Director, Clinical Testing & Claims, R&D

About the role

The Director of Clinical Testing and Claims within the Research and Development organization at e.l.f. Beauty leads the scientific validation and substantiation efforts across the company's portfolio of beauty and skincare brands. This role is responsible for overseeing clinical study design, managing relationships with testing laboratories, and ensuring that all product claims are supported by rigorous, regulatory-compliant evidence. The director works closely with cross-functional teams including product development, marketing, and regulatory affairs to bring scientifically backed products to market. The position reports to the head of R&D and plays a central role in shaping the innovation strategy for brands including e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. SKIN, Well People, Naturium, and rhode skin. The director establishes and maintains the scientific integrity of product claims, translating complex clinical data into clear and compliant messaging for consumers. They drive the execution of both internal and external clinical trials to support new product launches and reformulations. This leader fosters a culture of scientific rigor and accountability within the R&D function, ensuring that evidence is generated efficiently and transparently. Ultimately, the role bridges the gap between scientific discovery and market-ready products, ensuring that e.l.f. Beauty's claims are trustworthy, defensible, and aligned with global regulatory standards.

Key facts

Full-time employees receive competitive pay and benefits, equity participation, and bonus eligibility with a target achievement rate of 200% over the past seven fiscal years.

The company reported net sales of $1.6 billion in its fiscal year 26 and has achieved thirty consecutive quarters of net sales growth.

e.l.f. Beauty is the number two mass cosmetics brand in the United States and the fastest growing mass cosmetics brand among the top five.

What you'll do

Define and execute the clinical testing strategy for the portfolio, aligning study designs with claim substantiation needs and regulatory requirements.

Oversee the end-to-end management of clinical trials, from protocol development and vendor selection to data analysis and final reporting.

Partner with regulatory affairs to ensure that all claims are compliant with regional and global regulations, including FDA and international guidelines.

Lead the evaluation and selection of external contract research organizations and laboratories to ensure high-quality data generation.

Develop and implement standard operating procedures for clinical testing processes to ensure consistency, scalability, and compliance.

Analyze clinical data to interpret results, identify trends, and translate findings into actionable insights for marketing and product teams.

Collaborate with product development teams to integrate clinical insights into early-stage product formulation and testing.

Serve as the primary scientific contact for clinical testing partners and stakeholders across the organization.

Champion the use of robust evidence in marketing narratives, ensuring that all consumer communications are supported by validated data.

Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize testing timelines, reduce costs, and enhance data quality.

Establish governance frameworks to prioritize clinical projects based on business impact, regulatory risk, and scientific complexity.

Work closely with the marketing team to translate technical data into compelling, compliant claims for consumer-facing campaigns.

Provide thought leadership on clinical trends and best practices, representing e.l.f. Beauty in external forums and industry discussions.

Ensure that all clinical testing activities are documented, archived, and retrievable for audit and regulatory inspection purposes.

Requirements

Candidates must possess a PhD, MD, or PharmD degree with a strong background in biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, or a related scientific field.

A minimum of eight years of progressive experience in clinical research, product claims substantiation, or regulatory science within the cosmetics, personal care, or dermatology sectors is required.

Demonstrated expertise in designing, managing, and interpreting results of clinical studies involving human subjects is essential.

Proven track record of developing and maintaining claim substantiation strategies that meet regulatory standards in multiple global markets.

Experience in managing relationships with contract research organizations, laboratories, and regulatory consultants is mandatory.

Strong knowledge of cosmetic regulations in the United States, Europe, and other key markets, including FDA, EU Cosmetics Regulation, and ISO standards.

Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to manage and mentor a high-performing scientific team in a fast-paced environment.

Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex scientific data to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Nice to have

Preferred experience with digital health or wearable technology platforms within a beauty or personal care context.

Background in data science, biostatistics, or advanced analytics applied to clinical outcomes in skincare or cosmetics.

Experience with emerging regulatory pathways for cosmetics claims, including substantiation in direct-to-consumer models.

Familiarity with sustainable and clean beauty claim frameworks, including environmental and social impact metrics.

Practical notes

Full-time position.

Location is New York, NY.

No remote work or hybrid arrangements are available for this role.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Travel requirements are not specified.

No deadline for application submission is provided.