Development Chemist

WOODSTOCK RECRUITMENT LIMITED; England; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

WOODSTOCK RECRUITMENT LIMITED is seeking a Development Chemist for a 12-month fixed term role to cover maternity leave in a small, collaborative technical team within the beauty products sector.

You will develop and reformulate skincare and bath & body formulations, liaise with contract manufacturers and fragrance houses, oversee testing, manage regulatory documentation, and mentor junior chemists while aligning projects with business goals.

Qualifications

• 2-5 years post graduate experience in formulation development, particularly in bath & body and skincare.
• Strong understanding of raw materials and regulatory considerations for beauty products.
• Analytical and creative problem solving for formulation and process troubleshooting.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative formulations in response to client briefs and performance criteria.
• Reformulate existing products to meet updated regulations, enhance efficacy, and optimise cost.
• Liaise with contract manufacturers and suppliers to ensure product quality, timelines, and compliance.
• Partner with fragrance houses to create bespoke fragrances and manage regulatory documentation.
• Coordinate and remotely manage product testing programmes, including user trials and clinical studies.
• Oversee and review product artwork for technical and regulatory accuracy.
• Collaborate with production to resolve scale-up and process challenges, ensuring batch consistency.
• Mentor junior chemists and technicians, fostering skill development and technical growth.
• Contribute to cross-functional project teams, aligning product development with overall business goals.

Skills

Formulation development

Bath & body formulations

Skincare

Regulatory compliance

Sourcing suppliers

Project management

Communication

Job description

Are you a personal care formulator with 2-5 years+ post graduate experience?

Do you like working in a small, collaborative technical team?

Is liaising with 3rd parties, suppliers and manufacturers one of your strengths?

Perhaps this Development Chemist role is the next opportunity for you?

Working with brands and manufacturers, our very well established client is responsible for the design and development of beauty products and is seeking an experienced formulator with confident communication skills to join their team on a 12 month fixed term basis to cover Maternity leave.

This is an urgent hire.

What you will do:

• Develop innovative formulations in response to client briefs and performance criteria.
• Reformulate existing products to meet updated regulations, enhance efficacy, and optimise cost.
• Liaise with contract manufacturers and suppliers to ensure product quality, timelines, and compliance.
• Partner with fragrance houses to create bespoke fragrances and manage regulatory documentation.
• Coordinate and remotely manage product testing programmes, including user trials and clinical studies.
• Oversee and review product artwork for technical and regulatory accuracy.
• Collaborate with production to resolve scale-up and process challenges, ensuring batch consistency.
• Mentor junior chemists and technicians, fostering skill development and technical growth.
• Contribute to cross-functional project teams, aligning product development with overall business goals.

What you will need:

• Proven experience in formulation development, particularly in bath & body and skincare.
• Strong technical understanding of raw materials, with experience sourcing from Far East and European suppliers (desirable).
• Analytical and creative problem solving skills for formulation and process troubleshooting.
• Solid project management experience and familiarity with the NPD process.
• Excellent communication, organisation, and planning abilities.