Raw Material Physical Chemist

GSK Group of Companies; Weybridge; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consumer health company in Weybridge is seeking a Raw Material Physical Chemist. You will lead raw material supplier changes and provide technical expertise to the supply chain. Ideal candidates will have a relevant degree and substantial experience in raw material change-implementation. This is a permanent position with hybrid working conditions, offering a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are embraced.

Qualifications

• Proven background in physical/process chemistry or engineering roles in a Pharmaceutical, OTC, or FMCG environments.
• Solid understanding of materials science structure-property relationships.
• Experience in OSD, LCOs and suspension processing desirable.

Responsibilities

• Support technically complex materials changes globally.
• Deliver key Procurement function deliverables through materials science.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including formulation & product/process owners.

Skills

Strong experience in raw material change-implementation

Strong people skills

Ability to drive common-objective thinking

Chemical synthesis awareness

Education

Relevant bachelor's/master's degree or Ph.D. in materials/physical science

Tools

Advanced characterization methodologies (e.g. rheometry, GPC)

Job description

Hello. We're Haleon. A new world‑leading consumer health company. Shaped by all who join us. Together, we're improving everyday health for billions of people. By growing and innovating our global portfolio of category‑leading brands – including Sensodyne, Panadol, Advil, Voltaren, Theraflu, Otrivin, and Centrum – through a unique combination of deep human understanding and trusted science. What's more, we're achieving it in a company that we're in control of. In an environment that we're co‑creating. And a culture that's uniquely ours. Care to join us. It isn't a question.

About the role

The role of the Raw Material Physical Chemist is to provide specialist technical leadership for raw material change programmes (globally). You will be the technical lead for multiple complex raw material supplier changes, effectively being the subject matter expert in support to the wider supply chain. You will lead the technical evaluation of changes, co‑ordinate and complete all technical activities needed for implementation, and support the programme manager to plan and drive technical aspects of the supplier change (to completion). This is a key role within the technical supply chain function, reporting to the Lead of the Materials Science Group, with responsibilities that will include acting as the technical expert for raw material supplier changes (to assess and mitigate technical risk, and to define product control strategies). This extends to defining and managing validation activities (including post‑implementation reviews). You will also co‑coordinate technical activities at third‑party labs, scale up facilities and at Supply Chain manufacturing sites to prove material equivalency, assessing product stability and validating product changes. Throughout your role you will also identify resource issues, elevating any risks/issues (as appropriate).

Key Responsibilities

• Support technically complex materials changes that are beyond the capacity or capability of the regional or site Supply Chain teams. Materials changes initiated to primarily focus and resolve material supply de‑risking initiatives. Compliance remediation, vendor changes, cost improvement programs, network strategy movement, or major value engineering assessments may also be undertaken. Be accountable for optimising the effectiveness of change‑programmes (some of which will have global ramifications). These material risk assessments will also involve liaising with nitrosamine and genotoxic teams.
• Deliver key Procurement function deliverables through materials science – prioritising analytical testing and analyses across the portfolio of programmes.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including formulation & product/process owners, analytical science, quality, clinical & sensory testing and regulatory affairs.
• Clearly communicating progress and escalating issues to stakeholders in a consistent and timely manner, via the use of commonly accepted mechanisms.
• Accountability for ensuring material change assessments (MCA) are written in a timely manner to appropriate standards to support business decisions for de‑risking and CR efforts.
• Serve as an interface between Procurement, Product Supply sites and internal and contract materials science labs for the delivery of critical materials understanding and content.
• May design technical experiments and testing as necessary to ensure appropriate materials change project progress.
• Exposure to material related change controls either internally (e.g. NPI, SC) or externally (e.g. API supplier change). As appropriate, should be aware of the following GxP activities: Product Lifecycle Management activities (Change Control, Deviation, CAPA’s, trial and validation reports author/reviewer/approver as appropriate, risk assessment author/reviewer/approver as appropriate), understanding of the auditing world.
• Exposure to Root Cause Analysis (RCA) desirable.
• Support current formulation and performance claims by site support and address technical issues to solidify decision‑making with robust insight & supporting data.
• Mentor others and guide process & product decisions where relevant.
• Chemical synthesis awareness (appreciation of the impact of source change on end use in intermediates or finished products).
• Strong people skills and a proven ability to drive performance and common‑objective thinking, with a complete focus on providing solutions. Persuasive, strong continuous improvement mindset, and proven experience dealing with diverse (and in some cases demanding) stakeholder group.

This role is offered as a permanent role.

What are we looking for?

• A relevant bachelor's/master's degree or Ph.D. in a relevant materials/physical science, chemistry or engineering field.
• A proven background in physical/process chemistry, materials science or engineering roles in a Pharmaceutical, OTC, or FMCG environments (cGMP/highly regulated).
• A solid understanding of materials science structure‑property relationships and related fields such as material characterisation and chemical synthesis (and an appreciation of the impact of source change on end use in intermediates or finished products).
• Experience in OSD, LCOs and suspension processing desirable.
• Strong experience in raw material change‑implementation.
• A background in conducting materials/technical risk assessments (MRA/TRA).
• Have strong people skills and a proven ability to drive performance. It is imperative in this role that you demonstrate an ability to drive common‑objective thinking, with a complete focus on providing solutions. You will need to be persuasive and have a strong continuous improvement mindset.
• Experience of working on transformational global programmes.
• Able to manage multifunctional, broad‑based/diverse teams and stakeholders.

Preferred experience

If you possess the following in addition to the above, it would be a plus:

• ≥ 8 years industry experience in oral solid dose tablets, semi solid formulation or physical chemistry in QSC/R&D consumer health, oral care, personal care, or pharmaceutical sectors.
• Proven implementation record of applied role with a demonstrated ability to connect microstructure and molecular‑level phenomena to finished product performance, stability, texture, and sensory outcomes.
• Investigate physio‑chemical, structural and phase behaviours at a molecular and microscopic level and have a deep understanding and proven application of product chemistry insights to support QSC such as molecular interactions (e.g. hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance, ionic crosslinking) in complex semi‑solid formulations and a proven track record of implementation of these understandings and correlation with macroscopic behaviour in order to increase an understanding of suspensions, toothpastes, oral gels, topical gels, and creams.
• Apply physical chemistry, colloidal science, rheology, polymer chemistry to such products & processes and troubleshooting efforts related to new supplier introduction and site support issues with existing suppliers.
• Use of advanced characterization methodologies (e.g. rheometry, Thermal analysis, GPC, NMR DLS, microscopy) to establish structure‑property relationships.
• Proficient with scientific writing or related skills needed to support this aspect of the job responsibility.
• Experience influencing or owning analytical method strategy, instrumentation roadmaps, or mentoring/coaching early career scientists.

Travel

Up to 25% travel (depending on business needs).

Job Location

Headquarters - Hybrid role, Weybridge Surrey. UK

Job Title

Raw Material Physical Chemist

About Haleon

Care to join us. Find out what life at Haleon is really like www.haleon.com/careers/. At Haleon we embrace our diverse workforce by creating an inclusive environment that celebrates our unique perspectives, generates curiosity to create unmatched understanding of each other, and promotes fair and equitable outcomes for everyone. We're striving to create a climate where we celebrate our diversity in all forms by treating each other with respect, listening to different viewpoints, supporting our communities, and creating a workplace where your authentic self belongs and thrives. We believe in an agile working culture for all our roles. If flexibility is important to you, we encourage you to explore with our hiring team what the opportunities are.

Equal Opportunity

Haleon is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, disability, genetic information, military service, covered/protected veteran status or any other federal, state or local protected class.

Accommodation Requests

If you require a reasonable accommodation or other assistance to apply for a job at Haleon at any stage of the application process, please let your recruiter know by providing them with a description of specific accommodations you are requesting. We'll provide all reasonable accommodations to support you throughout the recruitment process and treat all information you provide us in confidence.