Head of R&D

About this role

Why We Exist and What We Do:

At Dr. Squatch (www.drsquatch.com), we’re raising the bar on men’s personal care with our line of natural, high-performance products. We’re on a high-growth, fast-moving ride, continually introducing new product categories, launching into retailers nationwide, and growing internationally. We have been recognized and certified by Great Place to Work® multiple times, and we achieved status as a certified B Corp in 2023. We are looking for passionate, talented people who want to join us in our mission to inspire and educate men to be happier and healthier!

About the Role:

Dr. Squatch is seeking a Head of R&D to lead the next phase of technical and product innovation across the organization. We are seeking a hands-on technical leader who can help scale and evolve the organization's product development capabilities while navigating the increasing operational complexity that comes with rapid growth across retail and omnichannel channels.

The ideal candidate combines deep formulation expertise with strong operational judgment and an entrepreneurial mindset. This person should be equally comfortable evaluating ingredient systems, troubleshooting manufacturing realities, influencing executive stakeholders, and making practical decisions in fast-moving environments. Success in the role will require balancing speed, scalability, quality, cost, and formulation integrity without creating unnecessary process or bureaucracy.

Reporting into executive leadership, the Head of R&D will oversee a multidisciplinary technical organization spanning formulation, product development, and manufacturing/process engineering. They will serve as a key strategic and technical partner internally and with Unilever stakeholders as the company continues expanding across categories and channels. The mandate is not simply to support the current business — it is to help build the technical foundation, team, and operating capabilities needed for the next stage of growth.

This is a full-time, hybrid role with company benefits, based in Marina Del Rey, CA, that requires 3 days per week at Dr. Squatch HQ.

The anticipated base compensation range for this role will be $190,000 to $210,000. Compensation will be commensurate with the candidate's experience and local market rates.

What You'll Do:

• Technical Development & Formulation Leadership

• Own technical strategy and decision-making across the full product development lifecycle

• Lead formulation development across soaps, deodorants, body care, hair care, skincare, and adjacent categories

• Evaluate ingredient systems, raw materials, and manufacturing processes to ensure product performance, scalability, and brand alignment

• Serve as the company's senior technical authority across formulation, quality, and product performance discussions

• Translate complex scientific concepts into clear, actionable recommendations for commercial and executive stakeholders

• Ensure speed-to-market without compromising formulation integrity, product quality, or technical rigor

• Innovation & Pipeline Leadership

• Lead the innovation pipeline from concept through commercialization across new products, reformulations, and adjacent category expansion