Associate Principal Scientist, Innovation - Scientific Affairs

About Liquid I.V.

This job description indicates in general the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities and other essential functions expected of the role. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. Ability to competently perform all the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, demonstrated commitment to the company’s mission, and the ability to work productively as a member of a team or work group are basic requirements of all positions at Liquid I.V.

We are committed to building an inclusive culture of belonging that not only embraces the diversity of our people but also reflects the diversity of the communities in which we work and the customers we serve. We know that the happiest and highest performing teams include people with diverse perspectives that encourage new ways of solving problems, so we strive to attract and develop talent from all backgrounds and create workplaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

Liquid I.V. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

About our Team:

We are a world-class team of innovators and passionate change-makers, looking to develop transformative hydration solutions and make a meaningful impact on the world around us.  

At Liquid I.V., we are committed to building an inclusive culture of belonging that not only embraces the diversity of our people but also reflects the diversity of the communities in which we work and the customers we serve.    

Our team members enjoy a flexible and inclusive working environment, a highly collaborative and innovation-forward culture, generous benefits and perks that empower employees to champion their wellbeing every day, as well as an infinite supply of Liquid I.V. for extraordinary hydration. 

About the role:

Liquid I.V. is looking for a creative and highly technical Associate Principal Scientist, Innovation - Scientific Affairs to help lead and execute delivery of our exciting new product innovation pipeline. Reporting to the Manager of Innovation and Claims, this role is highly cross functional and will engage with all levels of the organization cross-functionally along with Unilever counterparts.  

The ideal candidate will hold the bar high in delivering innovative concepts, ingredients and technologies leading to undeniable product superiority. They are well informed and plugged into industry trends. They are highly technical while maintain a business forward approach and are not only capable of designing/executing experiments independently, but to also communicating their findings to both technical and non-technical business partners.  

The successful candidate is equal parts scientist, trend scout, and innovation strategist, someone who is passionate about translating cutting-edge science into commercially compelling concepts. 

They will continuously explore new ingredients, supplier capabilities, clinical evidence, and consumer trends, transforming insights into science-backed product concepts that influence our innovation pipeline from ideation through commercialization. 
 
This is an opportunity for someone who thrives on discovering what's next and helping take Liquid I.V. to new heights through differentiated, science-led innovation. 

Functions and duties of this role include, but not limited to:

• Serve as a Scientific Affairs lead in the innovation engine, partnering with R&D, Regulatory, Brand Innovation, and other cross-functional teams to shape early-stage concepts and sprint work
• Scout globally for emerging science, ingredients, technologies and white space opportunities to inform the innovation pipeline and support differentiated benefit platforms
• Contribute to pipeline prioritization by assessing scientific feasibility, ingredient rationale, dosing considerations, mechanism alignment, and differentiation potential
• Design and support claims substantiation strategies aligned with product concepts, regulatory requirements, and commercialization needs
• Influence formulation development by ensuring alignment between scientific rationale, technical feasibility, ingredient selection, and intended product benefits
• Influence Innovation Strategy to drive science forward innovative thinking
• Maintain internal scientific databases, evidence tools, and knowledge-sharing resources to support efficient retrieval, reuse, and organizational learning
• Lead the active raw material and innovation technology scouting program which includes: discovery/intake of suppliers with procurement and PD, hosting live cross functional informational sessions with suppliers, synthesizing findings in a technical library.
• Partner with Product Development (PD) on bench formulations and tastings; ensure scientifically sound concepts translates to delicious & efficacious products.
• Participate in live cross-functional Innovation creation sprints to deliver ideas to market in an agile fashion.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in nutrition, exercise physiology, or related field
• 6+ years of relevant experience in scientific affairs, R&D, or innovation within CPG, dietary supplements, or functional foods with a strong track record of new product launches within the category
• Deep expertise and experience with a variety of dietary supplement ingredients, suppliers, and functional formats.
• Demonstrated experience supporting innovation engines from concept through commercialization
• Experience and wiliness to evaluate new active raw materials in the lab a must; experience in PD formulation creation (preferred)Experience working cross-functionally with brand innovation, product development, regulatory affairs and other business groups
• Experience leveraging AI tools and platforms
• Ability to assess scientific feasibility of concepts, ingredients, and benefit territories
• Strong knowledge of dietary supplements, functional foods, and health claims
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex scientific information into clear and concise messages
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Citation Managers, and PubMed
• Detail-oriented, organized, and self-motivated

What We Give:

• 100% company-paid medical, dental and vision insurance for employees (PPO, HMO and Kaiser options).
• A 401k plan with company match, short and long-term disability coverage. 
• A generous PTO and sick leave programs that includes 10+ paid annual holidays each year + annual Holiday Office Closure. 
• Wellness Days (Vitality Day and two Recharge Days). 
• An Employee Assistance Program 
• Monthly tech and wellness reimbursement. 
• A monthly supply of Liquid I.V. for endless hydration! 

Work Environment:

• This role is HYBRID 1-2 times a week in office (El Segundo, CA) with flexibility for industry events.  Travel 10% - 20% of the time. 

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

The compensation band for this position is $116,100 - $174,100 annually. The exact salary is determined by various factors including experience, skills, education, geographic location, internal company equity, and budget. The listed range is applicable only to the annual base salary and does not include additional perks, benefits, or applicable bonus eligibility comprising the total compensation package.

This job description indicates in general the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities and other essential functions expected of the role. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. Ability to competently perform all the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, demonstrated commitment to the company’s mission, and the ability to work productively as a member of a team or work group are basic requirements of all positions at Liquid I.V.

We are committed to building an inclusive culture of belonging that not only embraces the diversity of our people but also reflects the diversity of the communities in which we work and the customers we serve. We know that the happiest and highest performing teams include people with diverse perspectives that encourage new ways of solving problems, so we strive to attract and develop talent from all backgrounds and create workplaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

Liquid I.V. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

You can find the Unilever privacy note here