Associate Manager, Product Development

OUAI is a prestige beauty and personal care brand founded by celebrity hairstylist, Jen Atkin. “OUAI,” means “yes” in that casual Parisian way. The brand is guided by the mission “wherever you go, go all the OUAI” and this bold & playful spirit impacts everything from culture to marketing to product. OUAI’s product categories – ranging from hair care to body care, fragrances, personal care, and merch – are designed to reflect its commitment to easy, effective, and enjoyable self-care. 

Since its launch, OUAI has built a strong and growing omnichannel presence through direct-to-consumer channels, specialty beauty retailers, and global distribution partners. The brand continues to expand into new markets, deepen consumer loyalty, and scale its differentiated, high-margin business model internationally. OUAI is recognized for its straightforward approach to beauty, its distinctive fragrance profile, and its ability to meet consumer needs across multiple lifestyle-driven categories. The brand formulates without sulfates or parabens and maintains a commitment to creating high-quality, effective products.

OUAI’s culture is shaped by its ethos —fun, purposeful, and approachable—and is anchored by five Culture Codes: 

1. We Aren’t Afraid to Go First. 

2. We Don’t Compete, We Collaborate. 

3. We Ask Questions to Find the Best Answers. 

4. We Keep It Real, in a OUAI That’s Kind. 

5. We Go All the OUAI With Work & Play. 

OUAI is focused on ongoing category innovation, continued international expansion, and delivering high-quality consumer experiences that reinforce the brand’s identity and long-term growth trajectory

What’s it like to work here? 

Our culture is driven by our brand ethos (fun, purposeful and approachable) and our 5 Culture Codes. (1.) We Aren’t Afraid to Go First. (2.) We Don’t Compete, We Collaborate. (3.) We Ask Questions to Find the Best Answers. (4.) We Keep It Real In a OUAI That Feels Kind. (5.) We Go All The OUAI With Work and Play.

Our flexible trust-based culture is rooted in respect, empathy and compassion and is driven by employees who love doing great work and care deeply about the brand and each other. 

OUAI does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.

About the role: 

We are looking for a highly organized and proactive Associate Manager of Product Development to join the OUAI team! Reporting to the Sr. Manager of Product Development, this position will be critical in supporting the team and help ensure timely execution of tasks.

What you’ll do: 

• Logging and tracking and organizing formula submissions from Contract Manufacturers as they deliver to OUAI HQ.
• Manage projects from concept to launch.
• Create and manage product briefs to finalize concepts, research and define the products’ feasibility and development parameters.
• Distributing formula samples to internal and external testers for thorough formula evaluation.
• Work closely with the Director of Product Development to evaluate formula submissions and provide feedback and re-directs and select submissions to be presented back to key stakeholders.
• Partner with Sr. Manager of Product Development, and Brand Marketing to explore new products concepts and benchmarks.
• Work with raw material suppliers, CMs, community and other partners on an ongoing basis to identify innovation and opportunities to build new iconic/hero products.
• Help create and manage product briefs to finalize concepts, research and define the products feasibility and development parameters.
• Maintain current processes and help enforce new processes as they are created and being implemented (examples: testing protocols, artwork routing/tracking, internal master product trackers).
• Maintain close cross-functional communication with Operations, Marketing and Sales teams to ensure relevant information is being shared efficiently.
• Attend meetings with vendors & internal teams, take meeting notes and circulate recap notes.
• Research new ingredients, textures, products and packaging to allow for greater innovation.
• Partner with coordinator to complete monthly product alerts, quarterly and yearly competitive reviews and present in-depth findings and trends to management with the product. recommendations and provide research to help facilitate product innovation.
• Participate in "Blue Sky" brainstorming sessions.
• Partner with the Operations team to ensure launches are kept on target and all timelines are accurate.
• Monitor and maintain on-time delivery of critical project milestones.
• Organize and maintain all lab samples, master standards.
• Create and manage multiple spreadsheets and checklists that hold key information and keep track of projects and key product information.
• This is an in-office position at our OUAI HQ office.
  

Requirements

What you'll bring: 

• We Ask Questions to Find the Best Answers: You ask the right questions to refine ideas, solve challenges early, and deliver great products on time.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• 2+ years of product development experience in cosmetics, personal care, lifestyle, or a related category
• Genuine passion for beauty
• Exceptional organizational and time-management skills
• Open-minded with a strong sense of curiosity and eagerness to learn
• Proven ability to take ownership and drive results
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative, and ever-evolving environment
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills

Benefits

OUAI Benefits:

• Annual Base Salary Range is $65,000 - $75,000k (based on experience) + potential for yearly bonus
• Medical + Dental + Vision
• Unlimited PTO
• 25+ Paid Holidays
• Matching 401k program
• Quarterly OUAI Product Stipend + Employee Discounts
• Flex Fridays
• Employee HSA and FSA
• Charity matching and education reimbursement
• Hybrid work reimbursement
• Move Your OUAI (Exercise Reimbursement)

Immigration Sponsorship is not available for this role. OUAI does not sponsor candidates for non-immigrant visas or permanent residency except in some areas that in OUAI’s sole discretion require highly specialized backgrounds.