Environmental Research Chemist (Organics)

Salary - £40,574 - £43,056 Permanent. We reserve the right to close this advert early if we find the right candidate, so we encourage you to apply early.

About UKCEH

UKCEH is a leading independent research institute with over 600 scientists studying how the natural world works. We take a connected approach across land, water and air to understand environmental systems and build resilience for people and the planet.

We have an exciting opportunity for an Organics Research Chemist to join our Analytical Chemistry team in Lancaster, within the acclaimed Environmental Pressures and Responses Group. This multidisciplinary team is at the forefront of understanding how pollution, land-use change, and climate pressures affect ecosystems. Working across air, land, and water, we generate high-quality evidence that directly informs action on environmental change.

We are looking for a motivated analytical chemist with strong expertise in environmental organic analysis (with expertise in GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS and/or GC/LC-Q-TOF), who is driven by scientific excellence and real-world impact. In this role, you will collaborate widely across UKCEH and the broader scientific community, helping to shape innovative research ideas and secure funding. You will thrive if you are creative, collaborative, and proactive, bringing accuracy, curiosity, and a passion for solving complex problems. Innovation is encouraged, and your analytical insight will directly enhance the team’s capability. We are particularly interested in chemists who enjoy developing research ideas, building partnerships, writing grant applications, and seeking funding opportunities.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Leading the development of analytical methods arising from new scientific and funding opportunities, including method validation and the preparation of robust Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Generating income through writing bids, grant applications, and tender responses.
• Contributing to, and leading where appropriate, high-impact scientific outputs, providing analytical data and methodological content for peer-reviewed publications, customer reports, presentations, and book or book chapters.
• Ensuring the quality and integrity of analytical data, including oversight of data generation.
• Training, mentoring, and supervising laboratory staff, supporting skills development and maintaining high technical standards across the team.
• Managing laboratory operations, including responsibility for the safe use of facilities, compliance with COSHH, and day-to-day lab management.
• Working within the laboratory quality system and ISO 17025.
• Liaising directly with instrument manufacturers, contributing to the evaluation and selection of new analytical instrumentation.
• Performing routine analyses, ensuring continuity and resilience of laboratory capability.
• As you develop in the role, there may be opportunities to take on line management responsibilities.

Our Lancaster laboratories have achieved the highest certification (Gold) under the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF), the world’s largest green laboratory certification scheme.

In this role, you will join a well-established team working in world-class laboratories, equipped with cutting-edge analytical instrumentation, advanced methodologies, and comprehensive sample preparation facilities. You will contribute to the delivery of high-quality, innovative analytical data, including delivery of high-quality analyses, supporting a wide range of impactful projects.

For the role of Research Chemist, we’re looking for somebody who has:

• A PhD in Environmental Chemistry, or an MSc in Environmental Chemistry (or related discipline) with substantial laboratory experience.
• A solid grounding in environmental chemistry, with particular expertise in how organic contaminants behave and can be analysed in diverse environmental matrices.
• Proven experience in environmental chemical analyses with working knowledge of organic techniques, such as GC-MS, GC-MS/MS, Pyrolysis GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, GC/LC-Q-TOF and extractions (incl. method development and optimisation) and use of SPEs.
• Specialist knowledge of method development for organic analysis in niche matrices and at trace levels.
• Established track record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals and delivering impactful presentations at scientific conferences.
• Demonstrable success in securing research funding through competitive bids.

You’ll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute that’s committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH. Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years.

How to apply and what happens next

If you’re interested in this role, we’d love to hear from you. You’ll be directed to our Workday portal where you’ll create an account and upload your CV and your responses to the questions below (approx. 8 mins). Your responses are an important part of our assessment process, so please take the time to complete them thoughtfully:

• A separate cover letter is not required.
• Use clear, concise examples that demonstrate your personal contribution, relevant skills, qualifications (if applicable) and impact.
• Limit your responses to a maximum of 150 words per question.

Once submitted, our panel will review your application, and please be assured that we are committed to providing an outcome for all applicants, regardless of the result.

Q1 - Describe a funding opportunity (grant, bid, or tender) that you have either personally pursued or identified as a strong prospect. Explain how you came across the opportunity, what indicated to you that it was worth pursuing, and why you prioritised it. Finally, how did you develop a competitive proposal for such an opportunity.

Q2 - Give an example where you developed, adapted, or proposed a new organic analytical method to meet a scientific or project need. What constraints did you face, how did you overcome them, and what were the outcomes? Did this work open new avenues for you or your group's work?

Q3 - Drawing on your own experience, please describe the networking practices that you have found most effective and how you maintain professional relationships for future collaboration. How do you communicate and share your work with the wider scientific community and other stakeholders? Please provide specific examples of when you have done this successfully.

Working at UKCEH is genuinely rewarding. You’ll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute, where your work will have real impact. Our science helps people and the environment to prosper and informs decisions that benefit society as a whole. We’re proud to be custodians of over 60 years of environmental data, and just as proud of the people behind it. You’ll be supported to develop your career, grow your skills and thrive in a collaborative, purpose-driven environment.

What we offer

At UKCEH, we recognise your dedication and provide a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you both at work and at home. When you join us, you’ll benefit from:

• Generous annual leave - 27 days (rising to 29 days after 5 years) +3 for Christmas closure.
• 10% employer pension contribution.
• Financial protection through life assurance and income protection.
• Enhanced family-friendly policies.
• Flexible and hybrid working options (depending on your role).
• Lifestyle perks including dental, gym, retail and cycling discounts.
• A commitment to wellbeing, supported by a range of internal initiatives.
• Employee Assistance Programme and health benefits, including 24/7 support with remote GP access, mental health, physiotherapy and lifestyle services.
• Peer recognition and rewards that celebrate your contribution.
• Salary sacrifice agreement benefits including Electric & Plug-in Hybrid vehicle and Cycle2Work schemes.
• Interest-free annual travel season ticket loans (terms apply).

Our Commitment to inclusion

At UKCEH, we believe everyone should feel welcome and able to be themselves at work. We warmly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and identities. As a Disability Confident employer, we’re happy to support you with any adjustments you may need throughout the recruitment process.

A note on sponsorship

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role and this does not qualify for endorsement to support a Global Talent Visa application. If you are considering pursuing self-sponsorship, please indicate this in your application so we can take it into account during the recruitment process.