ABOUT US:

Gisou is born out of a passion for bees and haircare, based on a six-generation beekeeping heritage, our products are inspired by and made with the finest, sustainably sourced ingredients from our very own Mirsalehi Bee Garden.

At Gisou we are on a mission to share our HONEY GLOW. As a rapidly growing scale-up, we're dedicated to crafting iconic beauty products, and building a world-class team to drive our vision and brand forward. We are talent obsessed and deeply believe that the raw skills of our people, and their collective brilliance is what makes us truly extraordinary! 

ABOUT THE ROLE:
The Regulatory and Scientific Lead is a strategic role responsible for the regulatory and scientific integrity of all product development. The role ensures products meet regulatory compliance requirements, uphold high standards of scientific rigour, safety and efficacy, and align with the brand’s innovation ambitions.

The position leads the scientific assessment and risk-based evaluation of formulations, ingredients, claims and supplier R&D, translating scientific advancements and evolving regulations into compliant, differentiated product strategies. The role is accountable for identifying and mitigating regulatory and scientific risk across the product lifecycle, from early development through launch and post-market oversight.

Working closely with Product Development, Marketing, Operations and supplier R&D, the role embeds scientific evidence and regulatory insight into product decisions, acting as a trusted advisor on product-related risk while enabling innovation and speed to market.

Key Responsibilities

Regulatory Compliance

• Act as the primary regulatory reference point for the business, providing guidance to product development (PD) and cross-functional teams on regulatory requirements and risks.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regulatory landscapes and proactively adapt strategies to align with changes.

• Serve as the main liaison with regulatory authorities, industry associations, retailers, and third-party consultants.

• Monitor regulatory developments across all markets and communicate impacts to the wider business and leadership.

Product Compliance, Registrations & Market Support

• Own and manage day-to-day product compliance, including Responsible Person obligations for EU and UK markets.

• Manage global product registrations and notifications (e.g., Health Canada, EU/UK portals, Middle East submissions), ensuring accuracy and completeness.

• Oversee retailer compliance requirements, including completing forms, managing portal submissions, and responding to queries (e.g., Sephora/Ecomundo).

• Maintain compliance trackers and regulatory systems as live, audit-ready tools and evidence trails.

Product Development & Claims Compliance

• Partner closely with PD teams to provide regulatory input throughout the product lifecycle, including reviewing briefs, formulations, and ingredients at key milestones.

• Review INCI lists, raw material compliance, and ingredient restrictions, flagging risks ahead of safety assessments.

• Lead and review claims substantiation, ensuring all product claims are accurate, compliant, and supported by scientific evidence prior to approval.

• Conduct regulatory reviews of product labeling, artwork, and advertising; manage correction cycles through to final approval.

Product Safety & Scientific Validation

• Oversee product safety, stability, and efficacy through appropriate testing, data analysis, and validation processes.

• Establish and maintain testing standards and protocols in collaboration with R&D and external laboratories.

• Manage toxicological and dermatological assessments to ensure product safety for intended use.

Cross-functional Collaboration & Advisory

• Act as a subject matter expert on regulatory and scientific matters, advising teams across PD, marketing, creative, customer service, and leadership.

• Support risk assessment and mitigation strategies related to regulatory and product safety concerns.

• Respond to internal and external regulatory queries, escalating where appropriate.

Documentation, Reporting & Audit

• Ensure accurate and timely documentation of all regulatory and scientific activities, including technical files, product dossiers, SDS/MSDS, and CoAs.

• Prepare and oversee regulatory submissions, reports, and internal audits.

• Maintain robust documentation systems to ensure compliance across the full product lifecycle.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Stay informed on emerging regulations, ingredients, technologies, and industry best practices.

• Support innovation by advising on compliant use of new, sustainable, and safe ingredients aligned with brand values.

• Continuously improve regulatory processes, tools, and workflows to enhance efficiency and compliance.

External Partnerships

• Foster strong relationships with external partners, including consultants, laboratories, manufacturers, and academic institutions.

• Ensure CMOs and contract manufacturers provide all required compliance documentation in a timely manner.
  

REQUIREMENTS:

• 7 to 10+ years of regulatory affairs experience within beauty, personal care, or cosmetics, with clear career progression and growing ownership of compliance activities

• Deep, working knowledge of EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 — this is the core of the role and your primary area of expertise

• Solid understanding of Health Canada cosmetic notification obligations

• Familiarity with Middle East registration frameworks

• Experience working with the Responsible Person function

• Exposure to claims substantiation and a clear understanding of what makes a claim defensible.

• A background that spans both compliance and early-stage NPD, you are comfortable in the formulation conversation, not just the paperwork

WHAT WE OFFER:

• 1 day of remote working per week.

• Subsidised fresh daily lunch via our partner Feedr, plus drinks and snacks provided in the office.

• Regular team activities and drinks.

• Contribution towards ClassPass membership.

• Mental health support via OpenUp.

• Ability to lease a bike with a small employer contribution.

• Every year, you’ll receive a personal employee gift card.

At Gisou, you’ll be part of an ambitious, fast-growing beauty company with an international, dynamic, and collaborative atmosphere. You’ll join a team of creative powerhouses and bold thinkers who bring out the best in each other and work together to build something iconic.

Growth here isn’t a side benefit it’s part of the journey. As our business continues to evolve globally, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to stretch your skills, push your boundaries, and shape the future of beauty with us.

INTERESTED?
We can't wait to hear from you!