Our client, operating within the FMCG (Home and Personal Care) and specialty chemical manufacturing sectors, is seeking an experienced and technically proficient Analytical Specialist to lead its laboratory analytical operations and manage the full lifecycle of advanced laboratory instrumentation.
The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the accuracy, reliability and integrity of analytical testing, equipment calibration, maintenance and certification.
This is a hands-on technical specialist position requiring advanced expertise in analytical chemistry, particularly GC-MS, HPLC and other sophisticated analytical instruments.
The role involves analysing, identifying and verifying raw materials, chemical intermediates and finished products against stringent quality and product specifications, including surfactants such as SLES and LABSA, polymers and sodium silicates.
QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- BSc or MSc in Analytical Chemistry, Industrial Chemistry or an equivalent relevant qualification.
- A minimum of 5–10 years' relevant laboratory experience within FMCG (Home and Personal Care), specialty chemicals or chemical manufacturing environments.
- Demonstrated experience working with advanced analytical laboratory instrumentation.
- Previous experience in an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory environment.
TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES & EXPERTISE
The ideal candidate must demonstrate:
Advanced Instrumentation
- Expert-level experience operating and interpreting results from GC-MS, including triple quadrupole (QQQ).
- Strong practical knowledge of HPLC, FTIR and UV-Vis.
- Proficiency in chromatography and analytical data software, including ChemStation and MassHunter or equivalent platforms.
Chemical & Product Knowledge
- Strong understanding of Home and Personal Care (HPC) product chemistry, particularly soaps and detergents.
- Knowledge of surfactants and chemical intermediates, including:
- SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulphate).
- LABSA (Linear Alkylbenzene Sulphonic Acid).
- Polymers.
- Sodium Silicates.
- Ability to analyse complex, multi-component chemical formulations and identify impurities, contamination or formulation changes.
Quality & Calibration Standards
- Practical experience with ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory requirements.
- Knowledge of equipment calibration, certification, measurement uncertainty and analytical traceability.
- Experience developing and validating analytical methods and maintaining laboratory quality documentation.
- Reverse Engineering: Ability to deconstruct complex chemical formulations, identify individual components, detect impurities and investigate formulation deviations.
- Vendor & Stakeholder Management: Ability to engage effectively with instrument manufacturers, calibration specialists and external technical service providers.
- Technical Problem-Solving: Strong analytical, diagnostic and troubleshooting capabilities.
- Quality Orientation: Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy and commitment to data integrity.
- Safety Management: Sound knowledge of chemical hygiene, GHS labelling and hazardous waste management.
- Independent Working: Ability to operate independently, take technical ownership and deliver results in a demanding manufacturing environment.
- 6. IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE
- The ideal candidate will be a technically strong Analytical Chemist with extensive hands‑on experience in advanced analytical instrumentation and chemical manufacturing.
- Candidates must demonstrate the ability to independently manage laboratory equipment, develop analytical methods, troubleshoot sophisticated instrumentation and provide reliable chemical analysis to support manufacturing quality and product development.
- This position is particularly suited to an experienced Analytical Chemist or Senior Analytical Laboratory Specialist with strong GC-MS (QQQ) and HPLC expertise in the FMCG, Home and Personal Care or specialty chemical manufacturing industries.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Laboratory Equipment & Lifecycle Management
- Take full responsibility for the management and performance of laboratory equipment and analytical instruments.
- Coordinate equipment servicing, preventative maintenance and internal and external calibration programmes.
- Ensure all instruments maintain valid calibration certificates and comply with applicable ISO/IEC 17025 requirements.
- Maintain accurate equipment registers, calibration records, maintenance logs and traceability documentation.
- Advanced Analytical Testing
- Conduct and oversee advanced chemical analysis using GC-MS, including triple quadrupole (QQQ), HPLC, FTIR and UV-Vis instrumentation.
- Analyse and identify the chemical composition of incoming raw materials, intermediates and finished products.
- Perform chemical fingerprinting to verify product composition, identify impurities and detect formulation deviations.
- Ensure all analytical results meet established product specifications and quality standards.
- 2.3 Analytical Method Development & Validation
- Independently develop, optimise and validate analytical testing methods.
- Establish and maintain laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Ensure analytical methods are properly documented, validated and consistently implemented.
- Maintain data integrity, accuracy, repeatability and reliability across all laboratory processes.
- Instrument Maintenance & Technical Troubleshooting
- Perform routine preventative maintenance on laboratory instruments, including cleaning ion sources and replacing GC liners.
- Diagnose and troubleshoot complex instrument failures.
- Coordinate specialised repairs with equipment manufacturers and external technical service providers.
- Minimise equipment downtime and ensure continuous laboratory operations.
- Quality Assurance & Regulatory Compliance
- Ensure laboratory operations comply with applicable international quality standards and industry requirements.
- Monitor measurement uncertainty and maintain analytical traceability.
- Prepare the laboratory for internal and external quality audits.
- Ensure calibration, validation and quality documentation is maintained to audit‑ready standards.
- Safety & Laboratory Management
- Maintain high standards of laboratory safety and chemical hygiene.
- Ensure compliance with GHS labelling requirements and hazardous chemical and waste management protocols.
- Promote safe handling, storage and disposal practices for chemicals, surfactants and polymers.
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