Senior Manager of Product Development (hybrid, LA)

Who We Are

Join the dynamic team at Vacation®, the award-winning sunscreen company from Miami USA that’s on a mission to make sunscreen fun. Founded in summer 2021, Vacation® has swiftly gained acclaim among consumers, tastemakers, press, retailers, and dermatologists alike for the immersive brand world and "leisure-enhancing" products that transport you to paradise and back. Vacation’s steady growth is in large part thanks to the company’s focus on creativity and innovation, and the team’s shared mission to infuse a sense of fun into sunscreen aisles nationwide. You can discover Vacation's products at leading retailers including Ulta Beauty, Nordstrom, and Target, as well as www.vacation.inc.

Role Summary

Vacation® is looking for a Senior Manager of Product Development to join our team. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Product Development, the Senior Manager of Product Development owns and leads the end to end product development function, from brief through first production. Combining scientific expertise, strong execution, and cross-functional collaboration, this role is responsible for driving excellence in formula development, packaging innovation, and product validation. 

This role manages key external relationships with formulators, contract manufacturers, packaging engineers, and other partners to drive results under tight timelines, while leading cross-functional alignment with internal teams to ensure high-quality, on-time execution and clear decision-making. The ideal candidate brings experience in OTC drug development (particularly sunscreen), and thrives in a fast-paced, detail-oriented environment where precision, speed, and quality are critical.

This is a hybrid role in Los Angeles. 

Your Role

• Own the end-to-end product development process, including brief interpretation, formulation development, packaging development, testing, and production readiness, partnering closely with Project Management to ensure timelines, milestones, and cross-functional coordination are effectively executed.
• Collaborate with Product Marketing to lead alignment on product positioning, technical feasibility, key ingredients, claims support, and storytelling grounded in product performance.
• Manage external relationships with contract manufacturers, formulators and packaging vendors to initiate and track projects, negotiate pricing and drive accountability, and outcomes under tight timelines. 
• Drive hands-on leadership in formula development, including evaluation of submissions, iteration with formulators, and final formula selection.
• Oversee packaging development, including sourcing, testing, and validation of components across domestic and international suppliers.
• Partner closely with the Head of Regulatory Compliance to ensure all formulas, claims, and documentation meet FDA and applicable global requirements.
• Define and manage required testing including stability, compatibility, micro/PET, performance, and claims substantiation to ensure product safety, efficacy, and regulatory compliance.
• Partner with Operations to drive alignment and ensure seamless transition from development to commercialization, including pilot runs, scale-up readiness, and supply chain alignment
• Work with Creative to lead coordination on timely development of packaging artwork and ensure technical accuracy of on-pack information.
• Own development documentation including formula specifications, packaging specifications, BOMs and tech packs, ensuring accuracy, completeness and readiness for production.
• Identify risks, bottlenecks, and opportunities within the development pipeline and proactively drive solutions, balancing speed, cost, quality and regulatory requirements against business priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or a related field
• 5 - 8+ years of experience in product development within the personal care or beauty industry, with direct FDA OTC experience required; sunscreen strongly preferred 
• Proven expertise managing end-to-end product development with contract manufacturers, formulators, packaging engineers, and regulatory experts
• Deep expertise in formula development, including direct formulating experience as well as managing the work through external formulators
• Experience in packaging development, including design, sourcing, tooling, decoration, and testing 
• Experience partnering closely with Regulatory teams to ensure full compliance across formulas, claims, and documentation
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects, stakeholders, and aggressive timelines
• Effective cross-functional collaborator with clear and proactive communication style
• Detail-oriented, assertive, and comfortable balancing creative vision with operational discipline
• Experience working successfully in a remote or hybrid environment
• Excited to grow Vacation® into a household name and have fun in the process
• You use sunscreen

Compensation & Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision plans with up to 100% coverage for employees
• 401k with Company Match
• WFH stipend and an annual learning stipend
• 15 Days PTO
• Complimentary Vacation® Products
• Pay Transparency: $125,000 to $145,000 depending on experience

What We Value

Vacation® employees have a deep hunger and eagerness to go above and beyond in everything they do. They love to leave their mark in contributing to the company’s growth and, maybe most importantly, they are humble when they do so. No job is too small, and they see every task they do as an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the company’s overall success. Attention to detail, organization, proactivity, accountability, humility and a sense of humor are cardinal virtues for a Vacation® employee.

Vacation® is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We recognize that diverse teams make the strongest teams. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of gender identity/expression, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know by contacting us at people@vacation.inc so we can do our best to accommodate you in applying for the role.