Environmental Research Chemist (Organics) in Lancaster

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.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of analytical methods arising from new scientific and funding opportunities, including method validation and the preparation of robust Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Generate income through writing bids, grant applications, and tender responses.
• Contribute to, and lead where appropriate, high‑impact scientific outputs, providing analytical data and methodological content for peer‑reviewed publications, customer reports, presentations, and book or book chapters.
• Ensure the quality and integrity of analytical data, including oversight of data generation where required.
• Train, mentor, and supervise laboratory staff, supporting skills development and maintaining high technical standards across the team.
• Manage laboratory operations, including responsibility for the safe use of facilities, compliance with COSHH, and day‑to‑day lab management.
• Work within the laboratory quality system and ISO 17025.
• Liaise directly with instrument manufacturers, contributing to the evaluation and selection of new analytical instrumentation.
• Perform routine analyses when required, ensuring continuity and resilience of laboratory capability.
• Take on line management responsibilities, contingent on career progression.

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

Qualifications

• PhD in Environmental Chemistry, or an MSc in Environmental Chemistry (or related discipline) with substantial laboratory experience.
• Solid grounding in environmental chemistry, particularly 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 (including 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.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave – 27 days (rising to 29 days after 5 years) + 3 days 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.
• 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 celebrating your contribution.
• Salary sacrifice agreement benefits including Electric & Plug‑in Hybrid vehicle and Cycle2Work schemes.
• Interest‑free annual travel season ticket loans (terms apply).

Equal Opportunity and Inclusion

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.

Sponsorship Availability

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.