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 Associate Formulation Scientist will support the development of innovative dietary supplement products. The successful candidate will assist in the formulation, testing, and documentation of dietary supplements/nutritional products including tablets, capsules, powders. This role involves collaboration with cross-functional teams including R&D team, Quality, Regulatory, Procurement and Manufacturing.

This position is responsible for the hands-on evaluation of the raw materials, bench development of formulations of different dosage forms, and conducting appropriate chemical and physical laboratory tests to ensure ingredients and formulations meet the target product profile.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the design and development of new products, and reformulation of products by translating customer requirements and specifications into finished product that meet product profile and can be manufactured at target cost.
• Conduct bench-top prototype development, laboratory experiments and testing according to established protocols and procedures. This may involve sample preparation, formulation, stability testing, sensory evaluation (in-house or third party) and submitting samples for analytical testing.
• Perform ingredient sourcing, functionality evaluation, and compatibility studies.
• Conduct laboratory experiments and testing according to established protocols and procedures. This may involve sample preparation, formulation, stability testing, sensory evaluation (in-house or third party) and submitting samples for analytical testing.
• Assist with evaluation of new/alternate raw materials for use in finished products.
• Communicate with manufacturing, production, quality and packaging to resolve quality related issues with production lots.
• Support scale-up and pilot production trials in coordination with manufacturing teams.
• Record experimental data accurately and analyze results. Use statistical tools and software to draw meaningful conclusions. Leverage existing data to draw conclusion and manage risk.
• Maintain detailed laboratory notebooks and records. Generate technical reports summarizing findings and progress in product development. Maintain records on testing and develop and maintain forms as needed. Prepare technical transfer reports, SOP’s and work instructions as needed.
• Stay current with industry regulations and standards related to dietary supplements and nutritional products. Work closely with Quality department to ensure formulations align with labeling / regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product development, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, sales and manufacturing, to deliver product development milestones against timeline and budget and ensure product development aligns with company goals and standards.
• Conduct literature research to support formulation design and market research to support innovative ingredient and product solutions. Using research, design formulations to deliver quality products and use existing data and historical records to continuously improve existing products.
• Comply with safety protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the laboratory. Promote a culture of safety among team members.
• Operate, clean, and maintain laboratory equipment and instruments. Work with R&D technician to report any malfunctions or need for repairs.
• Additional Duties as assigned

Supervisory Responsibilities

No Supervisory Responsibilities

Minimum Qualifications

Education/Knowledge

Bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific field (e.g., chemistry, biology, food science, or related discipline). or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. Master's degree in a related scientific field, preferred

Experience:

• 1-3+ years of experience working in an R&D or product development laboratory, preferably in the pharmaceutical, dietary supplement, or food industry.
• Strong knowledge of laboratory techniques, equipment, and safety protocols.
• Familiarity with formulation development, experimental design, and analytical testing.
• Proficient in using laboratory software and data analysis tools.
• Knowledge of functional ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, botanicals, amino acids, probiotics, etc.
• Familiarity with different dosage forms and delivery systems (e.g., tablets, capsules, powders).
• Familiarity with nutritional value calculation and product labeling regulations and guidelines.
• Ability to follow protocols and standard operating procedures accurately and safely.
• Adherence to quality standards and commitment to maintaining a safe laboratory environment.
• Knowledge of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and GLP (Good Lab Practices) guidelines.
• Experience with setting up stability protocols and conducting stability testing
• Familiarity with FDA regulations for dietary supplements / raw materials.

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 $22.00 - $40.00/ hour (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.