At WaterWipes, R&D is where science becomes products people trust.

We are looking for an experienced R&D Project Lead to join our team on a Specific Purpose Contract, covering maternity leave.

You will take ownership of complex product development work, make sound technical decisions and turn ideas into commercially ready products.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone equally comfortable in the laboratory, leading projects and developing people.

The Opportunity

You will lead innovation and renovation projects across our existing and future product portfolio, taking work from feasibility and formulation through testing, scale-up, technical approval and launch.

You will combine strong scientific thinking with practical product development and disciplined project leadership. You will also lead and develop a Formulation Chemist and R&D Laboratory Technician, setting clear direction and building capability within the team.

You will work closely with Global Category, Marketing, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, Packaging, Supply Chain, Engineering and Procurement to turn consumer and business opportunities into products that can be manufactured successfully at scale.

What You’ll Be Accountable For

• Leading R&D innovation and renovation projects from brief through development, scale-up, technical approval and launch.

• Turning approved briefs into clear project plans, milestones, success criteria and technical decisions.

• Leading hands-on formulation, laboratory studies, prototypes, stability, compatibility and performance testing.

• Planning and leading laboratory, pilot, scale-up and manufacturing trials.

• Identifying technical risks early and making clear, evidence-based recommendations on the way forward.

• Ensuring products are technically and commercially ready, with the right specifications, testing and documentation in place.

• Maintaining high standards across laboratory safety, quality, compliance, data integrity and technical documentation.

• Leading, coaching and developing your direct reports while strengthening capability across the R&D team.

• Working effectively with external suppliers, laboratories and technical partners to solve problems and deliver results.

Who This Role Is For

You will bring at least 5 years’ relevant experience in R&D, Innovation or Product Development, ideally gained within personal care, cosmetics, household cleaning, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical or another relevant regulated product environment.

You have practical experience in formulation and product development, laboratory testing and interpreting experimental data. You understand what it takes to move a new or renovated product through structured development, scale-up and commercialisation.

You understand how ingredients, formulations, packaging and manufacturing processes work together, alongside the quality, regulatory and microbiological requirements involved in successful product development.

Youn will also have experience managing, coaching or technically leading others, together with an Honours Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline.

What Will Make You Successful Here

You take ownership and follow through. When the answer is not immediately obvious, you are comfortable working through the evidence, making a decision and moving things forward.

You can switch between technical detail and the bigger picture. One day that might mean working through a formulation challenge in the lab. The next, it could mean resolving an issue during scale-up or giving stakeholders a clear recommendation on a critical project decision.

You set high standards without creating unnecessary complexity. You give people clear direction, challenge constructively and work across functions to get to the right outcome.

Most importantly, you are someone who takes responsibility for delivering, not just contributing.

Why Join WaterWipes

WaterWipes is built around a simple idea: creating products that are genuinely better for people.

In this role, you will have real ownership across innovation and renovation programmes and the opportunity to influence technical decisions from early development through to commercial launch.

You will do meaningful technical work, lead and develop people, and see the direct impact of what you deliver.

Although this is a Specific Purpose Contract covering maternity leave, you will take ownership of meaningful R&D work and play an important role in keeping key projects moving during the contract period.

Location & Practicalities

Contract: Specific Purpose Contract - Maternity Leave Cover
Location: Drogheda, Co. Louth
Working model: Onsite
Reporting to: R&D Manager
Direct reports: Formulation Chemist and R&D Laboratory Technician

Call to Action

If you have the scientific depth, hands-on product development experience and leadership capability to take R&D projects from an idea to a commercially ready product, we would like to hear from you.

Apply to join WaterWipes as our R&D Project Lead and make an impact from day one.