Senior Bioanalytical Chemist I, Analytical Chemistry, L’Oréal Research & Innovation

Hello, we’re L’Oréal, we're not just building brands; we're shaping how the world experiences beauty (and it takes a lot of cool jobs to do it).

Intrigued? Keep reading, this might be the opportunity you've been searching for.

Who We Are

Join us at L’Oréal, 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’Oréal 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 4,100 L'Oréal R&I experts leverage Science & Technology to invent safe, trustable, sustainable & responsible beauty products and experiences that will change people’s lives.

Inside L’Oréal’s Research & Innovation Division, Analytical Chemistry is responsible for working with our over 35 brands and partnering with development and manufacturing teams to design studies, generate analytical data, and summarize findings regarding our products using the latest instruments, methodologies, and techniques. We value the development of products that are backed by science to establish stability, performance, safety, and quality regardless of the brand or division.  

We are seeking a Senior Bioanalytical Chemist I to join our Analytical Chemistry team in our state of the art Clark, New Jersey research facility, supporting our Analytical Innovation & Expertise Pillar. We are looking for a talented scientist that is passionate about problem-solving and investigating the chemistry behind our products, can use data to support conclusions and claims, and has a deep drive to ensure beauty products are held to the highest standards in quality and safety.

A Day in the Life:

• Design and conduct research to develop, validate, and implement novel LC (UV & MS) and GC (MS & FID) analytical methods to quantify large and small molecules in different matrixes (biological, finished products, others)
• Develop sample preparation procedures for small and large molecule analysis (small molecules, peptides, proteins, lipids, biomarkers, metabolites) 
• Perform general troubleshooting and maintenance for LC (UV & MS) and GC (MS & FID) based instrumentation
• Establish/manage the interaction with partner CROs 
• Maintain awareness of consumer trends, as well as evolving capabilities in the analytical chemistry field, with emphasis on LC-MS and GC-MS techniques
• Identify innovation opportunity areas in the field of bioanalysis and create a plan to implement, bring those to life, and promote/communicate benefits with our business partners
• Represent the voice of the analytical department when engaged in product development activities
• Provide strategic leadership in support and execution of testing strategies across brands to meet project timelines
• Drive problem-solving and provide technically sound recommendations
• Show ability to convey ideas, and design experiments to test them to confirm project technical feasibility
• Prioritize and coordinate stability testing and ensure data is accurate and reported to meet timelines
• Perform root cause analyses for non-conformance events related to laboratory testing
• Maintain necessary documentation in accordance with policies and practices
• Remain current with ICH guidelines, GMPs, and regulations, as applicable
• Collect, process and interpret data accurately, derive conclusions based on sound science, and prepare technical reports to effectively communicate results and findings to key stakeholders (audience with and without scientific backgrounds)
• Collaborate closely with our brand partners in support of product development, to drive company strategy and initiatives to completion
• Adhere to written practices to ensure good quality, compliance, and safety
• Quickly adapt to changes, delays, unexpected events
• Manage multiple projects prioritizing the work to ensure on time delivery of results to meet critical project milestones
• Develop working relationships with cross-functional teams, labs, and international colleagues to grow breadth and depth of expertise
• Actively participate in L’Oréal’s international analytical technical communities

We Are Looking For: You’re a great match for this role if you are an innovator, entrepreneur, integrator, and problem-solver with a research-minded approach, eager to contribute.

• Education: A completed Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific/engineering discipline is required. Advanced Degree (MS/PhD) preferred
• Experience: 1-3+ years (Advanced Degree)/4-7+ (Bachelor's) years of relevant industry experience in analytical chemistry is required
• Strong experience with LC/GC MS-based systems (QTrap LC-MS/MS, Orbitraps, Triple-TOF LC-MS/MS, GC-MSD, GC x GC-TOF, others). 
• Strong experimental background and skills using LC (UV & MS) and GC (MS & FID) based instrumentation to solve challenging technical problems and to develop and validate novel methods for small and large molecules is a must.
• Proficient with SDS-Page, fluorometric assays, ELISA, plate readers, others. 
• Strong experimental design and data interpretation skills to support product development.
• Strong hands-on experience in sample preparation techniques for small and large molecules.
• Experienced in troubleshooting assay or instrument (Sciex, Agilent, Thermo, Waters) issues and addressing bioanalytical challenges of complex assays by applying appropriate technology
• Agility to learn, implement, and share new techniques (within & outside area of expertise) to help develop our analytical toolkit 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills required
• Ability to organize analytical data and provide summaries and conclusions to management and stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to work in a diverse environment to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet timelines
• Strong attention to details, high level of motivation, initiative, and sense of urgency
• Experience in the cosmetics, personal care or consumer goods industries is a plus but not required
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills ranging from conceptualization to implementation
• Ability to take calculated risks, be proactive and self-directed
• Committed to delivering high quality results and overcoming challenges
• Familiar with ICH guidelines, GMPs and GLPs
• Excellent knowledge of computer systems and software
• Self-motivated to learn, hardworking and curious individual with the ability to think innovatively about difficult research problems
• The ability to lift 25 lbs (11.3 kg) (required)
• The ability to be onsite, in the office/laboratory at least 4 days a week, as this is an essential function of the position (required)
• Authorization to work in the United States on a full-time, permanent, ongoing basis without the need for legal sponsorship now or in the future (required)

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’Oréal
• 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: $77,400 - $110,300 (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)
• Flexible Time Off (Paid Company Holidays, Paid Vacation, Vacation Buy Program, Volunteer Time, Summer Fridays & More!)
• Access to Company Perks (VIP Access to L’Oréal’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'Oréal, 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.