Job Description

Established in 1806 as a small soap and candle business in New York City, Colgate-Palmolive is now a truly global company with products sold in over 200 countries and territories under such internationally recognised brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, elmex, Tom's of Maine, Sanex, Ajax, Axion, Soupline, Haci Sakir, Suavitel, PCA SKIN, EltaMD, Filorga and Hello as well as Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet.

Colgate-Palmolive is a leading consumer products company that serves hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide with brands and products across four core businesses – Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. We are committed to offering products that make lives healthier and more enjoyable, and programmes that enrich communities around the world.

Every day millions of people trust our products to care for themselves and the ones they love. Our goal is to use our technology to create products that will continue to improve the quality of life for our consumers wherever they live.

A career at Colgate-Palmolive is an excellent opportunity if you seek a global experience, constant challenge, and development opportunities in an environment that respects work/life effectiveness.

Information at a Glance
Job Title:  Scientist
Travel Required?:  Travel - 25% of time
Posting Start Date:  30/09/2026
On-site

No Relocation Assistance Offered
Job Number #176350 - Del.Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City, Mexico

Who We Are

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specialising in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!

Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let's build a brighter, healthier future for all.


Job Summary

  • Assist in formula development of Fabric Care products that are commercialized globally. The scientist should look at new technologies, leveraging consumer insights, conducting preliminary feasibility assessments on new technologies and conducting basic foundation research and clinical trials.
  • Ensure to deliver high quality products by evaluating their stability, micro-robustness, formula & ingredient properties. Results should be communicated with other functions.
  • Ensure that our formulas deliver the desired performance that delight our consumers
  • Assist with the development/modernization of new methodologies (i.e. product performance, predictive stability) to elevate the lab capabilities of the sub-category.
  • Actively participating in a cross-functional team (i.e. R&D, marketing, network operations, supply chain, packaging). 
  • Effective communication of technical aspects across different audiences within the organization
  • Integrate digital tools (i.e. AI) to daily activities with the aim to accelerate formula development activities
  • Conduct assigned activities/projects, with self-management as necessary.

 

Responsibilities

  • Manage assigned projects and activities without compromising timelines and taking full ownership of formula development projects while working under general supervision
  • Contribute with the intellectual property 
  • Lead by example
  • Contribute on finding innovation alternatives for the sub-category through connect people needs and consumer insights with product formats and technologies
  • Master the scientific fundamentals of the subcategory and instrumental methods to assess performance and product stability
  • Conduct preliminary feasibility assessments on new technologies and conduct basic foundation research and lab performance evaluation.
  • Summarize product and process development learning, and communicate results through research reports, invention records, presentations to management and business partners, etc.
  • Assist in the formula development, stability evaluation, and evaluation of performance to support claims.
  • Interact with other functions, including Safety, Process Development & Innovation, Micro, Analytical, Statistics, Technology Insights, Regulatory and other groups as needed.
  • Compile data required to ensure and conduct efficient technology transfer.
  • Ensure assigned activities are conducted and documented according to Quality requirements and systems; implement applicable preventive or corrective actions; ensure students and/or technicians collaborating in assigned projects execute and document activities according to Quality requirements and systems.
  • Ensure and maintain accurate documentation such as e-lab notebooks, necessary Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) and bundle books.
  • Understand and use safe handling procedures for corrosive chemicals, gasses, high pressure steam, flammable solvents, and fine particle size powders.
  • Comply with and coordinate/execute Good Manufacturing Practices and Environmental Affairs, Occupational Health and Safety (EOHS) activities; takes preventive and corrective actions to mitigate potential EOHS or Quality incidents.
  • Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

 

Required Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physical Chemistry or Material Science 
  • Master and/or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physical Chemistry or Material Science  
  • 2+ years of recent laboratory experience or in the Research & Development area
  • Experience working with cross-funtional or multidisciplinary teams
  • Advanced English proficiency (spoken and written)

 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Academic publications
  • Patent applications
  • Experience in Consumer Goods Industry
  • Experience mentoring of people

 

Skills:

  • Effective oral and written communication skills in English. The selected candidate must give technical and business presentations to CP leaders and partners. In addition, the position requires the support of intellectual property through writing invention records, report experimentations in the e-lab notebook, and write research reports

  • Organizational skill with ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously

  • Effective skills on data management and analysis

  • AI-Driven Materials/Chemical Scientist. We are seeking a visionary scientist who combines a rigorous foundation in physical and general chemistry with expertise in application of Artificial Intelligence and other digital tools (i.e. machine learning) that proof to accelerate research tasks and improve efficiency

  • Strong knowledge in the following areas: chemistry, physical chemistry, thermodynamic of interfaces and material sciences

 

Functional Competencies  

  • Technology Fundamentals: Demonstrates outstanding technical knowledge in chemistry, physical chemistry, thermodynamics of interfaces . Use sound technical and scientific methodology in product development and performance documentation. In addition, stays abreast of the latest technical breakthroughs. Understands what to do in a technology-driven crisis by getting the right data from the right sources. 
  • Technology Innovation: Implements new product ideas by integrating technological breakthroughs and consumer insights and people needs across key business regions; recognizes and exploits unexpected results to identify new concepts or leads; takes an innovative approach to problem solving; participates in initiatives to simplify and improve technical processes. Understands the legal landscape and state of the art of patents, product claims and advertising; able to interpret and review patents of competitors and scientific publications.
  • Consumer and Competitive Insight: Learns what the key consumer needs and emerging trends are, and sometimes communicates to Marketing how R&D can fulfill them; uses consumer learning to drive product innovation and development; translates technical attributes into consumer-relevant benefits and concepts.
  • Cross-Organizational Collaboration/Relationship Building: Begins to develop working relationships with business partners including R&D professionals in other categories, regions, and businesses; The ideal candidate must possess the technical competence and interpersonal skills to work with diverse people inside and outside the organization to move projects forward.


Our Commitment to Inclusion
Our journey begins with our people—developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives  to best serve our consumers around the world and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring that each individual can be their authentic self, is treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law.

Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please complete this request form should you require accommodation.

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