Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Scientist

Unilever; Bedford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An international consumer goods company in Bedford seeks a skilled Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Scientist to promote sustainability through scientific research. The candidate will work on environmental assessments and engage with various stakeholders, including universities and government bodies. Strong experience in LCA modelling and a relevant degree are essential. This full-time role offers a flexible working environment with numerous benefits including a competitive salary, annual bonus, and subsidized gym membership.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual bonus

Subsidized gym membership

Discounted staff shop

Shares program

Qualifications

• Experience using LCA with industrial or consulting background.
• Strong knowledge of Life Cycle Impact Assessment methodologies.
• Ability to communicate complex scientific concepts clearly.

Responsibilities

• Conduct environmental sustainability assessments of products.
• Apply computational methods for innovative LCA approaches.
• Engage in collaborative research with universities and organizations.

Skills

LCA modelling

Environmental sustainability assessment

Python programming

R programming

MATLAB

Education

Relevant Master's degree or PhD

Tools

SimaPro

GaBi

Brightway

Job description

Job Title

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Scientist

Work Level

WL2

Location

Colworth

Overview

Unilever is seeking a LCA scientist who has a passion for environmental sustainability to join a team of experts in our Safety, Environmental and Regulatory Science (SERS). This is an exciting opportunity for anyone wishing to use their scientific expertise to make a significant positive impact, whilst working in a supportive, team-based environment. This pivotal role will enable you to work on tackling some of the key global environmental challenges of our time, such as climate change, packaging waste and biodiversity loss. This is a science role. It is not an environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) or Corporate social responsibility (CSR) role.

JOB PURPOSE

As an LCA scientist in Unilever, you will work with colleagues from across the globe to provide scientific support to our business groups (Foods, Home Care, Beauty & Wellbeing and Personal Care). You will apply life cycle thinking and related approaches to better understand the environmental impacts and improvement opportunities related to product portfolios, supply chains and innovations. You will have the opportunity to engage in collaborative research with leading universities, governmental and non-governmental organisations, and industrial groups around the world. Through partnerships, you will be able to help advance life cycle assessment and related approaches. Publication and presentation of research at international conferences will be encouraged, as well as other opportunities for technical advocacy.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Environmental sustainability assessment (e.g. LCA, Sustainable by design) of products, new materials, technologies, and business models. This includes performing LCAs using software (e.g. SimaPro, GaBi, and Brightway), interpreting the results and preparing communications for internal and external audiences.
• Application of computational approaches such as Python, R, MATLAB to enable cutting-edge approaches to be applied in LCA.
• Development of new scientific approaches: deliver new scientific methods related to life cycle assessment (e.g. in the areas of spatial and prospective impact assessment), including writing reports and publications.
• External engagement with universities, research groups, trade associations and suppliers.

ALL ABOUT YOU

You’ll need to be able to work effectively and with impact in cross-disciplinary teams and in multi-cultural environments and be flexible and willing to adapt within a fast-changing business environment. We would expect the successful candidate to have:

• A relevant Masters degree or PhD, ideally with several years of industrial/consulting/post-doctoral experience using LCA.
• Strong knowledge and experience in LCA modelling, using both software and coding.
• Strong experience in the development and application of Life Cycle Impact Assessment and/or footprinting methodologies and associated standards, protocols, and databases.
• Ability to communicate complex scientific information and rationales on environmental sustainability to individuals from other disciplines or from non-technical backgrounds as well as via publications.
• Ability to employ a strategic and growth mindset. Proven track record of leading / working as part of a team. Willingness to explore and learn new approaches and to support others in doing so.

Bonus Skills (not essential)

• Broader sustainability expertise in any of the following areas: bio-based systems, agriculture, green chemistry, circular economy, industrial ecology.
• Experience of employing approaches to assess variability and uncertainty in impact assessments.
• Prospective modelling ideally with a focus on ex-ante LCA and/or wider sustainable consumption scenarios.
• Experience of developing/employing data, methods and tools for spatially resolved impact assessment e.g. GIS, InVEST, Land Change modelling.
• Experience of using Input/Output (I/O) or hybrid I/O analysis and related methods.

LOCATION

Colworth Science Park is a vibrant scientific ecosystem with around 800 employees (270 from Unilever) based on site from over 30 nationalities, with 88 PhDs, 8 Professors (2 in Unilever), a large community of apprentices (8 in Unilever). On site there are various facilities including a restaurant, cafe, a nursery and a gym. There are many social and recreational activities to take part in such as going for a lunchtime walk or run in the beautiful surrounding countryside, and netball team to name just a few. London, with all its attractions, is a short 40-minute train ride from Bedford.

What We Offer

Not only do we offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, we also offer an annual bonus, subsidised gym membership, a discounted staff shop and shares. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment. Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We are a key advocate of wellbeing and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.

Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities, and growing together for better business performance. We want to push boundaries, and have the flexibility needed to keep adapting in an ever-changing, more dynamic world. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. As part of your hiring journey, we are happy to support requests for reasonable adjustments, to improve your recruitment experience. To find out more, including more information about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here.