Lead Applications Scientist

Croda is a FTSE
100 organisation where we truly believe our people are our difference and this, along with ourvalues of Innovative, Responsible and Together, create ‘our Purpose, Smart scienceto improve lives™’. With over 5,000 employees globally, we specialise in the research and development of innovative ingredients for the Life Science and Consumer Care markets.

We are focused on developing our inclusive culture through accountability, collaboration and innovation. By joining Croda, you will bepart of a team who are using smart science to create a more sustainable future.

As we deliver our ambitious
2030 Growth Strategy, we’re looking for an Applications Scientist to join our Personal Care team and support the development and characterisation of new ingredients. You will lead hands-on formulation and testing activities, generate technical insights through data analysis, and provide technical support to sales and marketing.

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Cosmetic Science, Materials Science, or a related field.
• Passion for skin care science, with the curiosity and scientific mindset to understand product performance, solve complex formulation challenges, and develop consumer-relevant solutions.
• Significant hands‑on experience in skin care formulation and testing, ideally across emulsions, serums, cleansers, colour cosmetics, or treatment products, with the ability to successfully manage multiple technical projects in parallel.
• Strong practical laboratory experience, including the use of skin care testing equipment and analytical techniques such as skin measurements and imaging, rheology, particle sizing, and microscopy.
• Strong understanding of formulation and colloid science, ingredient functionality, emulsification, rheology, stability, and product performance.
• Experience designing and executing experimental programmes, analysing complex data, and drawing scientifically robust conclusions, and working independently with a high degree of self‑motivation and initiative.
• Effective communicator with strong interpersonal skills to translate technical findings into clear recommendations for both technical and commercial audiences and build productive relationships across local and global teams.
• Collaborative and proactive, with the ability to work across multidisciplinary teams, continuously learn new technologies, ingredients, and testing approaches and foster effective cross‑functional collaboration.
• Strong laboratory practices, documentation skills, attention to detail, and ownership of laboratory standards and routine activities.
• Commitment to safe working practices and the continuous improvement of safety standards.

• Lead the development and optimisation of commercially viable speciality ingredients and skin care formulations, generating innovative, consumer‑relevant solutions that meet performance, commercial, and regulatory requirements.
• Manage multiple technical projects aligned with business objectives, designing and executing robust formulation and testing programmes while delivering against timelines and stakeholder expectations.
• Analyse data, solve formulation and performance challenges, and develop new testing capabilities to generate meaningful insights, product validation, and claim substantiation.
• Collaborate with customers and cross‑functional teams across R&D, Marketing, Regulatory, Sales, and Commercial functions to support innovation, product launches, and business growth.
• Prepares scientific reports, presentations, publications, industry events, and other activities that showcase the value of Croda technologies.
• Stay informed on emerging technologies, test methodologies, market trends, and regulatory developments…