Development Chemist

Smart4 Sciences; Redditch; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career progression

Competitive salary

Influence on product development

Job summary

Smart4 Sciences, located in Redditch, is seeking a Development Chemist to lead projects from concept to commercial launch in household and consumer products. You'll work closely with production and quality teams to develop innovative formulations and address manufacturing challenges.

The ideal candidate should have over 3 years of experience in formulation development and a strong understanding of surfactant chemistry. This role offers a competitive salary and the opportunity for career progression within a respected manufacturing company.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of proven formulation and product development experience.
• Knowledge of surfactant chemistry and cleaning systems.
• Experience taking products from development through to manufacture.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work across multiple departments.

Responsibilities

• Developing and optimizing product formulations.
• Assessing and selecting suitable raw materials and ingredients.
• Conducting laboratory testing and performance evaluations.
• Supporting scale-up activities and production trials.
• Ensuring products meet regulatory and quality requirements.

Skills

Formulation and product development

Project management

Communication

Surfactant chemistry

Laboratory testing

Troubleshooting formulation issues

Job description

Household & Consumer Products | Redditch

An established and growing manufacturer within the consumer products sector is looking to appoint an experienced Development Chemist to support the creation and improvement of a wide range of household cleaning and home care products.

This is a hands‑on role offering the opportunity to lead projects from concept through to commercial launch, working closely with production, quality, procurement, and commercial teams.

The Role

You will be responsible for developing innovative formulations, improving existing product performance, and supporting the transfer of products from laboratory scale into full manufacturing.

Product categories may include:

• Surface and multi-purpose cleaners
• Laundry and fabric care products
• Dishwashing formulations
• Bathroom and toilet cleaners
• Other household and specialist cleaning solutions

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and optimising product formulations
• Assessing and selecting suitable raw materials and ingredients
• Conducting laboratory testing, stability studies, and performance evaluations
• Investigating formulation and manufacturing challenges
• Supporting scale‑up activities and production trials
• Maintaining technical documentation and product specifications
• Ensuring products meet relevant regulatory and quality requirements
• Monitoring market trends, ingredient developments, and innovation opportunities
• Working cross‑functionally to deliver projects on time and within budget

About You

We're interested in speaking with formulation chemists who have experience within household care, detergents, FMCG, industrial cleaning products, or a related sector.

You will ideally have:

• 3+ years of proven formulation and product development experience
• Knowledge of surfactant chemistry and cleaning systems
• Experience in taking products from development through to manufacture
• Understanding of product stability, compatibility, and performance testing
• Experience supporting production and troubleshooting formulation issues
• Strong project management and organisational skills
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work across multiple departments

What's on Offer

• Opportunity to join a well‑established manufacturing business
• Varied technical role with genuine influence on product development
• Career progression within a growing organisation
• Competitive salary and benefits package

For a confidential discussion or further information, please apply today.