Category R&D Associate - IW

We are Reckitt

Reckitt is a global health and hygiene leader with over 200 years of history and a century in China. Today, China is one of our largest and fastest-growing markets, where we design trusted products for everyday care.

About Shanghai Science and Innovation Centre

Our Shanghai Science & Innovation Centre—Reckitt’s largest R&D site in Asia, develops locally inspired health and hygiene innovations tailored for Chinese consumers, with potential to set new global standards.

Operating as an open platform, the Centre partners with local institutions to accelerate innovation and support China’s “Healthy China 2030” vision.

As one of nine global Reckitt innovation hubs, it connects top Chinese talent with our worldwide network, turning cutting-edge research into products that protect and nurture millions of households.

Join us in advancing our purpose of a cleaner, healthier world.

Position Overview:

The R&D Associate is to recruit for driving innovation of Intima Brand.  In this role, you will lead the end-to-end development of innovative intimate products cross different product formats, gaining hands-on experience in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment. This role offers a unique platform to grow professionally while contributing to meaningful, consumer-focused innovation.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead new product development from concept through formulation, process development, consumer testing, scale-up, and product launch, following established internal procedures, and troubleshooting during product qualification stages and manufacturing trials.
• Lead the creation of technical product stories that effectively highlight product superiority and key performance benefits.
• Monitor raw material, market, and industry trends to provide insights that fuel future innovation and product pipeline development.
• Lead the design and implementation of robust product evaluation methodologies to enable data-driven, sustainable, and consumer-relevant claims.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., Marketing, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Quality) to ensure alignment and successful project execution to ensure successful on-time project delivery.
• Apply project management skills to help coordinate tasks, timelines, and milestones relevant to R&D activities.
• Establish, track and manage resource requirements, including effective budget management.
• Scout external RTG products that can be readily adapted to suit RB needs and actively support the realization of new business opportunities. Manage and guide External Manufacturing Organizations (EMOs) in delivering against formulation, development, and testing requirements aligned with internal success criteria and company standards.

Your experience & skills:

• Master’s degree in relevant scientific discipline such as cosmetics science, chemistry or relevant areas. 
• Relevant experience within product development role within FMCG environment with a minimum of 3 years’ product development experience working in personal care, cosmetics or home care areas. The rinse-off product experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across diverse and multifunctional teams.
• Proven track record of continuous improvement in working practices, processes, capabilities in audit ready culture.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to develop strategies, tactics and measurable implementation plans and able to transform solid thinking into action (a thinker and an achiever).
• Strong intellectual curiosity with an appetite for exploring new and previously uncharted territories and an openness to change and an ability to think out of the box.
• Good English skills with experience in international company an advantage.

What we offer

With inclusion at the heart of everything we do, working alongside our four global Employee Resource Groups, we support our people at every step of their career journey, helping them to succeed in their own individual way.

We invest in the wellbeing of our people through parental benefits, an Employee Assistance Program to promote mental health, and life insurance for all employees globally. We have a range of other benefits in line with the local market. Through our global share plans we offer the opportunity to save and share in Reckitt's potential future successes. For eligible roles, we also offer short-term incentives to recognise, appreciate and reward your work for delivering outstanding results. You will be rewarded in line with Reckitt's pay for performance philosophy.

Equality

We recognise that in real life, great people don't always 'tick all the boxes'. That's why we hire for potential as well as experience. Even if you don't meet every point on the job description, if this role and our company feels like a good fit for you, we still want to hear from you.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, disability or medical condition; colour, ethnicity, race, citizenship, and national origin; religion, faith; pregnancy, family status and caring responsibilities; sexual orientation; sex, gender identity, gender expression, and transgender identity; protected veteran status; size or any other basis protected by appropriate law.ss