Manager, Scientific Affairs - India

Overview

ROLE AT A GLANCE: 

This role is responsible for ensuring the scientific integrity, safety, and regulatory compliance of Herbalife products and product-related materials across EMEA, while also supporting scientific substantiation activities in India

HOW YOU’LL MAKE AN IMPACT: 

• Lead scientific research to support new product development (NPDs), ensuring compliance with global standards. 
• Identify and evaluate new clinically substantiated ingredients that support innovation pipelines.
• Provide strategic insights, develop educational resources, and help advance Herbalife’s Scientific Affairs (SA) strategic goals. 
• Ensures scientific accuracy in communications (including but not limited to claims documents, marketing collaterals, training communications etc., that are developed by the teams and shared for review and expert opinion).
• Review substantiation through the lens of local regulation and scientific substantiation to recommend health claims and generate region-specific substantiation for local health claims independently.
• Participate in external scientific forums to support product development, regulatory submissions, and R&D/scientific initiatives.
• Leads efforts to identify and recommend new or improved existing formulations through a combination of scientific research on ingredients and formulas and collaborates with global home office teams and stakeholders for alignment. 
• Plays a pivotal role in supervising and managing clinical trials and (or) supervising safety and toxicological approaches taken for ingredients and developing scientific assets that elevate the organization’s credibility and impact in the marketplace
• Ensure compliance with ethical standards, policies, and regulations.
• Partner with Marketing, R&D, Regulatory, Legal, and Quality teams. Develop compliant, evidence-based product claims. Assess new and alternative ingredients from scientific and safety perspectives. Provide scientific support for regulatory, legal, and external communications. 
• Collaborate with marketing to create and substantiate product claims, ensuring they are scientifically sound and compliant with regulations 
• Oversee scientific projects and collaborate with cross-functional teams including formulators, marketing, regulatory and legal teams to substantiate claims and build brand trust
• Support new raw material, alternate raw materials or ingredients qualification from scientific and safety perspective for inclusion into the system
• Act as a liaison with regulatory authorities, academia, and industry partners to represent Herbalife’s scientific position. Support the legal and media communications/public affairs requested documents as required with scientific facts and scientific substantiation as required.

LEADERSHIP AND SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Coach and mentor team on clinical studies, nutrition, and food safety standards. 
• Work with executive management in developing people leaders and ensuring a talented pipeline of management staff with the department, including individual development plans and succession plans
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability.
• Mentor and develop team members.
• Drive talent development and succession planning.    
• Foster a culture of scientific excellence, innovation, and collaboration.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUCCESS:

Education

• PhD preferred in Life Sciences, Nutrition, Food Science, or related discipline.

Experience

• 10+ years
• More than 10 years of industry or research-related work experience ideally in the field of food safety, nutrition, life sciences and scientific claims support for food products and botanical ingredients (including food supplements). Knowledge of product safety assessment and toxicology would be an advantage.
• Comprehensive understanding of relevant Indian legislations and national laws on products claims substantiation for food (including but not limited to supplements and nutraceuticals). Familiarity with food / supplement / cosmetics regulations in India. Expertise in scientific claim substantiation and ingredient evaluation. Knowledge of Indian food, supplement, nutraceutical, and cosmetic regulations
• Has authored publications in peer reviewed journals.
• Clear and concise oral and written communication skills in English.
• Ability to network with internal stakeholders and has ability for autonomous approach.
• Proven organizational skills and ability to multitask.
• Understanding of safety assessment and toxicology is preferred.
• Published in peer-reviewed journals.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

Please review EMEA&I Description box