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Director Formulation Development Jobs in Portage, MI

Senior Scientist - Color Innovation

Kalamazoo, MI ยท On-site

$86K - $118K/yr

Direct experience with natural colors, including anthocyanins, carotenoids, turmeric, spirulina ... Experience in new product development, formulation development, and troubleshooting within real ...

Outpatient Pharmacist

Coldwater, MI ยท On-site

$55.25 - $66.25/hr

... formulation, stability and sterility consideration, extemporaneous compounds, medication order ... Keeps director informed of any unexpected developments that may affect patient care or the budget ...

Outpatient Pharmacist

Coldwater, MI ยท On-site

$55.25 - $66.25/hr

... formulation, stability and sterility consideration, extemporaneous compounds, medication order ... Keeps director informed of any unexpected developments that may affect patient care or the budget ...

Swing Bed Coordinator ALG

Allegan, MI ยท On-site

$17.25 - $22/hr

This includes not only the ongoing program development program, but community and patient education ... Providing input into the formulation of the capital and operating budgets for specialty area ...

Swing Bed Coordinator ALG

Allegan, MI

$17.25 - $22/hr

This includes not only the ongoing program development program, but community and patient education ... Providing input into the formulation of the capital and operating budgets for specialty area ...

Director Formulation Development information

See Portage, MI salary details

$83.6K

$179.7K

$269.9K

How much do director formulation development jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for director formulation development in Portage, MI is $179,721.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $88,300.00 and $233,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the major responsibilities and day-to-day activities for a Director Formulation Development?

As a Director Formulation Development, you will oversee the design and optimization of drug formulations, lead a multidisciplinary team of scientists, and ensure that projects meet quality, budget, and timeline expectations. Your daily activities often include strategic planning, reviewing progress reports, troubleshooting formulation challenges, and collaborating with regulatory, manufacturing, and quality assurance departments. You may also interact with upper management to report on key milestones and contribute to long-term product development strategies. This role offers opportunities to influence project pipelines and play a central part in bringing new therapies to market.

What is a Director Formulation Development job?

A Director of Formulation Development leads the design and optimization of pharmaceutical formulations, ensuring they meet quality, regulatory, and performance standards. They oversee research, guide teams in developing new drug delivery systems, and collaborate with regulatory and manufacturing teams. This role requires expertise in chemistry, pharmaceutics, and process development to ensure successful product commercialization. Additionally, they manage project timelines, budgets, and technical challenges to drive innovation in drug formulation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Director Formulation Development position, and why are they important?

A Director Formulation Development typically requires an advanced degree in pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, or a related field, along with significant experience in drug formulation and team management. Familiarity with industry-standard formulation software, regulatory compliance systems, and relevant certifications such as PMP or Six Sigma are highly valued. Excellent leadership, communication, and strategic planning skills help set high performers apart in this role. These skills and qualities are critical for driving innovative product development, ensuring regulatory compliance, and effectively leading cross-functional teams.

What job categories do people searching Director Formulation Development jobs in Portage, MI look for? The top searched job categories for Director Formulation Development jobs in Portage, MI are:
Infographic showing various Director Formulation Development job openings in Portage, MI as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $179,721 per year, or $86.4 per hour.
Senior Scientist - Color Innovation

Senior Scientist - Color Innovation

Kalsec, Inc.

Kalamazoo, MI โ€ข On-site

$86K - $118K/yr

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago


Job description

Job Summary:
The Senior Scientist - Color Innovation is responsible for the development and application of natural color systems across a wide range of food and beverage applications. This role combines strong food chemistry expertise with hands-on product development to create stable, vibrant, and regulatory-compliant color solutions.
The position leads formulation, experimental design, and application activities, translating scientific understanding of pigments, degradation pathways, and matrix interactions into commercially viable solutions. This role plays a critical part in advancing natural color technologies and supporting customer-driven innovation.
Essential Job Responsibilities:
  • Lead the development of natural color systems for food and beverage applications for key customers, with a focus on stability, performance, and scalability
  • Apply color systems in food formulations and contribute to product development across savory systems (snacks, meat systems, sauces, dressings, breads/batters, and related demo kits), as well as confectionery, dairy, and beverage applications
  • Apply food chemistry principles (pH, oxidation, light/heat stability, ingredient interactions) to optimize color performance across different matrices
  • Design and execute experiments related to pigment behavior, extraction, stabilization, formulation, and processing
  • Apply technical and functional knowledge to design experiments and independently execute work across multiple projects and sub-projects in parallel
  • Evaluate color stability and shelf life across different product matrices and processing conditions
  • Conduct analytical and stability testing (spectrophotometry, color measurement, degradation studies) and interpret results to guide development decisions
  • Translate laboratory findings into prototype formulations and application-ready solutions
  • Support customer and internal projects, including troubleshooting color performance issues and recommending practical solutions
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Processing, Quality, Regulatory, Commercial) to support scale-up and commercialization
  • Contribute to development of new technologies, processes, and potential intellectual property
  • Stay current on industry trends, regulatory changes, and emerging technologies in natural colors and food ingredients
  • Prepare and communicate technical findings through reports, presentations, and project updates
  • Maintain accurate documentation and ensure compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements

Qualifications:
Required
  • M.S. or Ph.D. in Food Science, Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, or related scientific field
  • 2-5 years of experience in natural colors or related areas
  • Experience in food R&D with demonstrated work in product development, ingredient functionality, or new product development
  • Strong knowledge of food chemistry and ingredient interactions
  • Hands-on laboratory experience including formulation, extraction, and analytical testing
  • Ability to translate scientific data into practical, application-focused solutions
  • Strong experimental design, data analysis, and problem-solving skills

Desired
  • Direct experience with natural colors, including anthocyanins, carotenoids, turmeric, spirulina, betanin, and related pigments
  • Understanding of mechanisms affecting color stability, including oxidation, pH effects, heat and light degradation, and metal interactions
  • Experience in new product development, formulation development, and troubleshooting within real food systems
  • Familiarity with ingredient labeling, regulatory considerations, and clean-label trends

Working Conditions:
  • Laboratory-based role involving work with liquids, powders, solvents, and food systems and processing
  • Standing and laboratory work required for extended periods
  • Occasional travel (up to 10%) as needed

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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About Kalsec

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Food services and drinking places

Company size

201 - 500 Employees

Headquarters location

Kalamazoo, MI, US

Year founded

1958

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