Product Engineer Manager

The Company

KIKO MILANO was founded in 1997 in Milan and since then has revolutionized how cosmetics are sold globally. We thrive to offer an incredible variety of products, textures & colours, a multi-sensorial experience in innovative technology yet always at an affordable price. Based in Italy, and truthful to its DNA, KIKO MILANO takes advantage of combining trustworthy quality, creativity and stunning aesthetics

Your role at KIKO MILANO

We are looking for a Product Engineering Manager who is responsible for ensuring that all developed products are released in compliance with Brand quality standards, regulatory requirements, and launch timelines.

Through the leadership of a team of Specialists, the role oversees product industrialization, risk assessment, supplier readiness, and cross-functional collaboration, ensuring successful product launches while supporting innovation and continuous improvement.

In particular, you will:

• Lead and supervise product risk assessment activities, ensuring the identification of effective mitigation plans while balancing innovation objectives, stakeholder expectations, quality standards, and project timelines.
• Evaluate formulation risks related to industrialization, stability, compatibility, and product performance, acting as the final decision-maker when required.
• Make informed decisions and provide direction in situations where information is limited, incomplete, or uncertain, applying sound risk-management principles.
• Ensure product releases comply with Brand quality standards and technical requirements.
• Supervise the definition and validation of qualitative range boards in line with Brand expectations.
• Ensure the suitability, readiness, and compliance of suppliers’ manufacturing equipment and production capabilities.
• Guarantee the successful industrialization of products within agreed timelines, quality standards, and budget constraints.
• Oversee the proper management, archiving, and maintenance of technical documentation and product data.
• Independently manage critical issues and escalations, coordinating cross-functional stakeholders to ensure timely resolution.
• Lead and participate in strategic problem-solving initiatives related to formulation and packaging challenges, ensuring effective and sustainable solutions.
• Support the team in identifying and implementing technical improvements to products, processes, and ways of working.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, quality, and operational effectiveness.
• Contribute to product innovation projects by assessing risks and opportunities related to formulations and packaging from both technical and strategic perspectives.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to evaluate technical feasibility and support innovation objectives.
• Lead, motivate, coach, and develop a team of Specialists and Coordinators, fostering a high-performance, collaborative, and accountable environment.
• Identify capability gaps and ensure appropriate development, training, and succession plans are implemented in collaboration with HR and relevant stakeholders.
• Define team objectives, monitor performance, provide regular feedback, and support professional growth.
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration among R&D, Packaging, Quality, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Procurement, Marketing, and external partners.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, ensuring effective information flow and partnership management.
• Communicate business priorities, strategies, objectives, and organizational updates to the team, ensuring alignment and engagement.
• Organize and lead operational and management meetings, ensuring clear priorities, responsibilities, and follow-up actions.
• Define, implement, monitor, and report departmental KPIs to drive performance, efficiency, and continuous improvement.
• Promote a culture of quality, innovation, accountability, collaboration, and business orientation across the team.

What you will need to succeed

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a similar managerial role within the cosmetics industry.
• Strong expertise in cosmetic product development, formulation assessment, industrialization, and manufacturing processes.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Proven ability to lead teams and manage complex cross-functional projects.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills.
• Business-oriented mindset with the ability to balance technical excellence and commercial objectives.
• Proficiency in digital tools and software used for project management, data analysis, and process organization.
• Fluent English, both written and spoken.

We would love if you had

• Excellent project management and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate insights to senior stakeholders
• Collaborative mindset, with the ability to partner effectively with cross-functional teams (Product Marketing, Trade, Local Markets, Finance)
• Passion for the beauty industry, curiosity for emerging trends, and a growth-oriented, insights-driven approach

KIKO si impegna ad ampliare i propri sforzi per garantire le Pari Opportunità e dedica una particolare attenzione all’integrazione delle persone con disabilità all’interno dell’azienda. Tutte le posizioni aperte in KIKO sono rivolte anche ai candidati appartenenti alle Categorie Protette l.68/99. I dati verranno trattati esclusivamente ai fini di Ricerca del Personale. Leggi l'informativa privacy riportata al link