R&D Chemist - Food Packaging Innovation Key Responsibilities: Technology Development & Testing: - Research, develop, and optimise new technologies for extending food shelf life by incorporating antimicrobial and functional agents into plastic and paper packaging materials. - Focus on technologies to be developed in the lab and upscaled to produce products at manufacturing partners facilities. - Conduct in-depth testing of these technologies for stability, performance, and scalability. Technical Analysis & Optimisation: - Evaluate the effectiveness of active ingredients such as approved food preservatives and approved food contact materials when integrated into various materials (e.g., plastics, cellulose, textiles). - Work on optimising material properties such as release kinetics, compatibility with food safety standards, mechanical performance and real life usage simulation. Collaboration & Reporting: - Collaborate with the team to refine technologies and ensure they meet regulatory standards for food packaging materials. - Prepare detailed experimental reports, technical data, and presentations for stakeholders. Process Development: - Help develop and refine manufacturing processes for embedding active ingredients into packaging materials. - Investigate new materials and processes that can be used to enhance food shelf life while ensuring safety and compliance with industry standards. Continuous Improvement: - Stay current on emerging technologies in food packaging and antimicrobial materials. - Provide technical insights and contribute to patent development as part of Klura’s intellectual property strategy. Required Qualifications & Skills: Education: - An undergraduate degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field. A postgraduate qualification is desirable but not essential. Experience: - A minimum of 2 years of experience in R&D roles, particularly focused on technology development or NPD of chemical related technologies in packaging or materials science space. - Experience working with either: antimicrobial agents, active packaging technologies, and food safety packaging or novel plastic technologies. - Familiarity with integrating additives into plastics, cellulose, and other materials is highly desirable. - Experience handling novel food packaging materials is desirable but not essential. Technical Skills: - Strong understanding of materials chemistry, polymer chemistry and relevant applied chemistry fields. - Hands-on experience with testing, analyzing, and optimizing plastic materials or packaging materials. Understanding requirements for food packaging desirable. - Adaptability to evolving projects that require rapid troubleshooting and design of experiments. - Proficiency and basic understanding in using lab instruments for materials/polymer testing (e.g., FTIR, tensile testing, DSC, DMA, chromatography etc). Additional Skills: - Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently as well as part of a team. - Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to present technical findings to non-technical stakeholders. - A passion for innovation and sustainable solutions in food technology. The ideal candidate will have: - Curiosity and willingness to explore new ideas and materials. - Attention to detail, ensuring that all technologies meet the required standards for performance and safety. - A commitment to driving positive change in the food system through innovative packaging solutions. What We Offer: An exciting opportunity to work in a cutting-edge field of food technology.• The chance to make a tangible impact on the global food system and sustainability.• A collaborative, forward-thinking environment focused on innovation and continuous learning.• Competitive salary, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, benefits package and opportunities for professional development and growth within the company. If you're a chemist with a passion for innovation and sustainability, and you're ready to make a real difference in food technology, we'd love to hear from you. Job Type: Full-time Pay: £28,000.00-£34,000.00 per year Benefits: Casual dress Free parking On-site parking Sick pay Schedule: Monday to Friday Education: Diploma of Higher Education (required) Work Location: In person. Location : Haverhill