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- Tasks: Lead innovative projects in carbon capture and cement chemistry to create impactful solutions.
- Company: Join a pioneering tech company focused on decarbonising concrete.
- Benefits: High salary, meaningful equity, performance bonuses, and private health insurance.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with opportunities for significant career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in tackling global COâ‚‚ emissions with your expertise.
- Qualifications: PhD in relevant field and 10+ years of industrial experience required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Location: Nottingham, UK
Compensation: high salary + meaningful equity + performance bonus
Start Date: Immediate
Type: Full-time, permanent
Visa Sponsorship: For exceptional candidates only
About Us
Concrete and cement are among the largest industrial sources of COâ‚‚ on Earth. We are building technology to change that. Concrete4Change captures COâ‚‚ and locks it permanently into high-performance construction materials. The goal is simple: make decarbonisation of concrete commercially unavoidable. This is deep tech. Real chemistry. Real scale-up. Real industrial constraints. We are past the stage of academic curiosity. The job now is execution. That means building technology that works in the lab, at pilot scale, and in industry. It means solving hard problems in reaction chemistry, mineral formation, cementitious systems, product performance, and scale-up. It means moving fast and being right. This is a role for someone who wants to build something that matters.
The Role
We are looking for a world-class scientist to lead one of the most important technical areas in the company. Your job is to understand, control, and improve how captured COâ‚‚ becomes stable mineral phases and how those phases behave inside cementitious systems. You will drive the science behind reaction pathways, kinetics, phase formation, hydration, carbonation, microstructure, durability, and real-world performance. You will turn chemistry into product decisions. You will turn data into scale-up decisions. You will turn scientific understanding into industrial advantage. This is not a role for someone who wants low pressure, unclear ownership, or years of discussion before action. You will work on problems that matter to the core of the company. You will be expected to think clearly, move quickly, challenge assumptions, and make good decisions with imperfect data. You will work closely with engineering, plant, and commercial teams. You will help build experimental capability, improve technical standards, and mentor other scientists and engineers.
What We’re Looking For
- PhD in Cement Chemistry, Construction Materials, Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related field
- 10+ years of industrial experience in carbon capture, COâ‚‚ mineralisation, carbon utilisation, cement chemistry, concrete chemistry, or related materials chemistry
- 5+ years in start-ups or high-growth environments
- Deep understanding of reaction chemistry, including mechanisms, kinetics, phase formation, and material transformation
- Strong expertise in one or both of these domains: carbon capture / COâ‚‚ mineralisation, cement chemistry / concrete chemistry
- Strong grasp of analytical methods and hands-on experience interpreting complex materials data
- Comfortable working with methods such as XRD, TGA/DSC, FTIR, Raman, SEM/EDS, particle analysis, wet chemistry, and performance testing
- Able to connect chemistry to process conditions, product requirements, and industrial scale-up
- Proven ability to lead important technical programmes and make high-quality decisions
You’ll Probably Be a Great Fit If
- You care about first-principles thinking
- You like hard problems more than polished presentations
- You can go deep technically and still stay focused on what changes outcomes
- You are excited by speed, ambiguity, and accountability
- You want your work to end up in pilot plants, products, factories, and real deployment
THIS JOB IS NOT FOR YOU IF
- You want a slow, highly structured corporate environment
- You prefer observation over ownership
- You need constant consensus before making progress
- You like research but not execution
- You are more comfortable writing reports than delivering results
- You come from an academic way of working and are not ready for fast industrial execution
- You are looking for a relaxed working environment rather than a high-performance one
- You want to avoid start-up pressure, ambiguity, and pace
- You are not comfortable being judged on results
What You Get
- High-impact role in a company solving a globally important industrial problem
- Meaningful equity
- Strong salary
- Performance bonus
- Private health insurance and healthcare cash plan
- Pension
- The chance to help build something that should exist in the world
This is a good role for someone who wants to do the best work of their career.
Senior Chemist in Derby employer: Vateris
Contact Detail:
Vateris Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Chemist in Derby
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy to reach out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into the company’s mission and values. Understand their tech and how your skills can help them achieve their goals. When you show genuine interest and knowledge, it’ll set you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with their needs. Focus on your achievements in carbon capture and cement chemistry, and how you can drive results in a fast-paced environment. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our mission to change the concrete industry for the better.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Chemist in Derby
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for chemistry and decarbonisation shine through. We want to see that you care about making a difference in the world, so share why this role excites you!
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your relevant experience in carbon capture and cement chemistry. We’re looking for specific examples of how you've tackled tough problems and made impactful decisions in your previous roles.
Be Clear and Concise: We appreciate clarity! Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to see your key achievements and skills at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Vateris
✨Know Your Chemistry Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of reaction pathways, kinetics, and phase formation. Be ready to discuss how these concepts apply to carbon capture and cement chemistry, as this will show your depth of understanding and relevance to the role.
✨Prepare for Real-World Problem Solving
Expect to tackle some tough questions that reflect the challenges faced in the industry. Think about specific examples from your past experience where you've solved complex problems or made decisions with imperfect data, and be prepared to share those stories.
✨Show Your Leadership Skills
This role requires someone who can lead technical programmes effectively. Be ready to discuss your experience mentoring others and how you've driven projects forward in high-pressure environments. Highlight any instances where you've taken ownership and delivered results.
✨Connect Chemistry to Practical Applications
Demonstrate your ability to link scientific principles to real-world applications. Prepare to explain how your work has influenced product decisions or scale-up processes in previous roles, showcasing your understanding of the industrial context.