Research & Development Specialist

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | Research & Development | Full-time | Partially remote

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Please note: This is a hybrid position. We require this role to be Vancouver based, as you must be onsite & in the lab at least 3 days a week. 
Location: Unit 429 – 1930 Pandora Street, Vancouver, BC, V5L 0C7

 

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 R&D Manager/Formulation Manager, the R&D Specialist plays a key role in coordinating and advancing product development across the R&D team. This role is ideal for someone with a background in product formulation or cosmetic science who can combine technical understanding with strong project management and organizational skills. 

You will support the development and continuous improvement of natural cosmetic, remedy, and home care products by coordinating R&D projects from concept through commercialization. Working closely with formulation, regulatory, sourcing, packaging, and marketing teams, you will manage timelines, track deliverables, organize testing and documentation, and ensure projects move forward efficiently and meet launch deadlines. 

This role requires someone who understands the R&D lifecycle holistically—from raw materials to formulation to testing, regulatory requirements, and scale-up—and can help the team stay organized, focused, and aligned across multiple concurrent projects. 

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:

R&D Project Coordination 

  • Coordinate R&D product development projects from concept through launch, ensuring milestones, deliverables, and timelines are clearly defined and tracked. 
  • Maintain project timelines and ensure cross-functional alignment between R&D, regulatory, sourcing, packaging, operations, and marketing teams. 
  • Organize project documentation, technical data, and test results to ensure accessibility and traceability throughout the development process. 
  • Support the R&D team. 

Formulation & Technical Support 

  • Assist in the formulation and reformulation of natural cosmetics, remedies, and home care products.
  • Coordinate stability, compatibility, safety, and performance testing for prototypes.
  • Compile and maintain databases of test results, formulation changes, and product specifications.
  • Initiate and maintain technical documentation including formulation records, test protocols, and product development summaries.

Ingredient & Material Management 

  • Request and coordinate raw material samples and packaging components for R&D testing.
  • Review and organize technical documentation for new raw materials in alignment with the Saje Natural Standard.
  • Support ingredient database maintenance and documentation in internal software systems.

Laboratory & Operational Coordination 

  • Manage logistics for laboratory activities including sample shipments for external testing (stability, compatibility, safety, GCMS, etc.).
  • Organize and maintain retention samples and laboratory inventory.
  • Manage purchase orders for lab materials and supplies.

Cross-Functional Collaboration 

  • Work closely with internal teams to ensure R&D deliverables align with regulatory, sourcing, packaging, and commercialization requirements. 
  • Support review of product artwork and technical details for accuracy and compliance. 

 

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

  • 2–4 years of experience in cosmetic, personal care, or natural product R&D, including exposure to formulation and product development workflows. 
  • Strong understanding of the product development lifecycle from formulation through testing, documentation, and commercialization. 
  • Demonstrated ability to manage projects, timelines, and multiple concurrent priorities within an R&D environment. 
  • Experience coordinating stability, compatibility, and safety testing is an asset. 
  • Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail and documentation accuracy. 
  • Excellent cross-functional communication and collaboration skills. 
  • Interest in natural, sustainable, and plant-based products. 

 

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 $65,000-75,000 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.

All applications are viewed by a member of our team and therefore we do not use AI as part of our screening & selection process. We do use AI to transcribe our preliminary screening calls with our recruitment team. This job posting is for an existing vacancy on our team that we are presently hiring for.

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.