Senior Scientist II, Photoprotection Application Domain, L'Oreal Research & Innovation

Senior Scientist II, Photoprotection Application Domain, L'Oreal Research & Innovation - Clark, New Jersey

Life is too short for a boring career, so build an extraordinary one with us. We believe your career should spark the same thrill and curiosity as your personal interests. Creativity drives everything we do, turning ideas into meaningful impact. With opportunities across brands, markets, and divisions, your growth knows no boundaries.

Who We Are

Join us at L'Oreal, the world's #1 beauty company present in over 150 markets. For over a century, we have been transforming; fueled by data, tech, innovation, and science. Together, we tackle big challenges while making sure we stay committed to making the world a more inclusive and a better place for everyone & our planet.

At L'Oreal Research & Innovation we are pushing the boundaries of Science & Tech. We invest heavily in cutting-edge research, leveraging advanced technologies to understand skin, hair, and microbiome, while discovering new active ingredients and launching outperforming formulas. Our 3,500 L'Oreal R&I experts leverage Science & Technology to invent safe, trustable, sustainable & responsible beauty products and experiences that will change people's lives.

Within L'Oreal R&I, the Application Domain team is where scientific discovery meets real-world innovation. We are responsible for transforming breakthroughs in research and emerging consumer needs into pioneering prototypes that redefine what beauty can do. Operating at the forefront of hair, skin, and makeup science, our teams thrive in a dynamic, collaborative lab environment - working cross-functionally and globally to bring the next generation of technologies seamlessly from upstream research to our Development Laboratories.

Our Photoprotection Application Domain is a unique and high-impact research field, dedicated to discovering and advancing new technologies in sun care. This space demands a rare combination of expertise: deep knowledge of fundamental optics, UV-skin-formulation interactions, regulatory intelligence, and mastery of formulation science and process technology.

We are seeking a Senior Scientist II to join our Photoprotection Application Domain team at our Clark, New Jersey facility. In this role, you will serve as a Project Leader, managing a worldwide scientific network, partnering with leading internal and external collaborators, and coordinating the project core team alongside critical supporting teams. You will drive the translation of cutting-edge discoveries into the next generation of sun care technology - leading projects and teams toward successfully achieving key directives while remaining actively engaged in the lab to drive crucial formulation, analysis, and characterization.

A Day in the Life: As a Senior Scientist II on the Photoprotection Application Domain team, you will:

• Lead as a Project Champion: Drive high-impact research projects from conception to final delivery. Manage, coordinate, and align the project core team and cross-functional supporting teams to successfully achieve strategic project directives.
• Coordinate Cross-Functional Collaborations: Act as the central connector across borders and disciplines - engaging with fellow scientists, global R&I counterparts, academic institutions, and external partners to continuously expand our expertise and unlock new scientific possibilities.
• Oversee Research and Testing Strategies: Design, execute, and steer comprehensive research and testing strategies. Partner with global teams to ensure product robustness, scientific rigor, and the highest standards of quality and performance - overseeing the transition from lab bench to consumer reality.
• Translate Science into Business Impact: Synthesize complex research findings into clear, compelling insights to drive technology transfer to our Development Laboratories and inform L'Oreal's broader innovation pipeline.
• Maintain Hands-on Lab Excellence: Perform laboratory work for complex analysis, characterization, and formulation. Integrate innovative raw materials and pioneering formulation strategies to set new benchmarks in photoprotection performance, sensoriality, and sustainability.
• Champion Scientific Curiosity & Mentorship: Deepen our collective understanding of UV filters, photoprotection mechanisms, and sun care formulation science while exploring emerging domains (e.g., photochemistry, spectroscopy) and mentoring junior team members.

We Are Looking For:

You're a great match for this role if you are an established leader, innovator, integrator, and problem-solver with a strong research-minded approach, eager to orchestrate the future of sun care science.

• Education:
  • A PhD in Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Physics, Materials Science, or a related discipline is required. Candidates with a Master's degree and more than 4 years of relevant formulation research and project leadership experience will also be considered.
• Experience:
  • Proven research success in a physical science field, with a demonstrated ability to take complex projects from scientific conception through to robust, tangible outcomes.
  • Demonstrated experience acting as a project leader, with a track record of coordinating multi-disciplinary core teams and aligning supporting stakeholders.
• Technical Expertise:
  • Expertise in one or more of the following: optics, imaging, spectroscopy, photochemistry, UV science, or sunscreen formulation technology.
  • Strong hands-on laboratory experience in formulation research, including design of experiments, characterization of raw materials, and finished formulas.
  • Proven capability in managing project milestones, timelines, and deliverables in a highly fast-paced, matrixed environment.
  • Experience in medical sciences is a plus but not required.
• Soft Skills & Attributes:
  • A Project Leader - you possess strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to motivate and align diverse teams toward a shared vision.
  • An Innovator - you challenge the status quo, ask bold questions, and relentlessly strive for scientific and operational excellence.
  • An Entrepreneur - you take full ownership of your project scope with courage, transparency, and a results-driven mindset.
  • An Integrator - you foster seamless cooperation and agility across core and supporting teams, actively encouraging open communication and knowledge-sharing.
  • A Problem-Solver - you demonstrate sound judgment and creative thinking, leveraging all available expertise to overcome complex technical and organizational challenges.
• Authorization to work in the United States on a full-time, permanent, ongoing basis is required. No immigration support/sponsorship offered for this role.
• The ability to be onsite, in the office at least 3 days a week, as this is a requirement of the position.

What's In It For You

• A place for you to leave your comfort zone and grow beyond your potential (here, you'll be encouraged to try new things and take risks!)
• Real responsibility from day 1, there's no sitting on the sidelines at L'Oreal
• An environment where people of every ethnicity, social background, age, religion, gender and sexual orientation as well as people with disabilities are accepted, can speak up, will thrive and are celebrated!
• A place where you can contribute to something bigger! Many of our brands have societal /environmental causes to make concrete difference
• Base Salary Range: $90,200 - $128,500 (The actual compensation will depend on a variety of job-related factors which may include geographic location, work experience, education, and skill level)
• Competitive Benefits Package (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Pension Plan)
• Hybrid Work Policy (Up to 2 Days per week work from home for eligible roles, subject to manager approval)
• Flexible Time Off (Paid Company Holidays, Paid Vacation, Vacation Buy Program, Volunteer Time, Summer Fridays & More!)
• Access to Company Perks (VIP Access to L'Oreal's Internal Shop for Discounted Products, Monthly Mobile Allowance)
• Learning and Development Opportunities (Unlimited Access to E-learnings, Lunch & Learn Sessions, Mentorship Programs, & More!)
• Employee Resource Groups (Think Tanks and Innovation Squads)
• Access to Mental Health & Wellness Programs

Don't meet every single requirement? At L'Oreal, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and innovative workplace. If you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with the qualifications listed in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways! You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles!

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and take pride in a diverse environment. We're committed to guaranteeing inclusive recruitment processes and advocating for hiring and promoting each candidate in an ethical and equitable way. The Group strictly prohibits discrimination against any applicant for employment because of the individual's gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, visible and/or invisible disabilities, socio-economic and/or multicultural origins, health conditions, age, religion, or any other characteristics protected by law.