner with Quality, Regulatory, testing partners, and manufacturers to define testing requirements and track completion of stability, compatibility, performance, and packaging validation.
- Review technical findings with the appropriate functional experts, ensuring risks are understood and required approvals are secured before programs advance.
- Oversee the readiness and accuracy of development specifications, bills of materials, testing records, and change documentation in partnership with the teams responsible for maintaining them.
- Partner with contract manufacturers and component suppliers on pilot runs, line trials, scale up, and production readiness, ensuring a clear handoff into ongoing operations.
- Lead technical troubleshooting related to development with internal and external partners, identifying root causes and coordinating corrective actions.
- Manage the technical execution of approved formula, packaging, material, and supplier changes, including updates needed to support market requirements.
Leadership & Cross Functional Partnership
- Lead and develop the Packaging Development team through clear expectations, regular feedback, technical coaching, and thoughtful workload planning.
- Build a team culture grounded in curiosity, collaboration, accountability, and pride in the details.
- Serve as the operational point of connection across Product Development, Packaging, Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, Creative, and Finance.
- Run focused program reviews that surface the right information, clarify decisions, and keep work moving.
- Manage daily development relationships with contract manufacturers, laboratories, packaging suppliers, and other technical partners, holding them accountable to agreed deliverables.
- Partner with Supply Chain and Operations on supplier changes, recurring product issues, and opportunities to improve manufacturing efficiency and continuity.
- Manage assigned development budgets and work with Finance and Supply Chain to assess cost implications and improvement opportunities.
- Keep Product leadership informed through concise updates on progress, risks, resource needs, and recommendations.
KEY INGREDIENTS.
We know you’re here to do great work, raise the bar, and make a meaningful impact, and we’re here for that, too. While there’s no single path to success, we’ve found that the key ingredients below set the foundation for doing your best work, thriving in the role, and ultimately making it your own (i.e. successfully bringing this formula to life).
- 8+ years of experience in beauty product development, technical development, commercialization, or development operations, including experience managing people.
- Meaningful experience across Color Cosmetics and Skincare, with a strong understanding of how formulas, packaging, testing, and manufacturing come together.
- Demonstrated experience running daily development operations and managing multiple programs with competing timelines and dependencies.
- A track record of improving existing processes, introducing useful structure, and delivering measurable improvements in timing, quality, cost, or efficiency.
- Strong technical knowledge of packaging development, including materials, components, tooling, testing, and compatibility between formulas and packaging; experience managing packaging professionals.
- Experience supporting scale up, production trials, technical troubleshooting, and the transition from development into commercial production.
- Strong vendor management experience, including working directly with contract manufacturers, laboratories, and domestic and international packaging suppliers.
- Sound judgment and a practical approach to solving problems, with the ability to assess tradeoffs, make recommendations, and recognize when specialist input is needed.
- Strong organizational and analytical skills, with close attention to documentation, timelines, costs, and follow through.
- A clear, thoughtful communication style and the ability to build productive relationships across creative, technical, and operational teams.
- A practical, involved leadership approach: you enjoy developing people, creating clarity, and rolling up your sleeves to help the team succeed.
- A genuine interest in beauty and a commitment to protecting the quality, performance, and experience our community expects from Glossier.
- Travel as needed to meet with vendors, support trials, or work with external partners.
In accordance with applicable law, the following represents a good faith estimate of the minimum and maximum compensation range for this position:
- The estimated annual pay range for this role is $148,000 - 192,000 per year.
- Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s experience, skills, qualifications, and location, and the final offer will reflect the totality of the candidate’s background.
- There may be future opportunities for continued pay progression based on continued strong performance in the role.
- Full time positions are also eligible for a competitive compensation and benefits package that includes medical health insurance, 401K, Paid Time Off, Short Term and Long Term Disability leave, and a range of other benefits.
- Learn more at the Glossier Career page.
Compensation for the role will be determined based on permissible, nondiscriminatory factors such as a candidate’s qualifications, skills, and experience.
Click here to view the candidate privacy policy under FAQs
We are an Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) Employer. It has been and will continue to be a fundamental policy of Glossier not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, domestic violence victim status, sexual orientation, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, veteran or military status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, caregiver status, unemployment status or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state and/or local laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, training, working conditions, transfer, job assignment, benefits, layoff, and termination.
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