Cosmetic Project Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Project Manager, Formulation Operations

Location: San Diego, CA (Debut's Headquarters)

Reports To: VP of Commercial Operations

Type: Full-Time

Salary Range: USD $85,000 - $95,000 per annum (base) + performance-based incentives, commensurate with experience

About Debut

Debut is a vertically integrated biotechnology company pioneering the next generation of high-performance cosmetic active ingredients. We combine AI-driven discovery with proprietary bioprocessing to develop the highest performing and clinically proven active ingredients that outperform conventionally sourced alternatives. From molecule to market, Debut controls the full value chain: ingredient discovery, formulation science, clinical validation, and scaled manufacturing delivering novel active ingredients to the global beauty industry faster and with better efficacy data than traditional suppliers.

Summary

Debut is seeking an organized, detail-driven Project Manager to own the formulation project lifecycle from project brief through successful tech transfer. Based in San Diego, CA at Debut's HQ, this role serves as the critical bridge between Debut's formulation sales team, formulation scientists, and contract manufacturing partners. The Project Manager is responsible for ensuring every formulation project is executed on time, in full, and to specification - from the moment a brief is issued through tech transfer handoff to the commercial manufacturing team. This is a high-accountability, detail-oriented role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment and has a genuine understanding of beauty formulation, new product development, or skincare from the commercial side. The successful candidate will be equally comfortable reviewing a formula brief and presenting project status in a brand-facing meeting. 

Essential Functions

• Own the end-to-end formulation project lifecycle from project brief up to tech transfer, maintaining clear accountability for timeline, quality, and deliverables at every stage. Proactively identify risks, flag delays, and drive resolution across internal teams and external partners.
• Serve as the primary coordination point between Debut's formulation sales team, R&D/formulation team, and on occasion contract manufacturing partners. Translate customer briefs into actionable formulation development plans, ensuring the sales team and brand customers receive timely, professional project updates, and escalating issues when needed.
• Manage day-to-day formulation project activity across Debut's internal R&D team and CM partner network, including on-site presence for lab reviews, prototype evaluations.
• Plan and manage brand-facing formulation reviews, site visits, and facility tours, coordinating logistics, preparing materials, and ensuring a professional, brand-appropriate experience that reinforces Debut's formulation and manufacturing credibility.
• Track and manage all Bill of Materials (BOM) components for active projects including raw materials, packaging, and finished goods specifications ensuring accuracy, version control, and timely communication of any changes to all relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate sample submissions and approval workflows between Debut's formulation team, CM partners, and brand customers, ensuring all milestones are met within agreed timelines.
• Monitor formulation development milestones and tech transfer progress across all active projects, escalating issues related to formula performance, raw material availability, regulatory requirements, or quality non-conformances promptly and with clear resolution plans.
• Maintain rigorous project documentation in Debut's project management system (Monday.com), providing the VP of Operations and CCO with accurate, up-to-date visibility into project status, milestone achievement, and risk across the full portfolio.
• Support continuous improvement of Debut's formulation project management processes, tools, and CM partner coordination frameworks, including refining the tech transfer playbook as the company scales its formulation portfolio.

Education and Experience

The successful candidate will be highly organized, process-oriented, and deeply familiar with beauty product development - whether through hands-on formulation experience, a background in NPD, or commercial sales roles where they worked closely with formulation and development teams. They understand how a product moves from brief to bench to tech transfer, and they know how to keep complex multi-party projects on track without losing a detail. A bachelor's degree is required; a background in cosmetic science, chemistry, beauty/skincare sales, or NPD is a strong plus.

• 3+ years of experience in formulation project management, new product development (NPD), or beauty/skincare sales with meaningful involvement in product development cycles - from brief through formulation, stability, up to tech transfer. Direct exposure to formulation workflows or a CM environment is strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of the beauty formulation development process including formula briefs, prototype iterations, stability and compatibility testing, tech transfer documentation, and regulatory/quality requirements sufficient to engage credibly with formulation scientists and CM production teams.
• Experience managing or coordinating Bill of Materials (BOM) documentation, including tracking component changes, version control, and communicating updates to manufacturing and commercial stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to manage relationships across internal teams, external CM partners, and brand customers simultaneously, organized, proactive, and solutions-oriented under pressure.
• Proficiency with project management tools (Monday.com, Optiva, or equivalent) and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook).
• Based in San Diego, CA at Debut's HQ, with willingness and ability to make regular on-site visits to Debut's co-use CM partner facility in Riverside, CA, and occasional travel to other CM partner facilities and brand offices.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, early-stage company environment where processes are still being built. Self-motivated, detail-obsessed, and calm under pressure.
• PMP certification or equivalent project management training is a plus but not required.

Essential Physical Characteristics

The physical characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.

• Frequent sitting, standing, and walking in both office and manufacturing facility environments.
• Ability to navigate active production floors, warehouses, and laboratory spaces safely and in compliance with applicable facility safety protocols.
• Repetitive use of hands to operate computers, mobile devices, and presentation equipment.
• Ability to carry and transport materials, samples, and documents weighing up to 30 pounds.
• Domestic travel to CM partner facilities and brand offices as business needs require.

Condition of Employment

As part of Debut's pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check prior to beginning employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position.

Debut is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, nationality, sex, marital status, pregnancy status, caregiving responsibilities, race, religion, language, disability, or mental health conditions. Employment decisions at Debut are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs.