Company Overview
Reliance Vitamin is a leading contract manufacturer of high-quality dietary supplements, partnering with established and emerging brands to bring innovative health and wellness products to market. Based in Edison, New Jersey, we foster a collaborative, quality-driven culture where employees are empowered to contribute, grow, and make a meaningful impact.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The R&D Formulation Scientist is a full-time, on-site position responsible for developing and commercializing innovative nutraceutical products by executing formulation development, laboratory evaluation, pilot trials, technology transfer, and technical documentation. Reporting to the Vice President of R&D, the role collaborates with cross-functional teams to ensure products are scientifically sound, regulatory compliant, manufacturable, and delivered within project timelines while meeting customer and business objectives.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Develop nutraceutical formulations for tablets, capsules, powders, sachets, and effervescent dosage forms.
- Select appropriate active ingredients, excipients, flavors, sweeteners, and delivery systems based on product requirements.
- Conduct formulation development, optimization, troubleshooting, and product improvement activities.
- Prepare technical quotations and laboratory bench samples for customer evaluation and internal product development.
- Execute laboratory-scale development, pilot trials, and support technology transfer and commercial scale-up activities.
- Conduct accelerated and real-time stability studies, evaluate results, and recommend formulation improvements.
- Evaluate new raw materials, review Certificates of Analysis (CoA), and support alternate raw material and supplier qualification and approval processes.
- Prepare and maintain Product Development Reports, Master Formulae, Batch Manufacturing Instructions, Product Specifications, SOPs, and other technical documentation.
- Support label review, ingredient verification, and preparation of technical and regulatory documentation.
- Ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Documentation Practices (GDP), FSSAI, ISO/FSSC 22000, and other applicable regulatory and quality requirements.
- Conduct R&D assessments for change requests, deviations, reworks, Raw Material Qualifications (RMQs), and Packaging Material Qualifications (PMQs).
- Create and maintain Item Codes, Item Masters, Manufacturing Bills of Materials (BOMs), Packaging BOMs, label item numbers, and revision control within the ERP system.
- Initiate and manage change requests, substitutions, duplicate and inactive items, packaging material revisions, item master documentation, and rework instructions.
- Participate in cross-functional meetings to provide technical updates, review quotations, sample evaluations, fill studies, dashboards, and ongoing product development activities.
- Collaborate with Production, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Regulatory Affairs, Procurement, Packaging Development, Business Development, and other cross-functional teams to ensure successful product commercialization.
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives focused on product quality, process efficiency, innovation, and cost optimization.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:
Critical Operating Relationships:
Internal
- Research & Development, Production, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Regulatory Affairs, Procurement & Supply Chain, Packaging Development, Business Development & Sales, Engineering & Maintenance
External
- Customers, Raw Material Suppliers, Ingredient Manufacturers, Packaging Suppliers, Contract Testing Laboratories, Regulatory Consultants.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:
- BA. Science or MA. Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nutraceuticals, Food Technology, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Chemistry, or related discipline.
Experience:
1–5 years in Nutraceutical, Dietary Supplement, Pharmaceutical, Food, or Herbal Product Development.
- Experience in a Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO/CDMO) will be an added advantage.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Nutraceutical formulation development
- Vitamins, minerals, botanicals, amino acids, probiotics, enzymes, and specialty ingredients
- Excipient functionality and compatibility
- Product stability and shelf-life evaluation
- Tablet compression, capsule formulation, powder blending, and granulation
- GMP, Good Documentation Practices (GDP), HACCP, ISO/FSSC 22000
- Basic regulatory knowledge (FSSAI and export market requirements)
- Technical report writing and documentation
- Microsoft Office (Word, Excel & PowerPoint)
OPTIMAL EXPECTATIONS:
Core Competencies:
- Scientific & Analytical Thinking
- Formulation Development
- Innovation & Continuous Improvement
- Effective Communication
- Teamwork & Collaboration
- Planning & Time Management
- Customer Focus
- Accountability & Ownership
Working Conditions:
- Laboratory and manufacturing environment. Frequent pilot plant and production support activities. Interaction with domestic and international customers as required.
- Occasional travel for technical support, vendor evaluation, customer meetings, or exhibitions.
Pay: $58,000.00 - $67,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- How many years of hands-on experience do you have developing nutraceutical, dietary supplement, pharmaceutical, food, or herbal product formulations?
- Are you able to work full-time, on-site in Edison, New Jersey, including supporting laboratory trials, pilot runs, and production scale-up activities?
- Do you have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food Technology, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Nutraceuticals, or a related field?
Work Location: In person
