Scientific Research and Development Manager

Keracol Limited; West Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative firm is seeking a detail-oriented Scientific Research and Development Manager to lead R&D projects and provide technical expertise. This role involves managing a portfolio of research activities, collaborating with external partners, and developing sustainable beauty products. The successful candidate will have a strong background in project management and scientific research, with a focus on sustainability and innovation. Join a growing company that values employee loyalty and offers excellent opportunities for career advancement in a state-of-the-art facility.

Benefits

Company Shares Scheme

Comfortable Work Environment

Qualifications

• Experience in project management and developing Scopes of Work.
• Strong background in scientific research and technical support.
• Ability to lead client projects and report KPIs.

Responsibilities

• Manage R&D projects and prioritize researcher work streams.
• Provide technical support and contribute to scientific research.
• Report project KPIs to the Board and CEO.

Skills

Project Management

Technical Support

Scientific Research

Team Leadership

Communication Skills

Creative Problem-Solving

Education

Master’s Degree in Science or Engineering

Tools

HPLC

LC-MS

NMR

UV-Vis

FT-IR

MS

Job description

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• Scientific Research And Development Manager

Scientific Research and Development Manager

Leeds, Yorkshire and the Humber, United Kingdom

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Full Job Description

Keracol is looking to recruit an enthusiastic, detail-oriented scientist to join us as a Scientific Research and Development Manager. The successful candidate will provide project management of the portfolio of R&D activities in Keracol, working with CTO Professor Richard Blackburn and the research team. The right person will be responsible for prioritisation of researcher work streams, developing Scopes of Work and project costings, working with external partners in a commercial setting, leading client projects and client-facing activities, and reporting and producing project KPIs to the Board and CEO. They will also be an experienced scientist who can provide technical support and contribute to scientific research to all Keracol R&D projects. This is a permanent position with a 3-month probation period.

Our company: Keracol is a spin-out company from The University of Leeds. Our core value is sustainability with performance. We combine high-end physical science with innovative applications to produce natural and sustainable hair dyes, colour cosmetics, hair care, skin care, and sun care products. Our expertise spans organic chemistry, colour chemistry, polymer chemistry, extraction technology, effect assessment, coloration technology, and natural products chemistry. Keracol develops novel approaches to extracting active molecules from plant sources, fractionating and purifying them for multiple applications, both existing and novel. We use renewable and waste materials as sources of extracts, capable of producing extracts from raw materials that do not compete with land for food crops. Our extracts are formulated into consumer beauty products, providing solutions to unmet needs, driven by consumer demand for natural and renewable ingredients. We collaborate with multinational partners on research projects and products for Keracol’s own range.

Keracol is a growing business and as we expand, we will reward employee loyalty with excellent opportunities within the company. The position offers an attractive salary, a company shares scheme, and a comfortable work environment.

Our laboratory and office are located in Nexus (nexusleeds.co.uk), a £40m state-of-the-art building on The University of Leeds campus.

Salary: £45,000 to £50,000+ depending on qualifications and experience.

Closing date: 31/05/2025, but early applications are encouraged.

Application process: Submit a full CV and covering letter explaining how you meet the person specification through the LinkedIn Job Application Submission Process. Early applications are recommended.

Visa requirements: Keracol cannot sponsor any visa applications. The position is only open to British and Irish citizens, individuals with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or those with the right to work in the UK without a visa.

Key Requirements

• Experience in project management with small and large teams.
• Experience in developing Scopes of Work, project costings, reporting, and KPIs.
• Monitoring workload, project prioritisation, and resourcing.
• Providing technical support and scientific contributions to commercial R&D projects.
• Experience working with external partners, leading client projects and activities.
• Reporting and producing project KPIs for the Board and CEO.
• Developing and nurturing a network of partners (supply chain, raw materials, ecosystem).
• Building networks with suppliers and technical resources.
• Leading certifications and grant applications.

Desirable experience

• Filing safety assessments.
• Developing, optimizing, and scaling plant material extraction processes and testing.
• Formulation development for hair, skin, and hair coloration products.
• Assessing sustainability metrics of processes and products.
• Stability and performance testing of ingredients and formulations.
• Analytical chemistry work for chemical and material analysis.
• Interpreting experimental data and identifying improvements.

Desirable qualifications, skills, and experience

• Master’s degree in a relevant science or engineering field.
• Experience in project development, costing, and management.
• Qualifications or certifications in project management.
• Research experience in a commercial R&D laboratory.
• Understanding of laboratory safety procedures (e.g., COSHH, risk assessments).
• Creative problem-solving skills.
• Strong teamwork, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Effective communication of research results, both oral and written.
• Experience in chemical production and scale-up.
• Use of advanced analytical techniques (HPLC, LC-MS, NMR, UV-Vis, FT-IR, MS).
• Innovative mindset and ability to generate new ideas.
• Experience in natural product extraction, purification, separation, and characterization.
• Knowledge of sustainability and green chemistry principles.
• Experience working in an industrial environment.
• Business acumen relevant to the industry.