Senior Product Development Chemist

Position: Senior Product Development Chemist
Location: Derbyshire
Salary: £Negotiable
Company/ Sector: Chemicals/ Polymers

The Role:
• To project manage and complete product development projects to agreed timetable, standards and budgets, recording all events and data within the Project System.
• To oversee the R&D laboratory, ensuring that it functions effectively, meeting standards in respect of quality, health & safety and hygiene and that equipment is well maintained.
• To ensure accurate and comprehensive records are kept of all testing and research activities.
• To establish and monitor a weekly laboratory work plan for the product portfolio.
• To support Production with the transfer of a new product or a modified existing product from laboratory to production, investigating and resolving any areas of concern.
• To liaise with the Quality Supervisor about quality issues including specifications, production issues, non-conformances and any other QC matters on the associated product portfolio.
• To support the Quality Supervisor with the investigation of customer and supplier complaints. To establish the root causes and recommend corrective action.
• To be responsible for creation and maintenance of associated stockcodes on the Company’s ERP software on matters of BOM, release criteria and attachments (COSHH etc.) for the associated product portfolio.
• To deputise for the Technical Manager in matters relating to the product portfolio.
• To gather, compile and interpret data in order to prepare project reports. To provide data and work activity updates for the Technical Manager’s monthly report.
• To liaise with customers and suppliers in relation to the product portfolio and represent the Company at meetings as required, striving to maintain the company’s competitive position and reputation for technical performance and quality.
• To liaise with all departments across the company about the product portfolio including sales, product engineering, production and quality.
• To ensure laboratory activity is within the Company Quality, H&S and Environmental policies.
• To keep training documentation up to date in relation to product range(s).
• To keep up to date with changes in legislation, market trends and developments within the company’s polymer market sectors, continuously seeking new potential opportunities and ideas.
• To use own knowledge, experience and observations to contribute and make recommendations to the Technical Manager, R&D and Quality Control team. To support and uphold the values of continuous improvement methods and activities.
• To develop an excellent understanding of the product range, its formulation and commercial applications.
• To work as a team within the R&D team providing cover and support to each other.

Requirements:
• Good general education to at least GCSE level including English and Maths
• Education to Degree level or above in chemistry (or equivalent in Material Science)
• Sound experience of working in a manufacturing business involved with 2 component adhesive/ polymer chemistry.
• Sound experience of working in a commercial laboratory including a wide range of testing techniques.
• Demonstrable product development and project management experience and skills.
• IT skills to include Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), and use of databases
• Accurate, thorough and methodical approach to research
• Organised self-starter with good problem-solving ability
• Curiosity and a desire to learn and develop continuously.
• Good analysis, documentation and report writing skills
• Adaptable and flexible, a team player with a ‘can do’ attitude