Overview

Senior Chemist - Driving Innovation in Specialist Lubricants

Salary: £(phone number removed) + Benefits

Location: Lancashire (with global travel opportunities)

Are you a talented Chemist ready to make a real impact in a growing international business? This is your chance to take full ownership of research, development, and product improvement at the forefront of specialist lubricants and release agents for the automotive, food, and industrial sectors.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Senior Chemist to lead formulation, innovation, and compliance across a diverse product range used worldwide. Working closely with senior leadership, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the company\'s technical direction, ensuring products remain market-leading, compliant, and cost-effective.

This is a role for someone who thrives on technical challenge and variety: from designing new products and improving existing formulations, through to supporting international licensee manufacturers and ensuring global regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Research & Development: Design and formulate new products, enhance existing ranges, and drive innovation in response to customer and market needs.
• Scale-Up & Trials: Manage product trials from laboratory through to full manufacture.
• Manufacturing Support: Develop robust SOPs for internal production; collaborate with external licensee manufacturers in China, India, and Turkey to ensure quality and specification compliance.
• Regulatory Leadership: Manage compliance across REACH, NSF, Halal, Kosher, ISO and related quality systems; author and update MSDSs.
• Technical Expertise: Provide first-line technical support to customers, resolving queries and troubleshooting issues effectively.
• Laboratory Management: Oversee equipment, methods, stock control, safety, and continuous improvement within the lab environment.
• Global Collaboration: Visit customers and partners worldwide as required (recent travel has been modest, e.g., four short trips to Poland last year).

About You

• Degree-qualified in Chemistry (PhD or MSc preferred, though strong BSc with extensive relevant industry experience will be considered).
• Proven track record in formulation, product development, and scale-up within lubricants, release agents, PFPE, or adjacent sectors such as coatings/adhesives.
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and quality systems.
• Experience supporting or managing manufacturing operations and external partners.
• Analytical thinker with excellent problem-solving skills and ability to manage multiple technical projects simultaneously.
• Strong communicator, comfortable interfacing with internal teams, customers, and international partners.
• Resilient, detail-focused, and motivated by continuous improvement and innovation.

What’s on Offer

• The chance to shape the future of a growing international business while enjoying visibility and influence as part of the management team.
• A varied and intellectually stimulating role spanning R&D, regulatory, manufacturing, and international collaboration.
• The opportunity to travel and build global connections while based in Lancashire.
• A competitive salary and benefits package tailored to attract top industry talent.

If you are an ambitious Chemist seeking to broaden your impact and take ownership of technical innovation, we would love to hear from you