Please note: We require this role to be Vancouver based, as you must be onsite & 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 Interim Director, R&D, the Senior Manager, Research & Development plays a key role in developing and optimizing Saje’s plant-powered product portfolio. This role provides technical leadership in formulation development and supports the creation of high-performing products rooted in natural ingredients and essential oils.

Working in partnership with the wider R&D and regulatory teams, this role leads formulation development, prototype creation, and technical evaluation to ensure products meet Saje’s standards for safety, efficacy, and quality while supporting the company’s innovation pipeline.

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 Leadership & Technical Development

• Formulate and develop essential oil blends and botanically driven personal care products aligned with Saje’s plant-powered philosophy.
• Play a lead role in prototype development, formulation optimization, and technical evaluation throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Apply expertise in natural ingredients, essential oil chemistry, emulsions, surfactants, natural preservation systems, and green chemistry to support product innovation.
• Troubleshoot formulation challenges and identify opportunities to improve product performance, stability, and manufacturability.
• Ensure formulas align with Saje’s standards for purity, safety, and efficacy.

Product Development & Innovation Support

• Partner with the Innovation team to assess product concepts for technical feasibility, performance potential, ingredient availability, and cost considerations.
• Contribute scientific expertise during concept development and early-stage ideation.
• Support development of technically robust product briefs aligned with Saje’s natural formulation standards.
• Help translate product concepts into technically viable prototypes and development plans.

Regulatory, Safety & Quality Collaboration

• Partner closely with the Director of Regulatory Affairs and QA teams to provide technical documentation, formula specifications, and ingredient data.
• Support safety assessments, testing plans, claims substantiation, and risk mitigation to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with QA and Operations during scale-up, manufacturing transfer, batch evaluation, and post-launch product monitoring.
• Maintain strong cross-functional communication to ensure product safety and quality are integrated throughout development.

Sustainability & Ingredient Stewardship

• Support Saje’s sustainability initiatives by identifying opportunities for greener chemistry, responsible ingredient sourcing, and lower-impact formulation approaches.
• Maintain awareness of supply chain considerations for natural raw materials and help identify reliable ingredient options.
• Evaluate new natural ingredients and technologies that could enhance product performance or sustainability.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Supply Chain, Operations, and external manufacturing partners during product scale-up and production trials.
• Build productive relationships with ingredient suppliers, testing labs, and external technical partners.
• Support prioritization of formulation workstreams, lab resources, and project timelines.
• Collaborate closely with the wider R&D team to ensure alignment across formulation, aromatherapy, and product development efforts.

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

• Degree in Cosmetic Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of R&D experience in personal care, natural health products, or botanical formulations.
• Demonstrated experience developing formulations using essential oils, botanicals, and natural ingredients.
• Knowledge of the Canadian NHP and U.S. OTC landscape and how it impacts formulation and claims development.
• Experience working with co-manufacturers and/or taking a formulation through from bench to pilot to production.
• Experience collaborating with Innovation, Regulatory, and Quality teams throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Ability to balance scientific rigor with brand values, sensory experience, and consumer expectations.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills in a 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 $100,000 - 115,000 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.