Formulation Scientist

Kimberly-Clark Corporation; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Bonus scheme

Private medical insurance

Education support

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Arbex is seeking a Formulation Scientist to lead development of formulations for tissue and hygiene products. You will collaborate with R&D product developers, ensure safety, quality, and regulatory compliance, and drive innovation across global programs with significant business impact.

You will thrive in a multinational team, manage multiple workstreams, and document INCI history, validation protocols, and test reports while advancing lifecycle management and process improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry or related technical discipline.
• 5–8+ years of hands-on formulation development experience for consumer products.
• Experience with stability testing, compatibility evaluations, preservative systems.
• Structured documentation including INCI, validation protocols and test reports.
• Ability to manage multiple technical workstreams and adapt to project priorities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimise formulations for formulated product categories meeting safety, quality, regulatory, stability and performance requirements.
• Perform formulation lab work: screening, stability and compatibility testing, preservative efficacy and robustness studies.
• Evaluate material equivalency, substitutions and alternate sourcing to support supply continuity and cost initiatives.
• Support development and qualification of analytical test methods with Quality teams and external labs.
• Protect formulation IP via patents, trade secrets and confidential documentation.
• Act as formulation technical lead on assigned projects across innovation, qualification and commercialisation.
• Create and execute project plans for formulation development, improvement and lifecycle management.
• Lead and document formulation deliverables (INCI files, validation records, stability reports, technical justifications, change-control).
• Proactively manage formulation changes driven by regulatory updates, quality deviations, allergen removal and sustainability initiatives.

Job description

Formulation Scientist Job Description Become part of the team powering household names like Andrex®, Kleenex®, Cottonelle®, Scott®, Viva®, and WypAll®. At Arbex, everything you need is right here—innovation, growth, and the chance to leave a real mark. You were made to create what’s next: this is your opportunity to investigate unanswered questions, engineer inventive solutions and keep pushing the limits of what’s possible. You’re drawn to a performance culture set on solving real-world problems with purpose and precision. You want a workplace that champions sustainability, inclusion, wellbeing, and career growth. In this role, you’ll help shape the future of tissue and hygiene for billions of people worldwide. We’ll be Unstoppable Together.

About You

In one of our R&D roles, you’ll focus on winning with consumers and the market, while putting safety, mutual respect, and human dignity at the centre. This role serves as the formulation science subject matter expert (SME), partnering with R&D product developers, technical leaders and business unit partners to translate technical, business and consumer insights into technology development opportunities. In this position you will drive innovation, business continuity, qualification and commercialisation across global and regional programs with significant business impact. You will thrive in a multi-national, cross-functional environment and bring strong formulation expertise, knowledge of compliance/conformance requirements for regulated products, and R&D project leadership (communication, stakeholder management, collaboration, delivery to timelines).

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimise formulations for formulated product categories, meeting applicable safety, quality, regulatory, stability and performance requirements.
• Perform formulation lab work: screening, stability and compatibility testing, preservative efficacy and robustness studies.
• Evaluate/test/validate raw material equivalency, substitutions and alternate sourcing to support supply continuity and cost initiatives.
• Support development, qualification and refinement of analytical test methods with Quality teams and external laboratories.
• Protect formulation intellectual property via patents, trade secrets and confidential documentation.
• Act as formulation technical lead on assigned projects across innovation, qualification and commercialisation.
• Create and execute project plans for formulation development, improvement and lifecycle management.
• Lead and document formulation deliverables (INCI files, validation records, stability reports, technical justifications and change-control documentation).
• Proactively manage formulation changes driven by regulatory updates, quality deviations, allergen removal, sustainability requirements and chemicals-of-concern elimination.
• Support lab capability development (readiness activities, external lab coordination and specialist testing).

Qualifications

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Cosmetic Science, or related technical discipline. Solid applied experience (typically 5–8+ years) in formulation development for consumer products Proven ability to independently execute formulation development workflows, including design, testing, interpretation, and documentation. Experience with stability testing, compatibility evaluations, preservative systems, and formulation troubleshooting. Structured documentation capability (INCI preparation, formulation history, validation protocols, test reports). Ability to manage multiple technical workstreams simultaneously and adapt to evolving project priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in cosmetic, wet wipes, lotion tissue or skincare soaps & sanitizer formulation development. Exposure to method transfer, external lab qualification, and advanced analytical testing workflows. Experience supporting raw material crisis management, alternate sourcing, or chemical equivalency assessments. Understanding of regulatory frameworks, allergen management, and chemicals-of-concern policies. Knowledge of intellectual property approaches for formulated products (patents, trade secrets).

Total Benefits

• Market-leading pension contribution.
• Bonus scheme.
• Flexible Savings and spending accounts to maximise health care options and stretch pounds when caring for yourself or dependents.
• Private Medical Insurance, great support for good health with medical, dental, and vision coverage options.
• Diverse income protection insurance options to protect yourself and your family in case of illness, injury, or other unexpected events.
• Additional programs and support to continue your education, adopt a child, relocate, or even find temporary childcare.

Flex That Works at ARBEX

We believe great work happens when people come together with purpose. That’s why we offer a flexible work model that blends remote work with intentional in-person collaboration — helping you connect, grow, and innovate while maintaining the balance you value.

We are a committed equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. Statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required for this position. Employment is subject to verification of local policies. This role is available for local candidates already authorised to work in the role’s country only. ARBEX will not provide relocation support for this role. Primary Location Northfleet Mill Additional Locations Worker Type Employee Worker Sub-Type Regular Time Type Full time.

Thank you for your interest in Arbex. Backed by the power of over 100 years of legacy brands, we are the world’s next leading producer of consumer goods. When it comes to product development, we go beyond everyday needs to anticipate what life will require in the future—while keeping innovation, sustainability, and consumers at the core of every decision. From fibre to shelf, and beyond, we act with intention at every step of the way. Because scale isn’t measured by size, it’s determined by positive impact. And that’s how we deliver what the world needs next.