Job Opportunity

Cosmetic Chemist

Working hours: full-time or part-time (80%)  (preferably working during UK hours 8am to 6pm)
Reports to: Head of Education
Location: work from home with travel as required

Role Overview

The role of Cosmetic Scientist is vital for upholding Formula Botanica’s standards of internal quality control and external credibility by ensuring that all educational materials and public content reflect our philosophy and high standards for quality and innovation. Working closely with the Head of Education as part of the school’s Education team, the Cosmetic Scientist actively contributes to enhancing our curriculum, supporting our students, and strengthening our public profile as an authority in organic cosmetic formulation.

Our mantras at Formula Botanica are that:
• everyone can formulate
• formulation is fun, easy, and empowering
• you don’t need to be a chemist to formulate.

While you would be our lead scientist, you’ll need to be comfortable communicating that professional skincare and haircare can be created by anyone with the right training. We’re not training chemists – we’re training formulators. And with thousands of successful beauty brands around the world launched by our graduates, we’ve proven that our approach works. If you believe that only chemists can formulate safe, stable and sellable cosmetics, then this is not the role for you.

The work at Formula Botanica is as varied as it is rewarding. As a global online education provider, no two days are the same. You’ll need to be adaptable, ready to pivot, and comfortable managing multiple tasks at once. Our students are located all over the world, and we strive to support them with fresh, high-quality educational materials and engaging community activities. If you’re someone who thrives on variety, enjoys problem-solving, and likes working in a mission-driven environment, this role will suit you.

Your main responsibility as a Cosmetic Scientist at Formula Botanica will be quality control – ensuring the scientific accuracy, quality, and consistency of our course materials and content. But your role doesn’t stop there. You’ll also be a public representative of Formula Botanica, engaging with our global community of students and graduates. Don’t worry – we’ll support you every step of the way. We’ll provide the training and guidance you need to feel confident in the spotlight, and we’ll never throw you in at the deep end.

Key objectives for the role:
• Internal quality control: Uphold rigorous quality standards across all content areas to ensure scientific accuracy and alignment with our educational philosophy.
• External credibility: Serve as a knowledgeable representative of Formula Botanica, enhancing our reputation in organic cosmetic science and making formulation education accessible to a diverse global audience.

Key Responsibilities

Educational course / membership content

• Write, revise, and ensure that course materials align with current industry standards, meeting Formula Botanica’s commitment to quality and innovation.
• Develop and oversee research and development (R&D) plans for course content, including active formulation tasks.
• Manage R&D consultants involved in course material development.
• Ensure that all content aligns with Formula Botanica’s philosophy, maintaining both educational quality and engagement.

Student & community engagement

• Help students on their journey to becoming certified organic formulators and beauty entrepreneurs by guiding the tutor team with their responses and/or directly supporting students as needed.
• Participate in live and pre-recorded teaching sessions, representing Formula Botanica in webinars, videos, and other community events to enhance our educational reach and engagement.
• Actively engage in Formula Botanica’s online community through live streams, videos, and social media content, working alongside the Marketing team to increase visibility and support our mission of accessibility in formulation education.

Public content & representation

• Review and contribute to blog posts, lead magnets, and social media content created by the Education and Marketing teams to maintain scientific accuracy and educational value.
• Attend live events, represent Formula Botanica in person, and undertake continuous professional development (CPD) through industry events and publications to stay informed on industry developments.
• Represent Formula Botanica across platforms to promote formulation education, supporting the school’s mission to teach 3 million formulators and certify 15,000 formulators by 2030.

Education team support

• Support the Head of Education to maintain accuracy and relevancy across all educational content.
• Participate in regular team meetings, suggest content improvements, introduce new ingredients to the tutor team, and engage in extracurricular activities to support ongoing innovation and development.
• Participate in brainstorming / planning sessions for membership content in the Lab at Formula Botanica, creating and reviewing monthly educational materials that align with our high standards.

Qualifications and Skills

• Degree in Cosmetic Science, Chemistry, Pharmacy, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in cosmetic formulation, ideally with experience in education or content development.
• Proven ability to translate scientific concepts into accessible, engaging educational materials.
• Willingness to embrace the philosophy of organic / natural cosmetic formulation in skincare, haircare, make-up, deodorants and fragrance.
• Willingness to engage in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) through membership of a cosmetic chemistry association, attending industry events and reading current publications.
• Comfortable in front of the camera for live sessions, video recordings, and community events.

How to apply

Please send your CV and covering letter to [email protected].

At Formula Botanica, we believe that you don’t need to be a chemist to formulate professional organic skincare or haircare products. This statement is core to our educational philosophy and central to our mission of empowering independent beauty formulators worldwide.In your covering letter, please share your thoughts on this statement. Do you agree or disagree? How would you explain and justify your perspective to someone new to the field of cosmetic formulation?

Applications for this position close on January 31st, 2025, though the recruitment window will close early if a suitable candidate is successful.