Product Innovation - Associate Marketing Director

Murad is stepping back into its breakthrough era—doubling down on the spirit that made it a pioneer in clinical skincare. From being among the first doctor-led brands to bring AHAs to mainstream anti-aging routines, to launching early medical-spa concepts, to championing “internal skincare” and cellular hydration through the Cellular Water Principle, Murad has always set the pace for the industry. Its legacy spans the Environmental Shield/Vitamin C franchise (Essential-C and Vita-C), dark-spot breakthroughs like Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum, and category-leading retinol and acne innovations—all backed by top-tier beauty awards and a powerful foundation of 19 patents grounded in Dr. Howard Murad’s science-first philosophy.

Now, Murad is looking for a consumer-obsessed, marketing leader to own the end-to-end innovation engine—transforming insights into bold ideas, and bold ideas into on-time, on-budget launches consumers love. In this role, you’ll lead a nimble cross-functional team, steward the innovation pipeline, validate concepts directly with consumers, brief design and packaging partners, and shape the full go-to-market plan for every product you bring to life.

If you’re equal parts strategic thinker and hands-on builder—and you’re energized by creating the next generation of category-defining skincare—this is your seat at the table.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the innovation pipeline from ideation to in-market, balancing near-term wins with a 12–36 month roadmap aligned to Murad’s brand strategy and growth goals.
• Spot the signal in the noise: mine trend reports, social listening, competitive & retail reads, ingredient/regulatory developments, and culture to identify whitespace.
• Turn insights into winning concepts: author consumer-first concept briefs with positioning, claims territories, reasons-to-believe, pricing corridors, and target COGS/margins.
• Validate with consumers: design and run lean, iterative concept, usage & claims studies (qual & quant), including IHUTs, A/B claims vetting, and message testing to de-risk decisions.
• Orchestrate cross-functional delivery: chair the stage-gate with R&D, Packaging, Regulatory/Claims, Legal, QA, Operations/Supply, Demand Planning, Creative, Finance, and Sales to keep launches on time and within target margin.
• Own the design briefing: lead agencies/partners for brand design, industrial design, and packaging; drive sustainability and cost-in-use requirements from the start.
• Shape the full go-to-market: partner with Brand & Consumer Engagement to finalize assortment, pricing, claims hierarchy, creative toolkits, education, sampling, and retail pitch.
• Champion global compliance & substantiation: ensure test plans robustly support on-pack and marketing claims across priority markets.
• Lead & coach: manage a nimble team; set clear priorities, create development plans, and model a test-and-learn culture.
  
  

What You’ve Done

• 8–10 years progressive experience in beauty or adjacent CPG, with at least 5 years in marketing product innovation/product development for skincare (prestige/luxury preferred).
• Demonstrated track record taking multiple products from concept → validation → commercialization with strong sell-in/sell-through
• Demonstrable experience running both global and locally relevant innovation
• Fluency with claims & substantiation, consumer testing methods, and cross-functional stage-gate in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.
• Strong packaging acumen (materials, sustainability, cost, feasibility) and experience briefing agencies.
• Commercial orientation: you’re comfortable with target COGS/margins, price pack architecture, and building the business case for innovation.
• Exceptional written & verbal communication; proven ability to influence across levels and functions.
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA a plus
  
  

What We Offer

• Unlimited Paid Time Off
• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• FSA/HSA
• Life/Accident Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Professional Development Resources
• 401(k) Employer Match Program
• Annual Bonus
  
  

The expected base salary for this position is $135,000 to $145,000. The exact base salary is determined by various factors including experience, skills, education, geographic location, and budget. In addition to base salary, Murad offers a competitive benefits package to eligible employees, including medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, accident insurance, critical illness insurance, disability insurance, retirement savings plans and company match, paid family leave, education-related programs, paid holidays, discretionary vacation time, and more.