Associate, Product Development, Formula and Fragrance

Athena Club is building the next-generation personal care company, and we’re just getting started. Over the past 12 months, we’ve doubled our business, accelerated our retail momentum, and expanded our reach as more customers turn to Athena for beautifully designed, high-performance essentials.We’re redefining everyday personal care through innovation, transparency, and design-led thinking, transforming daily routines into rituals. With strengths in world-class product development, compelling storytelling, and a brand built to stand out on shelf and in culture, we’re entering an exciting new phase of category expansion and national growth.We’re looking for experienced, entrepreneurial leaders who thrive in fast-moving environments, take full ownership, and know how to scale teams, systems, and outcomes. This role is a rare opportunity to help shape Athena Club’s next chapter, driving strategy, execution, and long-term impact as we build an iconic modern personal care brand.The RoleAthena Club is looking for a Associate, Product Development, Formula and Fragrance to join our Product Development team. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Product Development, this Team Member will own the day-to-day coordination of formula and fragrance development - managing vendor relationships, driving feedback cycles, and ensuring every detail is tracked from brief through launch.This is a hands-on role ideal for someone early in their product development career who thrives in a fast-moving environment, takes strong ownership of their programs, and brings exceptional organizational discipline to everything they touch.ResponsibilitiesFormula DevelopmentOwn day-to-day coordination with external labs, ensuring consistent follow-up and accountability on formula submissions, sample requests, and re-submission cyclesSupport creation of formulation briefs across multiple product categories, translating brand and consumer needs into clear technical directionPrepare formula comparison tables including ingredient lists, EWG/Yuka scores, Target Clean compliance flags, COGS inputs, and competitive benchmarking dataFlag ingredients outside of Athena Club's restriction list and maintain that list current across categoriesTrack formula COGS across all active projects; ensure costs are inputted into trackers and flag formulas trending outside margin targetsManage all formula testing including stability, compatibility, PET, and HRIPT; escalate issues quicklyFragrance DevelopmentWrite and manage fragrance briefs documenting olfactive direction, inspiration, competitive references, and required restrictions (IFRA compliance, allergen thresholds, retail clean standards)Physically handle and track all fragrance samples; organize and synthesize team smelling notes across submissions from multiple perfumers and fragrance houses into clear evaluation summariesTrack fragrance notes and pricing across vendors to ensure alignment with cost targetsBuild and maintain a fragrance library organized by olfactive category with status tracking (in development, selected, discontinued) by SKU and categorySupport allergen disclosure workflows including CSCP/SB 258 California labeling requirements and FDA fragrance transparency standardsTrack and manage fragrance requests submitted to contract manufacturers, ensuring timely follow-up and clear communication across all partiesSample Tracking & Feedback CyclesOwn the full sample tracking process -- both physically (receipt, storage, dispatch to evaluators) and electronically (logging submissions, status, and feedback in master trackers)Drive feedback cycle rhythm: send samples, collect and compile structured evaluator feedback, and transmit clear consolidated direction back to labsTrack iteration rounds by formula and fragrance; flag projects falling behind cycle targets or consuming excessive roundsPrepare agendas, background materials, and summary documents for internal review sessionsTrackers & Project OrganizationBuild and maintain master development trackers across all active formulation and fragrance projects covering milestones, sample ETAs, approval status, launch readiness, and COGSKeep all project documentation organized and version-controlled: briefs, evaluation grids, lab submissions, regulatory checklists, and approval sign-offsUpdate Monday.com board and all relevant trackers in advance of weekly meetings; proactively surface risks to timeline before they become launch issuesRegulatory & Clean StandardsReview all ingredient lists for compliance with applicable standards including Target Clean, FDA, Health Canada, and other relevant guidelinesSupport and lead product registration for MOCRA, Health Canada, WERCs, and all applicable compliance platformsMaintain an organized regulatory reference library including ingredient safety assessments, IFRA certificates, allergen disclosures, and SDS sheetsCross-Functional & Vendor CoordinationOwn and communicate project timelines across internal teams (Marketing, Operations, Finance, Supply Chain) and external partners; help labs prioritize workload to meet launch deadlinesCoordinate on quote requests, lead times, MOQs, and formula cost targets; escalate cost variances and flag discrepancies against targetsRequirements1-2 years of experience in product development, formulation support, or a closely related role within beauty, personal care, or CPGStrong working knowledge of the end-to-end product development process from brief through launchExceptional organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail -- you build trackers others rely on and nothing falls through the cracksProactive and fast-moving; comfortable escalating quickly when needed and operating with autonomyFamiliarity with cosmetic formulation concepts, ingredient categories, clean beauty standards, and basic regulatory frameworks (FDA, EU, California)Experience working with external labs or development partners and managing iterative feedback cyclesExcel/Google Sheets power user; experience with Monday.com or similar project management tools is a plusStrong written and verbal communication skills -- clear, concise briefs and professional external correspondence are a requirementCollaborative by nature; makes it easy for cross-functional partners to work with youNice to HaveExperience with EWG, Yuka, or retailer clean standards (Target Clean, Sephora Clean, ULTA Conscious Beauty)Familiarity with OTC drug product development or antiperspirant/deodorant formulationExposure to EU/UK cosmetic regulatory requirements or experience working with a Responsible PersonExperience supporting fragrance development from brief to selection, including IFRA compliance and allergen reportingBackground in a DTC or omnichannel consumer brand environmentThe (+) ExtrasMedical, Dental, Vision insurance Life + Disability HSA or FSA Commuter benefits 401K Weekly team lunches Optional Bi-Weekly Team Workouts Annual Offsite “Camp Athena Club” Salary Range$75,000 - $95,000 USDEqual Opportunity & InclusionAthena Club is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building an inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.We believe diverse perspectives strengthen our team and our products, and we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.