Job Opportunity: Development / Formulation Chemist
W Talent is exclusively representing a well-established manufacturing company seeking to recruit a Development / Formulation Chemist to join their New Product Development (NPD) team. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced formulation chemist with a background in cleaning products, chemicals, cosmetics, detergents, or a related industry to take a leading role in the development and enhancement of FMCG cleaning products.
In this role, you will collaborate closely with the NPD, Quality, Regulatory, Procurement, and Production teams. Your responsibilities will include developing new formulations, optimizing existing products, and supporting the successful transition of products from laboratory development to commercial manufacture.
Job Description
The successful Development / Formulation Chemist will lead product development projects across a portfolio of household and cleaning products. You will engage throughout the development process, from initial concept and laboratory trials to scale-up and commercialization. Your role will also involve troubleshooting formulation and manufacturing challenges, assessing new raw materials, and fostering continuous product innovation.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop, formulate, and optimize consumer cleaning and household care products.
- Work across various product categories, including surface cleaners, dishwashing liquids, laundry detergents, fabric care, toilet and bathroom cleaners, floor cleaners, and specialist cleaning products.
- Evaluate and select raw materials such as surfactants, solvents, fragrances, preservatives, and additives.
- Conduct laboratory trials, stability testing, compatibility testing, and product performance evaluations.
- Develop cost-effective formulations while ensuring product quality and performance.
- Lead formulation development projects from initial concept to commercialization.
- Research and evaluate new ingredients, technologies, and sustainable alternatives.
- Benchmark competitor products and identify opportunities for product enhancement.
- Troubleshoot formulation, raw material, manufacturing, and product performance issues.
- Support pilot plant and production scale-up activities.
- Ensure successful transfer of formulations from laboratory development to manufacturing.
- Investigate and resolve formulation-related manufacturing challenges.
- Develop and maintain manufacturing specifications, formulation records, and technical documentation.
- Collaborate closely with Quality and Regulatory teams to ensure products comply with relevant regulations and quality standards.
- Manage multiple NPD projects, ensuring established timelines and milestones are met.
- Present technical findings, recommendations, and project updates to management and key stakeholders.
- Work collaboratively with Marketing, Procurement, Quality, Regulatory, and Production teams.
- Support and provide technical guidance to laboratory colleagues as needed.
- Contribute to continuous improvement and innovation across the product portfolio.
Key Requirements
- Previous experience in formulation and product development.
- Experience within cleaning products, chemicals, detergents, cosmetics, or related industries.
- Strong understanding of formulation chemistry and raw material functionality.
- Experience with surfactants, emulsions, rheology modifiers, preservatives, fragrances, and specialty additives.
- Experience conducting laboratory trials, stability testing, and product performance evaluations.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent project management and organizational abilities.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to present technical information clearly.
- Capability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Advantageous Requirements
- Degree or equivalent qualification in Chemistry, Formulation Science, or a related scientific discipline.
- Experience within FMCG cleaning or household products.
- Experience developing sustainable or environmentally focused formulations.
- Experience with new product development and product benchmarking.
- Experience working closely with production teams during scale-up.
- Experience with laboratory analytical and testing techniques.
- Experience mentoring or providing technical guidance to junior laboratory personnel.
Details & Benefits
Salary: £35,000 - £40,000
Job Type: Permanent, full-time
Hours: 38 hours per week
Working Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm / Friday 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Additional Benefits: Training and development opportunities, employee benefits package.
Please note: Previous formulation experience within food manufacturing is not suitable for this position, as the chemistry and formulation requirements are significantly different. Relevant experience should come from cleaning products, chemicals, cosmetics, detergents, household products, or a similar chemical-based environment.
If you feel you have the relevant formulation experience and technical background required for this position, please apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.