Product Development Director Jobs in San Rafael, CA

Job Summary

As the Director of Product Development at Tatcha you'll lead the development of Tatcha formulas, helping to bring innovative, efficacious, and quality products to market. You'll serve as the connective thread between science, heritage, and market innovation, building a pipeline of formulas that are as rooted in Tatcha's Japanese heritage as they are responsive to the evolving needs of our global consumer. 

Key Responsibilities

Innovation & Formula Development

• Partner closely with Product Marketing, R&D, and cross-functional partners to develop NPD concepts that honor Tatcha's Japanese heritage while addressing unmet consumer needs.
• Contribute to ideation and end-to-end development of new formulas from concept brief through final approval, owning each stage gate with precision and creative intent.
• Investigate breakthrough textures, finishes, and sensorial experiences; establish rigorous competitive benchmarks and white-space analyses.
• Foster relationships with vendors and partners. Identify exclusive active ingredients, novel delivery systems, and innovative technologies that support differentiated storytelling.
• Drive IP strategy, identifying opportunities for proprietary ingredient blends, unique emulsion architectures, and innovation that cannot be easily replicated.
• Evaluate every formula submission and provide clear, timely feedback to R&D labs and manufacturers, maintaining Tatcha's uncompromising quality standards.
• Ensure all development projects continuously meet goals, milestones, and launch timelines; proactively surface risks and lead cross-functional resolution.

Claims, Testing, & Regulatory

• Develop and lead product briefs, claims platforms, and comprehensive testing plans, including stability, compatibility, safety, efficacy, clinical, and consumer panel testing.
• Partner with Regulatory to ensure all formulas and claims meet global compliance standards across regions.
• Oversee claims substantiation programs, working with testing partners to design studies that generate compelling, defensible proof points.
• Monitor and track formula testing parameters through all required phases, proactively identifying and resolving risks before they impact timelines.

Marketing Collaboration, Product Storytelling, & Strategy

• Create product profiles and development narratives that articulate unique positioning within the Tatcha portfolio and the competitive landscape, serving as the foundation for marketing, education, and PR materials.
• Collaborate with Marketing on product naming, copy, and claims messaging, ensuring all communications authentically reflect the science and heritage behind each formula.
• Support the development of key presentations for leadership meetings, global strategy sessions, and retailer product reviews.
• Proactively research the global beauty landscape, tracking launches, ingredient trends, consumer sentiment, and scientific developments to inform Tatcha's innovation pipeline.
• Analyze competitive products, pricing, and claims to guide strategic positioning and differentiate Tatcha formulas in prestige retail environments.
• Synthesize insights from global markets to ensure Tatcha's innovation pipeline remains globally relevant, while still authentic to brand heritage and purpose.

Team Leadership & Culture

• Manage, mentor, and inspire a small team of product development professionals, fostering a culture of creativity, scientific rigor, and genuine passion for beauty.
• Contribute to building inclusive, collaborative cross-functional ways of working that reflect Tatcha's multicultural identity.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of beauty industry experience in a senior product development role, or 8+ years with an advanced degree.
• BA/BS required; MS in cosmetic science, chemistry, or a related field may substitute for two years of experience.
• 3+ years of people management experience with a track record of developing high-performing teams.
• Understanding of skin biology, emulsion science, and cosmetic physical chemistry.
• Experience developing products for global markets with a working knowledge of global skincare regulations. 
• Hands-on experience with claims development, consumer testing design, and clinical substantiation.
• Deep knowledge of the competitive beauty landscape, with a genuine personal passion for luxury skincare and the craft of formulation.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• First-hand experience with Japanese culture, heritage, beauty rituals, or Japanese beauty ingredient traditions is a huge plus.
• Must be based in the San Francisco Bay Area and willing to work from our San Francisco HQ a minimum of two days per week.

The Details

The expected base salary range for this position is $160,000 to $175,000. The exact base pay is determined by various factors including experience, skills, education, geographic location, and budget.

This position is also eligible for participation in the company discretionary bonus plan based on personal performance and company results. Tatcha offers a competitive benefits package to eligible employees, including medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, accident insurance, critical illness insurance, disability insurance, retirement savings plans and company match, paid family leave, education-related programs, paid time off, and paid holidays. #LI-BH1