Hermès Formulation Development Project Manager — Fragrance Derivatives
About Hermès
Hermès Parfum & Beauté is the fragrance and beauty division of the Hermès maison, bringing the group's artisanal savoir‑faire and creative rigor to perfumes and cosmetic formulations. As part of the Hermès ecosystem, the employer emphasizes craftsmanship, high standards of quality, and a commitment to ethical practices and diversity.
Hermès Parfum & Beauté seeks a Formulation Development Project Manager (Fragrance Derivatives) in Le Vaudreuil, France — lead formulation projects from brief to industrialisation.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead formulation development projects from brief issuance through formula release, ensuring adherence to specifications, internal formulation charter and timelines.
- Design and execute laboratory trials and sensory/olfactory evaluations to create and refine fragrance‑derived formulas.
- Manage R&D elements of project plans using internal project management tools and provide regular progress reporting with risk alerts and corrective actions.
- Define specifications and control plans for formulas and supervise associated analytical testing.
- Coordinate and pilot stability, microbiological and compatibility testing programs.
- Support industrialisation and first industrial production runs; liaise with manufacturing to secure scale‑up and production readiness.
- Maintain the technical formulation catalogue (equivalences, regulatory reformulations, procurement impacts) and ensure formula data integrity in internal systems.
- Prepare and provide R&D inputs for the Product Information Dossier (DIP) and collaborate with Regulatory Affairs, Packaging, Quality and Purchasing for formula release.
- Animate lifecycle management meetings, lead cross‑functional project reviews and contribute to continuous improvement of development processes.
- Monitor market and technical trends and proactively propose innovation in chassis, base formulations and technical solutions.
Qualifications
- Master's degree (Bac+5) in a scientific discipline (e.g., chemistry, chemical engineering, cosmetic science).
- Minimum 6 years' successful experience in formulation development and project management, with demonstrable experience on fragrance‑derived products.
- Thorough knowledge of cosmetic and perfumery ingredients, olfactory and sensory evaluation techniques, and cosmetic regulations.
- Proven ability to drive industrialisation and first production transfers.
- Professional working proficiency in English.
Skills
Experience
At least six years of progressive experience in cosmetic or fragrance formulation and project management, with a strong track record in developing and industrialising fragrance‑derived products.
Education
Master's degree (Bac+5) in a scientific discipline such as chemistry, chemical engineering, or cosmetic science.
Workplace
This position is based in Le Vaudreuil, Normandy, France, within easy reach of Rouen.
Culture
The employer reflects Hermès' hallmark of meticulous craftsmanship, creative autonomy and high standards. The environment values cross‑disciplinary collaboration, discretion and a commitment to ethical practices and inclusion, offering opportunities to work on innovative, premium fragrance and beauty projects.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Hermès, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «R&D Formulation Project Manager», «Fragrance Formulation Manager», «Perfume Derivatives Development Manager», «Formulation Development Lead (Fragrance)», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.