TrendPac is a proudly Australian-owned contract manufacturer of personal and home care products. We’re looking for a technically strong and commercially savvy R&D Manager to lead our formulation team and help drive innovation, sustainability, and quality across our product portfolio.

This is a hands-on leadership role where you’ll guide a team of chemists, shape high-performing formulations, and work closely with other departments to bring ideas to life, from concept to shelf.

What You’ll Be Doing

Leading formulation development for personal and home care products

Translating product briefs into cost-effective, compliant, and robust formulations

Providing scientific input on raw materials, claims, SDS/INCI, and regulatory compliance (AICIS, TGA, APVMA, IFRA)

Overseeing testing and stability protocols to ensure product performance and shelf-life

Supporting plant trials, troubleshooting, and technical problem-solving (RCA, 5 Whys, Fishbone)

Tracking and reporting R&D KPIs including sample throughput and cost-performance gains

Identifying cost-saving opportunities through formulation standardisation and ingredient optimisation

Mentoring and coaching a team of chemists to uplift capability and foster innovation

Collaborating with QA, Operations, Procurement, and Commercial teams on scale-ups and improvements

Championing lab and site safety initiatives

What You’ll Bring

Tertiary qualification in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, or a related field

5+ years of formulation experience in personal/home care or FMCG

Proven ability to lead technical teams and deliver on formulation, cost, and performance goals

Strong hands-on approach to lab work and structured problem solving

Familiarity with R&D KPIs and cost-saving initiatives

Excellent communication and collaboration skills

Why TrendPac?

We’re more than just a workplace. At TrendPac, you’ll enjoy:

Onsite Physio for Early Intervention to support your health and wellbeing

TrendPac Dollar Rewards to recognise your contributions

Competitive work agreements and salaries that reflect your value

A great culture of teamwork and collaboration where everyone supports each other

Living Our RAISE Values

At TrendPac, we live by our RAISE values:

Respect – We treat each other with care and professionalism, valuing diverse perspectives

Achieving Together – We collaborate across teams to reach shared goals and celebrate success

Integrity – We do what’s right, even when no one’s watching

Stewardship – We take responsibility for our impact and act with care for our people, products, and planet

Excellence – We strive for quality and continuous improvement in everything we do

As R&D Manager, you’ll be expected to lead by example, bringing these values to life through your leadership, technical expertise, and collaborative approach