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 Research and Development Senior Formulation Scientist plays a critical role in the selection of ingredients, development and optimization of formulations for dietary supplements and food products. This position involves the proper assessment of active and non-active ingredients, experimental designs, scientific judgement and utilization of scientific principles in ingredient, selection and creation of high-quality, stable, and efficacious product formulations that meet product profile.

Responsibilities

• Selection of appropriate ingredients, development of paper formulations and reformulations that meet product profiles and development objectives.
• Perform benchtop experiments for development of nutraceutical products (capsules, tablets, powders, stick packs), with consideration to client requirements, manufacturing feasibility, ingredient compatibility, stability, solubility, and bioavailability.
• Evaluate and select appropriate excipients and recommend alternate active ingredients for use in formulations based on scientific understanding and regulatory requirements.
• Reformulate products to enhance appearance, taste, texture, solubility, stability, efficacy, and manufacturability with speed, accuracy and robustness.
• Ensure that formulated products meet quality standards, regulatory guidelines, and industry best practices. Collaborate with regulatory and quality teams to address and resolve any compliance-related issues.
• Collaborate with manufacturing teams to ensure successful scale-up of formulations from laboratory to production scale. Provide technical support during manufacturing to troubleshoot any formulation-related challenges.
• Conduct alternate supplier qualification of existing raw materials. Design experiments to evaluate stability and suitability of alternate material in new and existing finished products. Conduct sensory analysis for raw materials where needed to ensure suitability of flavors and other ingredients in powder products.
• Maintain accurate and detailed records of formulation development activities, experiments, and results. Generate technical reports, protocols, and documentation as needed.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams including Sales, Project Management, Product Development, Quality Control, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance, and Technical Operations to ensure alignment with project goals and timelines.
• Stay updated with the latest developments in formulation science and technological advancements in the dietary supplement industry. Incorporate innovative approaches and ingredients into formulation strategies.
• Adhere to laboratory safety protocols and follow Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) to ensure a safe and compliant working environment.
• Identify opportunities for increased efficiency.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

May need to supervise the activity of junior staff in the department

Minimum Qualifications

Education/Knowledge

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

Advanced degrees (MS or PhD) preferred

Experience:

• Strong background in nutraceutical/pharmaceutical formulation/process development (capsules, powders, tablets, DTM powders, effervescent tablets, and powders) and related laboratory techniques.
• Demonstrated success in formulating, scaling up and commercializing complex formulations.
• Knowledge of FDA regulations around dietary supplements, Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) and DSHEA guidelines.
• Proven experience in conducting scientific research, designing experiments, analyzing data using statistical tools and providing detailed reports.
• Proficiency in using laboratory equipment relevant to product development.
• Root cause analysis and troubleshooting formulation issues.
• Product lifecycle management software experience preferred.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills for working within cross-functional team environment especially with manufacturing, operations, sales, and quality.
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities.

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

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may regularly require talking, hear and grasp items. This position is active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing all day.

Regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts, strong fumes, loud noises, and occasionally extreme temperatures

The employee must frequently grasp, lift and/or move items 10 pounds and occasionally grasp, lift and/or move items 33lbs.

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 Hourly Range for this position at Lief Labs is $115,000.00-$127,000.00/ 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.