Director, Research and Development

We welcome interested candidates globally to apply, providing you are open to relocation. We require this role to be Vancouver based, as you must be in the lab at least 3 days a week.

Overview:

At Saje Natural Wellness, we're nature's original farmacy, blending the superpower of plants so you can remedy real life, naturally. And like nature, we're continually growing As we continue to build our team, we're seeking talented people to join us: in our stores, support offices, and distribution centres. We are a purpose-driven, people-first organization where collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurial mindsets thrive.

We look for individuals who have drive and warmth, agility and passion, and keep customer experience at the centre of everything they do.

At Saje, you'll connect with a dynamic community and make a positive impact. Join our team and grow your career, alongside the most talented, hard working, and kind-hearted people out there.

The impact you'll make:

Reporting to the CEO, the Director, Research & Development is the scientific and formulation leader behind Saje's plant-powered product portfolio. This role oversees the development and optimization of formulas, leads technical testing and evaluation, and provides scientific stewardship for the brand. This role leads the R+D Team, who blend rigorous formulation through the lens of innovation, performance and safety, ensuring our products deliver on our promise to remedy real life.

All Saje Team Members are responsible for contributing to Saje's culture and maintaining a positive environment for themselves and their peers.

What you'll do:

Formulation & Technical Leadership

• Lead the formulation of essential-oil blends, botanically driven personal care products, and innovative natural delivery systems.
• Oversee R&D lab operations, prototype development, stability testing, compatibility studies, and performance evaluations.
• Maintain deep expertise in natural ingredients, essential oil chemistry, emulsions, surfactants, natural preservatives, and green chemistry.
• Troubleshoot formulation challenges and continuously improve existing products.
• Ensure formulas uphold Saje's standards for purity, safety, and efficacy.

Strategic Innovation & Product Pipeline

• Collaborate with the Innovation team to evaluate product concepts for technical feasibility, performance potential, ingredient availability and margin impact.
• Provide scientific guidance that helps shape innovation decisions. Participate in early-stage ideation by offering technical insights into essential oils, botanicals, and emerging natural technologies.
• Work with Innovation to ensure product briefs are technically robust and aligned with Saje's natural standards.

Regulatory, Safety & Quality Assurance

• Partner with Regulatory and QA teams to supply all required technical documentation, formula details, and ingredient data.
• Collaborate on safety assessments, claims support, testing plans, and risk mitigation — ensuring R&D output meets compliance expectations.
• Support QA during scale-up, manufacturing transfer, batch evaluation, and post-launch monitoring.
• Uphold strong communication channels so product safety and quality are built into every stage of development.

Sustainability & Ingredient Stewardship

• Support the company's sustainability goals by exploring greener chemistry, responsible sourcing, and lower-impact formulation strategies.
• Maintain awareness of supply-chain realities for natural raw materials, helping ensure responsible and reliable ingredient choices.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Lead and mentor the R&D team, fostering a culture of scientific excellence, curiosity, and natural product innovation.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Operations, and external manufacturing partners during scale-up, optimization, and production trials.
• Build strong relationships with ingredient suppliers, research partners, testing labs, and fragrance/essential-oil houses.
• Manage R&D budgets, timelines, lab resources, and prioritization of technical work.
• Create a team environment where all Team Members consistently experience a sense of belonging and inclusion.

We'd love to hear from you if you have:

• Degree in Cosmetic Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacognosy, Chemical Engineering, or related field (MS/PhD preferred).
• 8+ years of R&D experience in personal care, including leadership experience.
• Understanding the Canadian NHP / USA OTC landscape with the knowledge of how to formulate innovation within this framework to maximize performance and consumer satisfaction.
• Proven expertise in natural chemistry, essential oils, botanicals, and clean formulation principles.
• Strong collaboration skills and experience working with Innovation, Regulatory, and Quality teams.
• Ability to balance scientific rigor with brand values, sensory expectations, and consumer experience.
• Clear communicator who thrives in a mission-driven, fast-paced, cross-functional environment.

Why Saje?

Here at Saje, we understand that joining a team is an important decision to make, so we want to be sure you're supported to do your best work.

The compensation range on average for this position is from $130, ,000 annually. Base pay is dependent on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and internal equity.

In addition to your base, we offer:

• Annual bonus program
• A hybrid way of working
• Flexible work hours based on business needs
• Wellness days to ensure you're taking care of your mental and physical health
• Health benefits - comprehensive health, vision and dental packages
• Paid sick days
• Generous product discount
• Full onboarding plan and onboarding buddy to help you settle in
• Employee Assistance Program - 24/7 support, resources, and information available to you and your family
• GRSP matching programs
• Paid time off to ensure you're resting & recharging
• Product training to help you learn about the benefits and efficacy of our 100% natural products to support your own wellness journey

Note: The incentive programs, benefits, and perks have certain eligibility requirements. The company reserves the right to alter these incentive programs, benefits, and perks in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.

Join our team

If this opportunity sounds like you, please apply in the link below. Not sure you're 100% the right fit? We encourage you to apply even if you don't have all of the listed qualifications. We offer a thorough onboarding experience to set you up for success, learning and development support, and help you to integrate seamlessly.

Saje provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants, and we believe the best teams are made up of diverse perspectives and people. We offer reasonable accommodations to candidates with disabilities throughout the recruitment process and will work with you to ensure you are supported while working at Saje.