Formulation Chemist

Job Title: Formulation Chemist

Business Function: R&D

Location: Leeds Office and R&D

This role is responsible for the development and testing of new deodorant formulations for global or regional deployment.

• Take responsibility for planning and delivering the technology development and testing programme for projects and/or the longer‑term technology roadmap, ensuring all testing is completed to meet network timings.
• Address formulation or technology concerns as they arise, such as issues related to fragrance or stability.
• Maintain a high level of practical laboratory skills.

• Act as the primary formulation contact at a global level, handling technical queries from various business areas including Regions, Marketing, Safety, Environmental & Regulatory Science (SERS), and Supply Chain. Communicate with multiple functional teams to help meet deadlines and participate in technical team meetings as needed, with guidance from senior WL1 or WL2 staff.
• Understand raw material functions and their roles in formulations. With senior WL1 guidance, adapt or create new formulas that meet product benefit and claim requirements within the formulation workstream.
• Formulate autonomously by planning and executing technical testing, interpreting results, troubleshooting technical issues, generating support for claims, preparing reports, communicating results to the team, and contributing towards savings initiatives.
• Provide supporting documentation, e.g., safety clearance, for prototype products for both internal and external testing, including consumer/claims testing.
• Carry out relevant qualitative and quantitative technical testing to ensure products are fit for market/consumer testing including specialist testing where required.
• Utilise Unilever software to create specifications and recipes used for safety and regulatory clearance and for setting specifications for implementation into factories.
• Be aware of key competitors in the applicator area, develop formulation expertise to understand implications for Unilever products and brands, and use tools for protecting intellectual property when reporting information.
• Keep laboratory files/records, SOPs, risk assessments, COSHH, etc. up to date. Design and implement new protocols and testing techniques with guidance as necessary from senior WL1s.
• Actively participate in departmental initiatives, processes and maintain high standards of laboratory housekeeping and safety. Support training and provide technical support for colleagues.
• Prepare relevant documentation for laboratory technicians such as batch sheets, gassing sheets, results templates for capturing data in relevant Unilever software.

• Preferably a degree level in Chemistry.
• Some laboratory experience in formulation.

• Formulation chemistry – understanding of ingredients and ability to modify and manipulate formulations; evaluate and understand interactions within formulation/process/pack through physical stability assessments.
• Design of experiments/ protocol development.
• Analytical capability – analyse and interpret data.
• Digital skills: data handling, analysis and interpretation.
• Information management – knowledge capture, reporting and effective communication.
• Health & safety regulations and processes.
• Limited travel with overnight stays may be necessary.
• Full EU driving licence desirable.

We offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, an annual bonus, subsidised gym membership, a discounted staff shop and shares. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.

We are a key advocate of wellbeing and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family‑friendly and inclusive workplace and, above all, create possibilities for all.

We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to present your best self.