Material Specialist

Godwin Recruitment; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Godwin Recruitment in Birmingham seeks a Material Specialist to strengthen raw material security by locating, ordering and testing alternative materials within the Scientific Research Department. The role involves material evaluation, supplier engagement and compliance with quality standards.

You will travel to vendor sites and possibly work away from home, contributing to continuous product development and high-quality manufacturing.

Qualifications

• Experience testing materials in a laboratory setting.
• Excellent communication and reporting skills.
• Knowledge of ISO 13485 or similar regulated environments.
• Driving license valid in the UK.
• Experience with supplier audits is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Source and manage new raw materials for labs, ensuring traceability.
• Engage with suppliers to discuss raw materials technically.
• Visit supplier sites to evaluate capability and quality.
• Test and evaluate materials for suitability at every stage.
• Provide feedback on testing status to the business and suppliers.
• Follow formulations specifications to match current materials.
• Develop extensive knowledge of materials used in medical product manufacture.

Skills

Lab testing

Data analysis

Communication

Report writing

Supplier audits

Education

Degree in polymer science / material science / chemistry

Tools

Minitab

Job description

The Company

A unique organisation with a longstanding history in the manufacture and distribution of innovative medical products.

A highly consumer led company who create and continually develop the most advanced products to enhance people’s lives.

The business provides employees with genuine opportunity for continued professional development and excellent employee benefits.

The role

Based at the company’s Scientific Research Department, reporting into the Materials Technology and Research Manager, the newly created role of Material Specialist will be responsible for improving the raw material security of the business by locating, ordering and testing alternative raw materials.

Key responsibilities of the material specialist will include –

• The sourcing and management of new raw materials that are externally provided to the laboratory, ensuring traceability and secure storage until full approval has been granted.
• Engage with suppliers to discuss raw materials in a technical manner.
• Travel to raw material suppliers to evaluate the capability and quality of any new suppliers.
• Test and evaluate new raw materials, ensuring suitability at every stage of the process and ensuring that the materials are kept at a high standard.
• Feedback to the wider business and suppliers on the status of testing and/or suitability of raw materials.
• Follow formulations specifications to mix current formulations so that raw materials can be evaluated properly.
• Build an extensive knowledge of raw materials used in the manufacturing of medical products.

About you

• Knowledge of ISO 13485 or similarly strictly controlled field
• A degree in a relevant scientific field, e.g: polymer science, material science, chemistry; or comparable experience.
• Experience of testing materials in a laboratory setting.
• Excellent communication skills at all levels, internal and external to the business.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Experience of supplier audits is beneficial.
• Experience of data analysis (e.g: Minitab, sample size calculation, hypothesis testing)
• Must have a valid UK (or equivalent) driving license.

Note - Whilst primarily based at the Company’s Head Office in Birmingham, you may be required to visit vendor sites, tradeshows, customers and third-party organisations. This may involve international travel and periods working away from home.