Job Description

The Associate Fellow of Packaging Material Science & Technology (Fragrance) within The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) will collaborate with internal cross-functional teams and external vendors to facilitate design, evaluation, optimization and qualification of materials in category packaging and new technology platforms. They will introduce innovative materials for luxe packaging application, and employ subject matter expertise in compatibility review of product formulation against primary packaging elements in contact with product such as plastics and decoration. This role will work in close collaboration with key internal teams including R&D Chemists, Product Development, Packaging Development, Packaging Engineering, Package Testing/Analytics, and Creative.

RESPONSABILITIES

• Lead material science strategy and innovation across the fragrance packaging portfolio, supporting material roadmaps aligned with business, consumer, brand and sustainability priorities.
• Identify and evaluate emerging materials, technologies, market trends and supplier capabilities to drive innovation, improve performance and support long-term business opportunities.
• Guide the development of innovative material solutions across polymers, substrates, coatings, adhesives and decoration technologies, balancing performance, sustainability, cost, manufacturability and speed to market.
• Provide advanced scientific expertise in material characterization, plastics properties, testing methodologies and composition-structure-property relationships.
• Support material selection, evaluation and qualification, including the assessment of compatibility between packaging materials and product formulations.
• Guide technical decision-making across material performance, quality, manufacturing readiness, regulatory requirements and commercialization.
• Provide material science leadership across complex packaging development programs and technology platforms.
• Establish technical priorities, oversee testing and qualification activities, manage technical risks and support robust project execution across multiple workstreams.
• Drive portfolio-level initiatives focused on material simplification, sustainability, cost optimization and continuous improvement.
• Partner closely with Packaging Development, R&I, Design, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, Sustainability, Global Supply Management and external suppliers.
• Translate complex scientific and technical data into clear, actionable recommendations for technical and business stakeholders.
• Influence strategic decisions by balancing consumer needs, scientific expertise, technical feasibility and commercial priorities.
• Mentor and coach technical professionals across the organization, contributing to the development of material science capabilities and technical expertise.
• Support the development of technical standards, knowledge sharing and scientific best practices across Material Science and Packaging Development teams.
• Contribute to the advancement and visibility of scientific expertise through technical documentation, internal reviews, publications, patents and external industry engagement.
• Drive the effective use of digital tools, materials informatics and AI-enabled technologies to support research, data analysis, documentation and knowledge management.
• Identify opportunities to improve technical productivity through automation and digital transformation.
• Promote scientific rigor, technical governance and continuous improvement across material science activities, ensuring alignment with Company standards and relevant requirements.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• Master’s degree in Engineering, ideally in Mechanical, Chemical or Plastics Engineering, or an equivalent discipline.
• Minimum of 6 years of professional experience.
• Demonstrated expertise and extensive hands-on experience in materials characterization and plastics properties.
• Experience assessing the compatibility between packaging materials and product formulations.
• Advanced ability to use analytical techniques to determine material structure and properties, with demonstrated experience in establishing and interpreting composition-structure-property relationships.
• Strong ability to clearly explain scientific data and results and communicate effectively with different stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving aptitude.
• Fluent in English and French.
• Ability to work effectively in a highly cross-functional environment with internal teams and external suppliers.