SHANGHAI QIANTAN PLAZA, China
Onsite
Welcome to Haleon. We’re a purpose-driven, world-class consumer company putting everyday health in the hands of millions. In just three years since our launch, we’ve grown, evolved and are now entering an exciting new chapter – one filled with bold ambitions and enormous opportunity.
Our trusted portfolio of brands – including Sensodyne®, Panadol®, Advil®, Voltaren®, Theraflu®, Otrivin®, and Centrum® – lead in resilient and growing categories. What sets us apart is our unique blend of deep human understanding and trusted science.
Now it’s time to fully realise the full potential of our business and our people. We do this through our Win as One strategy. It puts our purpose – to deliver better everyday health with humanity – at the heart of everything we do. It unites us, inspires us, and challenges us to be better every day, driven by our agile, performance-focused culture.
Hello. We’re Haleon. A new world-leading consumer health company. Shaped by all who join us. Together, we’re improving everyday health for billions of people. By growing and innovating our global portfolio of category-leading brands – including Sensodyne, Panadol, Advil, Voltaren, Theraflu, Otrivin, and Centrum – through a unique combination of deep human understanding and trusted science. What’s more, we’re achieving it in a company that we’re in control of. In an environment that we’re co-creating. And a culture that’s uniquely ours. Care to join us. It isn’t a question.
With category leading brands such as Sensodyne, Voltaren and Centrum, built on trusted science and human understanding, and combined with our passion, knowledge and expertise, we’re uniquely placed to do this and to grow a strong, successful business.
This is an exciting time to join us and help shape the future. It’s an opportunity to be part of something special.
About the role
The External Innovation, Principal Scientist, plays a critical role in identifying, assessing, and advancing externally sourced scientific and technological innovation to strengthen Haleon’s Global Wellness Category growth objectives.
Sitting within Global R&D for the Wellness category, and working closely with Innovation, Business Development, Regulatory, and Commercial teams, this role leads scientific evaluation and technical due diligence of external opportunities spanning ingredients, formulations, and technology solutions relevant to Global Wellness priorities.
The role is accountable for translating external science into clear technical recommendations that inform partnership and licensing decisions and for ensuring strong scientific rigor, consumer relevance, and strategic fit within the Global Wellness portfolio.
Role Responsibilities
Lead scientific scouting, assessment, and prioritization of external innovation opportunities for the Global Wellness category, aligned to Haleon’s strategic R&D focus areas.
Conduct technical and scientific due diligence on external assets, including evaluation of underlying science, IP position, regulatory feasibility, safety, and quality considerations.
Partner cross‑functionally with Innovation, Regulatory, Medical, Quality, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to assess development feasibility and risk within the Wellness R&D context.
Provide clear, evidence‑based technical recommendations to support decision‑making on partnerships, licensing, or acquisitions ensuring they generate outputs that are aligned with Global Wellness needs.
Maintain awareness of emerging scientific trends, competitive intelligence, and technology developments relevant to global wellness categories.
Build and maintain a strong external network across academia, startups, research organizations, and technology partners in the wellness ecosystem.
Contribute scientific leadership to external collaborations and early‑stage partnerships supporting Global Wellness R&D priorities.
Other Responsibilities
Maintain awareness of the competitive, regulatory, and scientific landscape for Global Wellness products, including devices and diagnostics, and apply this knowledge when assessing new product opportunities and claims. Build and sustain an external network of scientific and regulatory experts to support robust evaluations.
Why you?
Basic Qualifications:
Minimum range of years’ experience: 8-15 Years (5-10 years of experience in R&D and 3 to 5 years experience in a strategic planning, licensing, or related disciplines).
Deep scientific expertise applicable to consumer health and wellness innovation across dietary supplements, diagnostics or related product platforms.
Demonstrated experience evaluating external innovation opportunities, including scientific due diligence and feasibility assessment.
Strong understanding of regulatory, safety, and quality requirements relevant to global wellness product development.
Experience working in highly matrixed, cross‑functional global organizations and influencing without direct authority.
Proven ability to synthesize complex scientific data into clear, actionable technical recommendations.
Well organized and with a strong sense of urgency the incumbent should be a team player with a creative mind
Preferred Qualifications:
Advanced degree preferred
External innovation R&D front end, search and evaluation, business development, or related roles within Consumer Healthcare, Nutritional/Food, MedTech, Biotech, or Life Sciences is preferred.
Familiarity with use of AI tools and capabilities.
Strong scientific communication skills, able to engage effectively with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
Familiarity with Intellectual Property approaches and building strategies.
Strategic mindset with the ability to balance scientific rigor with commercial and development realities in global wellness portfolios.
Experience building and leveraging external scientific or innovation networks.
Comfort operating in ambiguous, early‑stage innovation environments.
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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
At Haleon we embrace our diverse workforce by creating an inclusive environment that celebrates our unique perspectives, generates curiosity to create unmatched understanding of each other, and promotes fair and equitable outcomes for everyone.
We’re striving to create a climate where we celebrate our diversity in all forms by treating each other with respect, listening to different viewpoints, supporting our communities, and creating a workplace where your authentic self belongs and thrives.
We believe in an agile working culture for all our roles. If flexibility is important to you, we encourage you to explore with our hiring team what the opportunities are.
Haleon offers a robust Total Reward package that consists of competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits program. This includes a generous 401(k) plan, tuition reimbursement and time off programs including 6 months paid parental leave. On day one, you are eligible for benefits, including our healthcare programs where the company pays for the majority of your medical coverage for you and your family. We also offer the opportunity to receive a discretionary bonus based on the achievement of key business performance and other incentive/recognition programs as part of the offering.
Job Posting End Date
2026-08-14
Haleon are committed to mobilising our purpose in a way that represents the diverse consumers and communities who rely on our brands every day. It guides us in creating an inclusive culture, where different backgrounds and views are valued and respected – all in support of understanding and best serving the needs of our consumers and unleashing the full potential of our people. It’s important to us that Haleon is a place where all our employees feel they truly belong.
During the application process, we may ask you to share some personal information, which is entirely voluntary. This information ensures we meet certain regulatory and reporting obligations and supports the development, refinement, and execution of our inclusion and belonging programmes that are open to all Haleon employees.
The personal information you provide will be kept confidential, used only for legitimate business purposes, and will never be used in making any employment decisions, including hiring decisions.
If you require a reasonable adjustment or accommodation or other assistance to apply for a job at Haleon at any stage of the application process, please let your recruiter know by providing them with a description of specific adjustments you are requesting. We’ll provide all reasonable adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment process and treat all information you provide us in confidence.
The Haleon recruitment team will contact you using a Haleon email account (@haleon.com). If you are not sure whether the email you received is from Haleon, please get in touch.
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