Project Manager, Formulation Operations

About the company

Debut is a biotechnology-driven innovation company focused on creating sustainably produced ingredients and high-performance cosmetic actives. Its model combines AI-assisted discovery, proprietary bioprocessing, formulation science, clinical validation, and scaled manufacturing to bring new beauty ingredients to market efficiently and with strong efficacy data. The organization emphasizes climate-positive innovation, human wellbeing, and collaborative, fast-moving teams.

Role overview

Debut is hiring a Project Manager for Formulation Operations to manage the full lifecycle of formulation projects, starting from the initial brief and continuing through tech transfer to commercial manufacturing. The position is based at the company’s headquarters in San Diego, California, and reports to the VP of Commercial Operations. It is a full-time role with a base salary of USD 85,000 to 95,000 per year, plus performance-based incentives depending on experience.

This role sits at the center of coordination between the formulation sales team, R&D/formulation scientists, and contract manufacturing partners. The right candidate will be highly organized, comfortable in a fast-paced setting, and capable of handling both technical project details and brand-facing communication. Familiarity with beauty formulation, skincare development, or new product development from a commercial perspective is important.

What you'll do

• Manage each formulation project from brief intake through tech transfer, keeping ownership of timelines, quality, and deliverables throughout the process.
• Spot project risks early, escalate delays or issues, and help drive corrective action with internal teams and external partners.
• Act as the main link between formulation sales, R&D/formulation teams, and, when needed, contract manufacturers.
• Convert customer briefs into clear development plans and keep sales teams and brand clients informed with timely, professional updates.
• Coordinate daily formulation project work across internal R&D staff and CM partners, including on-site participation in lab reviews and prototype assessments.
• Organize brand-facing reviews, site visits, and facility tours, including logistics, presentation materials, and a polished customer experience.
• Oversee Bills of Materials for active projects, including raw materials, packaging, and finished goods specs, while maintaining version accuracy and communicating changes.
• Manage sample submission and approval steps between Debut, CM partners, and brand customers so milestones stay on schedule.
• Track formulation milestones and tech transfer progress, and escalate concerns tied to performance, material availability, compliance, or quality issues with clear next steps.
• Keep project records current in Monday.com and provide leadership with reliable visibility into status, progress, and risk across the portfolio.
• Help improve project management processes, tools, partner coordination methods, and the tech transfer playbook as the company grows.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree is required.
• At least 3 years of experience in formulation project management, new product development, or beauty/skincare sales with active involvement in product development.
• Hands-on familiarity with the beauty product development process, including briefs, prototype rounds, stability and compatibility testing, tech transfer documentation, and regulatory or quality considerations.
• Experience handling BOM documentation, version control, component updates, and communication with manufacturing and commercial stakeholders.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills across internal teams, external manufacturing partners, and brand customers.
• Comfort using project management platforms such as Monday.com, Optiva, or similar tools, along with Microsoft Excel and Outlook.
• Must be based in San Diego, CA, and able to make regular visits to the Riverside, CA CM partner facility, plus occasional travel to other partner sites and brand offices.
• Ability to work effectively in an early-stage environment where processes are still developing.
• PMP certification or similar project management training is a plus, but not mandatory.

Additional information

Work setting: On-site in San Diego, CA, with regular on-site travel to manufacturing and partner locations as required by business needs.

Physical demands: The role involves frequent sitting, standing, and walking across office, lab, warehouse, and manufacturing environments; safe movement through active production floors and laboratory spaces; repeated computer and device use; carrying materials, samples, and documents weighing up to 30 pounds; and domestic travel to CM partner facilities and brand offices.

Employment condition: Candidates must complete a pre-employment background check before starting. Depending on the role’s responsibilities, additional background screening may also be carried out.

Equal opportunity: Debut considers applicants without regard to age, nationality, sex, marital status, pregnancy status, caregiving responsibilities, race, religion, language, disability, or mental health conditions. Hiring decisions are made based on merit, qualifications, and business needs.

Ideal candidate profile

The best fit for this role is highly process-oriented, detail-focused, and comfortable managing multiple parties and deadlines at once. Exposure to cosmetic science, chemistry, beauty/skincare sales, or new product development would be especially valuable, along with the ability to move confidently between technical formulation work and commercial communication.