Process Chemist [Maternity cover 9 – 12 months]

The Responsibilities.

• Scaling up first productions, including risk assessment, and assisting the Manufacturing team wherever necessary. This includes overseeing problematic batches, signing off critical stages within the manufacturing process, and final sign off compared to approved development samples.
• Working closely with the Technical team to improve knowledge transfer from the development process to the manufacturing process of first productions.
• Actioning reworks of batches which are outside their specification or following customer complaints. This may involve working under time pressure to amend the bulk, enabling dispatch deadlines to be met. Investigating the root cause of these issues and actioning where necessary to prevent them recurring in the future.
• Completing post production actions within 24 hours of Gold Seal approval, to ensure all learnings taken from the first production are implemented in the subsequent productions of any given formulation. This involves amending all relevant documentation as necessary to ensure a successful second batch can be made by Manufacturing without Process team involvement.
• Uploading new C Codes and GBOMs to Sage within 24 hours of receipt of the initial request.
• Providing washouts, filling requirements and any other technical data to the Specifications team for all new productions.
• Approving raw material batches from suppliers which are outside their specification range within agreed deadlines.
• Working closely with the Purchasing team to assess alternative raw materials and approve or reject them in a timely manner. This includes assessing their physical attributes such as appearance, odour and colour, testing their performance against our current supply in a suitable formulation and taking into consideration feasibility in large scale manufacture. Samples may also need to undergo stability testing where required.
• Assessing approved formulations with respect to scale-up capability and signing off bronze seal forms. Assessing whether a pilot batch is required in the case of problematic formulations or new technologies.
• Approval of development batches which can proceed to first production scale-up (approval tab requests).
• Preparation of underwriting forms to be sent to the customer when stability and compatibility testing has not been fully completed prior to the first production scale-up batch.
• Manufacturing pilot batches and smaller scale batches for press samples and clinical/user trials.
• Liaising closely with the Planning team regarding the Approval Tab to ensure the manufacture of first productions aligns with the production schedule and deadlines are met.
• Supporting with the creation of Gold Seals of scaled-up formulations to send to the customer for approval prior to filling on the production line where required.
• Supporting with job bag creation if required. This includes splitting down batches as necessary to suit the risk involved with each formulation, or combining multiple works orders which can be actioned together (whilst also taking into consideration mixer availability on plant).
• Supporting with sub and stretch approvals if required.
• Supporting with actioning quarantined bulks for blending in to future orders or confirming disposal.
• Any other tasks to support the Process, Technical or wider Orean teams as necessary.

Experience & Skills:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, Process Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, SCS Diploma in Cosmetic Science, or a related scientific discipline (Master’s or PhD highly desirable).
• Experience: Minimum 3 years of experience in a similar process chemistry or scale-up role within personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, or FMCG. Demonstrated expertise in pilot-scale trials, process troubleshooting, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Technical Skills: Familiarity with GMP, quality standards, and health & safety regulations. Proficient in data analysis, process mapping, and technical reporting. Experience with formulating and scaling up liquid, semi-solid, or solid products.
• Soft Skills: Strong problem-solving ability and effective written and verbal communication. Leadership and mentoring skills for guiding colleagues and collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams, including R&D, Manufacturing, and Planning.

Attributes:

• Practical and hands-on, with a strong sense of ownership.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work across all departments.
• Proactive approach with strong initiative and flexibility.
• Confident decision-maker under pressure.

We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

Please note we do not except agencies.