Product Development Specialist

About Refyne

We are redefining recruitment across the Personal Care, Beauty, Aesthetics & Wellness space. We partner with ambitious businesses to source high-impact talent and make hiring feel seamless - and we guarantee our results every time.

From entry-level to executive search, we bring market insight, global network depth, and a Refyned, high-touch approach. Whether you're building your founding team or hiring at scale - we’re your people.

Our Client

Our client is a fast-growing, digitally led beauty business recognised for creating innovative products and building a highly engaged consumer community. Operating within a highly entrepreneurial environment, the business has established itself as a disruptive force within its category through a strong focus on innovation, customer connection, and elevated product experiences. With a collaborative culture, relatively flat structure, and direct access to senior leadership, this opportunity offers genuine ownership and the ability to influence product innovation at pace.

Overview

We are seeking an experienced and commercially aware Product Developer to join a growing Product team within a fast-moving beauty environment.

Reporting into the Product Manager, this role will lead the end-to-end development of new product launches - transforming concepts into market-ready products that deliver against both consumer expectations and commercial objectives. Responsible across formulation, componentry, packaging and supporting product experiences, this position requires a blend of technical expertise, project leadership, commercial awareness, and strong cross-functional collaboration.

The successful candidate will thrive in an agile environment and enjoy balancing creativity with operational excellence to deliver best-in-class product experiences.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development & Delivery

• Lead end-to-end product development from concept through to first production, delivering against timelines, quality standards and commercial objectives.
• Own project plans and critical paths across multiple launches, ensuring pace, visibility and on-time delivery.
• Drive development across formulation, components and packaging to create innovative, high-performing products.
• Partner cross-functionally and externally to bring commercially successful launches to market.

Product Testing & Consumer Insight

• Develop and execute testing strategies to ensure products are inclusive, consumer-led and performance driven.
• Translate market trends, consumer feedback and testing insights into product improvements and future innovation.
• Collaborate with Marketing and commercial teams to ensure product performance supports launch positioning and claims.

Commercial Ownership & Supplier Management

• Own product costings and supplier negotiations, balancing margin delivery with product excellence.
• Build and lead supplier relationships, driving accountability, pace and quality throughout development.
• Proactively identify and manage risks across cost, quality, supply and timelines.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Innovation

• Work closely with Packaging, Technical, Quality and Marketing teams to deliver seamless product launches.
• Present product updates, recommendations and development milestones to key stakeholders.
• Stay ahead of market trends, emerging technologies and innovation opportunities to shape future launches.

Qualifications

Experience: Minimum 3+ years’ experience within Product Development across beauty, skincare, cosmetics, or adjacent personal care categories.

Technical Capability: Strong understanding of end-to-end product development and formulation processes.

Formulation Experience: Experience working across formulation development with strong technical awareness.

Colour Expertise: Exposure to shade development and colour-led innovation is advantageous.

Project Management: Proven ability to manage multiple launches simultaneously while maintaining pace and quality.

Commercial Awareness: Experience managing suppliers, costings and development timelines.

Core Competencies

Strategic Thinking: Able to combine creativity with commercially sound decision-making.

Ownership: Demonstrates accountability and confidence leading projects independently.

Solution Focused: Approaches challenges proactively and drives outcomes.

Collaborative: Builds strong relationships across teams and external partners.

Adaptable: Comfortable operating in fast-paced and evolving environments.

Communication: Confident influencing stakeholders and presenting recommendations.

Additional Information

Location: Manchester (hybrid working available with flexibility to work from home one day per week).

Perks & Benefits

Time to Recharge

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Additional leave awarded through length of service
• Option to purchase additional annual leave
• Sabbatical opportunities

Reward & Wellbeing

• Performance-related bonus
• Private healthcare and wellbeing support
• Financial wellbeing initiatives

Flexibility & Lifestyle

• Flexible working hours
• Hybrid working model
• Electric vehicle scheme

Community & Growth

• Volunteering initiatives
• Enhanced family leave
• Learning and development opportunities
• Social events and team experiences

Product Benefits

• Annual product allowance
• Employee discount programme
• Early access to launches

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to join a rapidly growing beauty business at an exciting stage of expansion and innovation. You’ll have genuine ownership across product development, direct visibility with senior stakeholders, and the chance to influence products from concept through to launch. If you enjoy combining technical expertise with commercial thinking and want to build products that resonate with consumers in a fast-moving environment, this is an exceptional opportunity to make visible impact within a highly ambitious business.

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