Technical Services Chemist

Assegai Recruitment; KwaZulu-Natal; On-site; ZAR 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

Assegai Recruitment is seeking a Technical Services Chemist for a resin manufacturer in Durban. You will enhance product performance, adapt formulations and assist customers with practical application challenges.

You will combine lab investigation with customer-facing technical support, spanning short-term queries to long-term R&D, including new polymers and sustainable materials.

Qualifications

• A BSc, BSc Honours or equivalent in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry or Polymer Science.
• At least two years in a polymer-related or technical services lab role.
• Ability to follow procedures with strong attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Adapt resin formulations to meet customer specifications and prepare samples for trials.
• Investigate product quality concerns and translate findings into practical recommendations.
• Evaluate alternative raw materials and support decisions across QC, production, procurement and sales.
• Contribute to product improvements, new launches and research into polymers and sustainable technologies.
• Visit customers to support trials and provide technical guidance.
• Plan laboratory activities, coordinate resources and communicate findings in reports.
• Maintain safe lab practices and lean/6S improvements.

Skills

Polymer science

Attention to detail

Planning skills

Technical communication

Education

BSc in Chemistry / Analytical Chemistry / Polymer Science

Job description

Take your chemistry experience beyond routine laboratory testing. Our client, a resin manufacturer in Durban, is looking for a Technical Services Chemist to improve product performance, adapt formulations and help customers resolve practical application challenges.

Reporting to the Technical Services Manager, you will combine laboratory investigation with customer-facing technical support. Your work will range from resolving immediate product queries to contributing to longer-term research and development, including new polymers, alternative raw materials and more sustainable technologies.

What the role involves

• Adapt resin formulations to meet customer specifications and prepare samples for trials.
• Investigate product quality concerns and customer complaints, translating laboratory findings into practical recommendations.
• Evaluate alternative raw materials and support technical decisions across quality control, production, procurement and sales.
• Contribute to product improvements, new launches and research into competing products, application methods and potential markets.
• Identify suitable ways to rework or blend rejected, expired and excess stock.
• Compile and maintain formulation records, Technical Data Sheets, Safety Data Sheets, Master Certificates of Analysis and laboratory procedures.
• Visit customers to support trials, troubleshoot application problems and provide technical guidance.
• Plan laboratory activities, coordinate resources and communicate findings through clear technical reports.
• Maintain safe laboratory practices, equipment calibration and housekeeping standards, while contributing to Lean/6S improvements.

What you will need

• A BSc, BSc Honours or equivalent qualification in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry or Polymer Science.
• At least two years of experience in a polymer-related laboratory or technical services laboratory role.
• A careful, methodical approach, with strong attention to detail and the ability to follow procedures.
• Good planning skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• The ability to work effectively with colleagues across different functions and communicate technical findings clearly.

This position will suit a chemist who enjoys understanding why a product performs the way it does and using that knowledge to improve formulations and solve customer problems.