MAC Product Development Associate

About MAC

MAC is a pioneering professional makeup authority, renowned for its artistry, inclusivity, and influential role in shaping contemporary beauty culture. Founded in Toronto in 1984 and now part of The Estée Lauder Companies, the brand empowers employees to champion self-expression, creativity, and diversity across retail, education, product innovation, and consumer experience. As an employer, MAC offers a dynamic, fast-paced environment where artistry meets commercial excellence, encouraging talent to develop deep product expertise, client relationships, and cultural awareness. Its heritage of supporting all ages, races, and genders continues to define a workplace built on bold ideas, collaboration, and authentic individuality.

Role & Responsibilities

• Follow trends, recent competitive launches, and ingredient research to develop competitive analyses and ensure product concepts align with the brand’s identity and remain relevant in the industry.
• Track and take notes at internal and external meetings to support team alignment and provide reference materials.
• Assist the team with pulling shade prototypes and program lineups.
• Attend vendor presentations and assist with evaluating samples.
• Track all stages of new product development, from concept development and brief writing through lab submissions, stakeholder communication, submission evaluation, formula approval, and commercialization.
• Log, label, and organize product submissions.
• Coordinate and organize clinical and sensory test samples.
• Coordinate and organize internal panel tests.
• Pull products and prepare for meeting requests.
• Evaluate first production batches and re-establish production standards.
• Evaluate finished-goods retains to ensure they meet quality standards.
• Create and present seasonal mood boards to senior management.
• Travel domestically and internationally to labs as required to help establish and approve shade lineups.
• Review product swatches, application, and imagery with the Photography team to ensure accuracy and representativeness.
• Provide or find Pantone references and shade descriptions for complexion programs.
• Lead and coordinate sampling needs.
• Purchase and maintain the competitive library.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of prestige color cosmetics product development experience.
• Passion for the beauty industry.
• Demonstrated project management skills and knowledge of the new product development lifecycle.
• Ability to execute within accelerated timeframes and adapt quickly to changing priorities.
• Proven ability to distill complex information into key messages for varied audiences.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, frequently changing, collaborative environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and exceptional interpersonal skills.

Skills

Experience

At least 3 years of prestige color cosmetics product development experience.

Culture

MAC fosters a dynamic, artist-led workplace where creativity, individuality, and inclusive self-expression are central to the employee experience. The brand offers a fast-paced, collaborative environment in which beauty professionals are encouraged to build their artistry, connect authentically with diverse clients, and represent a bold global point of view.

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.