Chanel Chemistry Laboratory Manager

Chanel is an independent French luxury house renowned for haute couture, ready-to-wear, leather goods, fragrances, cosmetics and fine jewelry. As an employer, the brand combines artisanal savoir‑faire with industrial-scale research and development across production, quality and creative teams, offering technically ambitious roles within a discreet, high‑standards environment.

1. Lead and manage the chemistry laboratory team, including recruitment, performance management and skills development.
2. Oversee analytical testing and control activities for raw materials, in‑process samples and finished cosmetics/fragrance products to ensure release criteria are met.
3. Develop, validate and maintain analytical methods (HPLC, GC, spectrometry) and stability protocols; ensure robustness and traceability of results.
4. Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and quality standards (cosmetics regulations, GMP, ISO 17025 where relevant).
5. Manage laboratory operations: planning, prioritisation, maintenance of equipment, calibration and budget oversight.
6. Implement and maintain quality systems, SOPs and LIMS workflows to guarantee data integrity and audit readiness.
7. Collaborate closely with R&D/formulation, quality assurance and supply chain to support new product development and problem resolution.
8. Drive continuous improvement projects to optimise throughput, reduce variability and modernise analytical capability.

1. Master's degree or engineering diploma in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent.
2. Proven managerial experience, preferably with responsibility for a technical laboratory team.
3. Demonstrated expertise in analytical method development and validation for cosmetics or related industries.
4. Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements applicable to cosmetics and laboratory quality systems (GMP, ISO standards).
5. Excellent communication skills in French; professional proficiency in English preferred.
6. Ability to prioritise competing projects and manage stakeholders across R&D, QA and production.

1. HPLC
2. GC
3. LC‑MS
4. UV‑Vis spectrophotometry
5. FTIR
6. Karl Fischer titration
7. Method development & validation
8. Stability testing
9. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
10. LIMS

Minimum of 5 years' experience in an analytical chemistry laboratory, including at least 2 years in a supervisory or managerial capacity; experience in cosmetics, personal care or pharmaceutical sectors strongly preferred.

Master's degree or engineering diploma in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent.

Chanel cultivates a culture of craftsmanship, rigor and discretion, valuing technical excellence and creative collaboration. Teams operate at the intersection of artisanal savoir‑faire and industrial R&D, with an emphasis on continuous improvement and high-quality standards.