Senior Development Chemist in Folkestone

A collective energy and ambition. A place where you can make a real difference. We’re a company that genuinely cares about our people, our products, our consumers and the environment. Our unique, informal culture champions courage, determination and collaboration. Knowing we have an open and supportive team means each of us has the freedom to take responsibility and ownership. We have a shared passion to work hard, innovate and push boundaries. United by the belief that when we strive for growth, anything is possible. While we might not be the largest company in our industry, we believe we can have the biggest impact because: Together We Have the Power to Win.

Are you a highly skilled chemist with a passion for innovation and development in the healthcare and personal care industries? We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Development Chemist to join our vibrant R&D team. Based at our R&D facility in Folkestone, Kent, this role offers a unique opportunity to work across multiple brands (e.g., medical devices, oral care, personal care) and collaborate with diverse teams—internally and externally—to qualify product and process changes, protect supply and compliance, and keep projects moving in a fast‑paced, fast‑changing environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and co‑lead a portfolio of post‑launch changes (alternative manufacturing sites/raw materials, test methods, process changes) with end‑to‑end accountability—from scope through plant transfer.
• Maintain a regular cadence (e.g., weekly) of status updates, risks/blockers, decision gates, and clear next steps to sustain project momentum.
• Define and execute development plans; author and review verification & validation (V&V) protocols and reports; ensure test methods robustly support qualification.
• Collaborate with Process/Manufacturing to understand critical inputs/outputs and qualify changes effectively.
• Facilitate design‑to‑manufacturing transfer, ensuring documentation completeness (Quality/Technical Plant, R&D Pack, R&D Process, Business Quality) for successful product transfer to the plant.
• Coordinate supplier onboarding requirements with Procurement, clarifying deliverables for raw material suppliers.
• Plan and execute studies in‑house and liaise with external partners (third‑party manufacturers, raw material suppliers, laboratories) when studies are outsourced.
• Provide operational support to maintain ongoing product manufacture; stay alert to potential quality issues and assist in resolution.
• Manage and develop assigned Development Chemist(s)—delegate with clear success criteria, communicate resource constraints, remove blockers, and use RACI to clarify roles and accountability.
• Build strong working relationships across Supply Chain, Procurement, Safety, Quality, Regulatory, and with strategic external partners.
• Drive continuous improvement—capture successful approaches into SOPs; contribute to quality improvement initiatives; follow Company Health & Safety procedures, assure laboratory safety compliance, and report incidents/near misses.

The ideal candidate:

• You will hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant scientific discipline (a Bachelor’s with strong, relevant experience will be considered) and bring 3+ years in healthcare/personal care product development or technical services, including post‑launch changes.
• You’ll have experience mentoring or leading technical workstreams; formal line management experience is a plus.
• You demonstrate regulatory and quality fluency, with familiarity in EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC 1223/2009) and ISO 22716 (GMP), and the ability to quickly learn company procedures.
• Exposure to MDR/ISO 13485 V&V and design transfer for device‑adjacent products is advantageous, with a willingness to upskill as needed.
• You will possess excellent communication and influencing skills, enabling you to forge strong cross‑functional relationships and build effective project teams.
• A self‑motivated individual, you plan ahead, use initiative, and are curious, proactive, and eager to learn.
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is essential, with the capability to present information clearly for status updates, plans, and decision‑making.

Working hours are 39 per week: Monday – Thursday 8-4:30pm and Friday 8-3.30pm. In return we offer a competitive package, including 24 days annual leave, a pension matched up to 9% contributions.