Research Chemist

Research Chemist

• Annual Salary: -38,900 to -41,300
• Location: Lancashire
• Job Type: Permanent, Full-time

We are excited to offer an opportunity for a Metals Research Chemist to join our client''s Analytical Chemistry team in Lancashire. This role is ideal for a motivated analytical chemist with a strong background in inorganic analysis, particularly metal analysis, who is driven by scientific excellence and real-world impact.

Day-to-day of the role:

• 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 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, ensuring the safe use of facilities and compliance with COSHH and day-to-day lab management.
• Work within the laboratory quality system and ISO 17025, managing inorganic non-conforming work investigations and undertaking internal audits across the group.
• 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.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• PhD in Environmental Chemistry, or an MSc in Environmental Chemistry (or related discipline) with substantial laboratory experience.
• Solid grounding in environmental chemistry, with particular expertise in how metals behave and can be analysed in diverse environmental matrices.
• Proven experience in environmental chemical analyses with working knowledge of ICP-MS, ICP-OES, and XRF techniques (including method development and optimisation).
• Specialist knowledge of method development for metals 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:

• 27 days annual leave (rising to 29 days after 5 years'' service) plus 3 days for Christmas closure.
• 10% employer pension contribution.
• Peer reward and recognition scheme.
• Dental insurance, gym/fitness discounts, retail discount portal.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
• 24-hour, 365-day support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues and much more.

How to Apply:

If you have the experience and qualifications required for the role and would like to be considered for this opportunity, please apply online now.

Please note: 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.