Formulation Scientist

Job Title: Formulation Scientist

Business Function: R&D

Location: Port Sunlight Research Lab

Background: Fabric Care is one of the biggest categories in Unilever and the largest category in Home Care. It consists of Fabric Cleaning (brands such as Dirt 4 Good and Surf) and Fabric Enhancers (brands such as Comfort and Snuggle).

This position offers a unique opportunity within the Global Fabric Enhancers R&D Design team at Port Sunlight, UK, where you’ll work with cutting‑edge technology and be part of the fast‑paced category, driving transformative growth on a global scale. The Fabric Enhancers R&D team is at the forefront of developing highly desirable product innovations. We’re committed to delighting consumers with differentiated mixes, driven by cutting‑edge technology to offer a superior experience aligned with our Bright Future strategy.

As part of the formulation team, you will work in a multi‑disciplinary business environment ensuring the development of new technologies and formulations to support our Global Innovation Portfolio. This predominantly laboratory‑based role will play an important part in delivering new innovations and technologies to the fabric conditioner & liquid booster project pipeline. In Homecare R&D we adopt a digital first approach in designing and executing performance tests, therefore we also expect the data capture as an outcome of all laboratory experiments using tools like LIMS, ELN & SDC.

Job Purpose: You will be involved in driving the development of new technologies and formulations for our global fabric enhancers category. You will work together with a cross‑functional/technical team to develop new superior and more sustainable products for our core global portfolio. Mainly a lab‑based job, requiring 4‑5 days working on site in Port Sunlight.

Responsibilities

• Work in a team of formulation scientists supporting the technical project team to develop superior and sustainable liquid booster products.
• Support the development of formulations meeting innovation projects brief for holistic design across aesthetics, performance, cost and stability requirements.
• Effective time management and planning to deliver the desired project timelines.
• Validate technologies such as new fragrances, new benefit ingredients, more sustainable ingredients and safer ingredients.
• Validate product saving options to fuel the category growth.
• Build domain expertise in Fabric Enhancer formulation science.
• Build a Fabric Enhancer consumer understanding across formats, habits, preferences and pain points.
• Support the development of new digital and automated methods to support formulation development.
• Support development of demos and KBS approaches to bring to life the product benefits.
• Work according to laboratory safety rules to keep laboratory environment clean and safe for all, ensuring compliance with COSHH and SOP requirements.

Qualifications

• BSc or MSc (or equivalent) in Physical Sciences or Engineering (including Physics, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry or Biochemistry).
• Laboratory formulation experience and expertise.
• Good organisation and time‑management.
• Good communication written and oral to convey information effectively and to influence outcomes.
• Interact effectively within project team or natural working group to achieve common objectives and goals.
• Ability to use digital tools like MS Excel, Power Point, LIMS, ELN & SDC and report the outcome of an experiment in a clear concise way.
• Experimental design, familiarity with statistical tools, statistical data analysis and statistical interpretation of data.
• Problem‑solving skills with practical creativity, understand situations or needs and recommend or carry out actions which are relevant and appropriate.
• Ability to work with in multi‑functional teams both internal and external.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in assessment and reporting is critical.

What We Offer

We offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, an annual bonus, subsidised gym membership, a discounted staff shop and shares. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment. The role is advertised on a full‑time basis, but we would be happy to discuss flexible working options.

We strive to create a family‑friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce, giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to present your best self.

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