Innovation Manager

Innovation Manager – Beauty & Personal Care at MARS Cosmetics: Job Title: Innovation Manager – Beauty & Personal Care Location: Delhi, India Department: New Product Development (NPD) & Innovation Experience: 5–10 years (preferably in BPC, FMCG, or D2C sectors) About MARS Cosmetics MARS Cosmetics is a new-age beauty brand reshaping the Indian cosmetics landscape with affordable, high-performance, and trend-led products. As we scale from ₹300 Cr to ₹1000 Cr in revenue, we’re investing heavily in innovation to unlock new categories, formulations, and consumer experiences. We’re looking for a passionate and proactive Innovation Manager to help us lead this transformation. Role Overview As the Innovation Manager, you will be responsible for end-to-end innovation strategy, product ideation, and development across makeup, skincare, and personal care verticals. This is a high-impact role that bridges trend forecasting, consumer insight, technical formulation, and GTM planning. Key Responsibilities Consumer-Centric Innovation - Conduct consumer research, trend scouting (domestic and global), and gap analysis to identify whitespace opportunities - Translate macro/micro trends and insights into actionable product concepts Product Ideation & Concept Development - Lead product ideation sessions and co-develop briefs for new innovations in makeup, skincare, haircare, and beyond - Work closely with R&D, labs, and suppliers to bring formulations to life Packaging & Claims Development - Collaborate with packaging, regulatory, and design teams to finalize formats, aesthetics, and USPs - Define performance benchmarks, claims, and validation protocols NPD & Launch Calendar Management - Manage the product development lifecycle from brief to launch - Ensure innovation timelines, cost targets, and quality benchmarks are met Cross-Functional Leadership - Act as the innovation hub connecting R&D, marketing, design, supply chain, and external partners - Drive alignment on innovation pipeline, testing, and commercial feasibility Trend Mapping & Global Benchmarking - Maintain a pulse on global launches, ingredient trends, indie brand innovation, and sustainable beauty practices Post-Launch Analysis - Collaborate with analytics and marketing teams to evaluate product performance, consumer feedback, and iterate future pipelines Required Qualifications & Skills - 5–10 years of experience in beauty innovation, R&D, product development, or brand innovation roles - Deep understanding of the beauty & personal care landscape, especially color cosmetics, skincare, or D2C beauty - Strong grasp of consumer insight, trend analysis, and formulation basics - Excellent project management and organizational skills - Strong collaboration and communication abilities - Passion for beauty, creativity, and pushing boundaries - Education: B.Tech / B.Pharm / Cosmetology / MBA (optional) with relevant BPC innovation experience Preferred Tools & Knowledge - Familiarity with ingredient decks, INCI lists, claim substantiation processes - Awareness of clean beauty, sustainability, and regulatory guidelines (BIS/FDA/PCPNDT etc.) - Exposure to global BPC trends via tools like WGSN, Mintel, Beautystreams, etc. Why Join MARS Cosmetics? - Work at the forefront of beauty innovation in one of India’s most exciting and fastest-growing beauty brands - End-to-end ownership of category-defining product launches - Creative freedom + structured growth + passionate team - Drive real consumer impact and be part of a ₹1000 Cr growth story To Apply: Send your CV and a short note on “One product idea MARS should launch next, and why” to rishbah@marscosmetics.in