Lief Labs is a premier formulation and product development innovator and manufacturer of dietary supplements. Our in-house product development and R&D team creates the best-tasting and cutting-edge supplement formulations. Lief also houses a state-of-the-art, full-service Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) manufacturing facility, which offers custom solutions for many supplement categories. Lief collaborates with entrepreneurial firms to help them build premier brands. Our turnkey solutions allow us to engage in seamless partnerships that help brands with scalability and sustainable growth. Lief Labs is in the Santa Clarita Valley (Valencia, CA.)

Summary

The Product Development Scientist plays a key role in the design, development, reformulation, documentation, and technical support of dietary supplement products. This position supports core Product Development responsibilities, scientific literature review, paper formulation design & quoting, claims substantiation while also providing structured, low-risk support to Regulatory Affairs. The role prepares technical documentation, maintains compliance-related records, assists with label verification, supports raw material document management, and responds to technical product inquiries. The Product Development Scientist applies scientific and technical principles to create high quality formulations while ensuring accurate documentation and adherence to internal and external requirements.

Responsibilities

Product Development Responsibilities

• Design and develop new product formulations for dietary supplements, nutritional supplements and food products, that are scientifically substantiated and considering factors such as ingredient compatibility, stability, solubility, and bioavailability.
• Ensure the efficient and timely Formulation Design and Pricing of product formulations.
• Stay abreast of market trends to develop innovative scientifically supported product offerings, that are Lief stock formulations and/or customer requested products.
• Requests, maintains, manages and reviews all technical documentation for all materials.
• Evaluate and select appropriate raw materials (active ingredients and excipients) for use in formulations based on scientific understanding, quality and regulatory requirements.
• Reformulate as needed to optimize existing formulations to enhance product stability, efficacy, manufacturability and/or improved pricing.
• In collaboration with R&D Formulation Scientists, generate appropriate technical documentation including Supplements Facts and Nutrition Facts Sheet, TBD codes, Raw Material Specifications and Finished Product Specifications.
• In collaboration with Formulation Scientists and Quality personnel, ensure that formulated products and specifications meet quality standards and regulatory guidelines.
• Ensure the proper analysis of documentation for the creation of internal product codes, specification of raw materials in accordance with departmental standard operating procedures.
• Work closely with R&D Formulation Scientists, Quality Personnel, external vendors to obtain all necessary data and documentation to product certifications, 3^rd party and internal certifications.
• Stay updated with the latest developments in formulation science and technological advancements in the pharmaceutical or nutraceutical industry. Incorporate innovative approaches into formulation strategies.
• Responsible for improving and ensuring compliance associated with change control/revisions of technical documentation.
• Ensure the creation and optimization of SOPs/Job Aids/Work Instructions for the department.

Regulatory Support Responsibilities

These duties support Regulatory Affairs but do not involve regulatory interpretation or decision-making.

• Gather supplier compliance documents and certificates for raw material when not on file.
• Perform initial formula checks based on Product Development Requests based on compliance criteria (e.g., Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, Organic, Vegan).
• Review Label Proofs using the criteria established on Dietary Supplement Label Review Checklist which include:
  • Statement of Identity
  • Net Quantitity
  • Supplement Facts Panel
  • Ingredient Statement
  • Allergen Declaration
  • Name and Place of Business
  • Domestic Address or Phone Number
  • DSHEA Disclaimer
• Complete simple regulatory questionnaires for new products or formulations (only within relevant scope).
• Prepare Redacted documents for raw material requests.
• Respond to technical inquiries on ingredients or formulation from internal teams or clients (simple, non-complex inquiries).

Supervisory Responsibilities

No Supervisory Responsibilities

Minimum Qualifications

Education/Knowledge

A bachelors in a relevant scientific field (e.g., pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, biology) with experience of 3+ years in nutraceutical or pharmaceutical industry.

Experience:

• Demonstrate high organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrates strong knowledge of product formulation and development.
• Knowledge and applicability of Supplements Facts and Nutrition Facts Sheet
• Knowledge and applicability of Code of Federal Regulations
• Knowledge and applicability of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA).
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills for working within cross-functional teams.
• Familiarity with industry software and tools used in formulation and research.

Work Environment

The office is clean, orderly, properly lighted and ventilated. Noise levels are considered low to moderate. Field conditions vary.

Exposed to various raw materials, including allergens (i.e. milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nut, peanuts, wheat, soy).

Physical Demands

Must be able to see, hear, speak and write clearly in other to communicate with employees, customers and/or vendors. Manual dexterity required for occasional reaching and lifting of small objects and operating office equipment.

The employee must frequently grasp, lift and/or move items over 10 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Additional Information
The pay range for this position at Lief Labs is $70-82k Annual (USD). Starting pay for the successful applicant depends on a variety of job-related factors, including but not limited to market demands, experience, training, skills, and education. The benefits available for this position include medical, dental, vision, 401(k) plan, life insurance coverage, wellness benefits, education reimbursement program, and PTO.

Lief is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, or sex, including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Suppose you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran. In that case, you have the right to request accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center due to your disability. To request an accommodation, contact the Lief Human Resources department.

Lief will consider employment-qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

Lief uses E-Verify to confirm work eligibility in the United States. E-Verify compares the information on your Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to official government records.