Lead Research Technician

Lead Research Technician – R&D Industrial Specialties Croda is a FTSE 100 organisation driven by our purpose, Smart Science to Improve Lives.
With more than 6,000 employees across 39 countries, we focus on the research and development of innovative and highly sustainable raw materials for the Life Sciences, Consumer Care and Industrial sectors.
We are passionate and excited about how we can develop and use new technologies to drive change in a constantly growing market.
To support the delivery of our ambitious growth strategy, we are looking for a Lead Research Technician to join our R&D Industrial Specialties team.
In this role, you will be involved in research and development projects related to formulation chemistry, emulsions, dispersions, and functional materials.
You will be responsible for planning and carrying out laboratory experiments, analysing and interpreting results, documenting conclusions, and proposing next steps for projects.
You will also collaborate with technical teams, manufacturing, sales, and international colleagues to support the development, industrialisation, and application of new products.
Who We're Looking For: At Croda, we believe our people are the heart of our success.
We are committed to fostering an environment where you can grow, make a meaningful impact, and thrive.
Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related scientific discipline.
Hands-on experience in a chemical laboratory environment, either academic or industrial.
Ability to manage multiple projects or experiments simultaneously.
Strong analytical skills, with the ability to document experimental data, prepare technical reports, and draw well-supported conclusions.
Good numerical skills and strong attention to detail.
Good written and spoken English.
Ability to work effectively with people from different regions, functions, and disciplines.
Strong commitment to safety and good laboratory practices.
Valid driver's license and own vehicle are required.
Desirable:Master's degree in Industrial Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Nanotechnology, Materials Science, or a related field.
Experience in formulation chemistry, emulsions, dispersions, surfactants, polymers, coatings, or functional materials such as phase change materials.
Experience in physicochemical characterization and the use of analytical laboratory techniques.
Experience with Design of Experiments (DoE), applied statistics, or data analysis tools.
Familiarity with artificial intelligence applications or predictive models applied to experimental data.
Experience managing or coordinating R&D projects.
Experience presenting technical results to customers, commercial teams, or non-technical audiences.
What You'll Be Doing: Be part of a team that values diversity, sustainability, and continuous innovation, where your ideas and contributions matter.
Plan and execute experiments to develop and improve business products.
Analyse and interpret experimental results, draw conclusions, and propose new experiments or modifications to project plans.
Maintain rigorous technical documentation and prepare clear, comprehensive reports.
Carry out application testing as part of customer technical support and R&D projects.
Support the industrialisation of new products and the