Formulation Group Lead Scientist

Formulation Group Lead Scientist

Eurofins

Sittingbourne, United Kingdom

Job Description

As a Formulation Scientist – Group Lead, you will lead an off-site Professional Scientific Services (PSS) team of technical staff to ensure that team is operating at the highest quality and productivity standards, has high morale and retention, and the agreed client requirements are entirely satisfied and that client expectations are met or exceeded through effective leadership and quality operational management.

You will be a key point of contact for the client on a day-to-day basis, and you will be expected to spend up to 20% of your time on leadership duties, and at least 80% of your time on your technical or administrative based activities. This will flex depending on priorities and client work must never be compromised in favour of internal Eurofins activities.

Job Responsibilities that you be covering:

• As a Team Lead, you will coordinate and guide the PSS team to ensure that productivity, quality, documentation, safety, and housekeeping standards are consistently achieved at the highest level of efficiency;
• You will take responsibility for the development, coaching, motivation, and overall morale of your team, providing regular one‑to‑one meetings, performance discussions, and recognition of achievements to support professional growth and strong team performance;
• You will maintain effective communication with both the client and Eurofins stakeholders, ensuring information is shared promptly, queries are resolved efficiently, and cross‑functional collaboration is maintained to support operational continuity;
• You will provide practical support for small‑scale manufacturing and pre‑formulation activities associated with oral solid dosage development, including the planning, execution, equipment setup, cleaning, and documentation of work such as blending, compression, coating, encapsulation, and in‑use stability activities;
• You will support product and materials characterisation work, including tablet and capsule testing, particle size analysis, powder flow assessment, rheological measurements, and the characterisation of polymers and other formulation components;
• You will interpret experimental data, contribute to the preparation of development protocols and technical reports, and ensure that all laboratory documentation is accurate, complete, and aligned with relevant quality and regulatory standards;
• You will assist with formulation and process design, prototype development, and scale‑up activities, providing technical input to downstream processes including control strategy definition, technology transfer, and product launch activities;
• You will act as an equipment and instrumentation owner, supporting maintenance, calibration, and operational readiness, while also contributing to broader scientific capability development through technical networking and participation in continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

What skills, qualifications and experiences you will hold as an Formulation Scientist – Group Lead:

• You will hold a degree in Chemistry or a closely related scientific discipline, bringing with you a strong foundational understanding of core chemical principles and their practical application within laboratory or industrial settings;
• You will apply a sound and fundamental knowledge of Organic Chemistry to pharmaceutical drug design, using this expertise to inform high‑quality experimental work, problem‑solving, and data interpretation;
• You will draw on your experience in leadership and management to guide scientific activities, support team development, and contribute to a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the organisation;
• You will utilise your relevant background in Material Science, gained within a group or multidisciplinary environment, demonstrating practical competence with analytical tools, characterisation techniques, and material‑based problem‑solving;
• You will bring a solid foundation in traditional analytical methods alongside hands‑on experience with modern instrumental techniques such as particle size analysis, PXRD, DSC, and TGA. You will demonstrate strong knowledge of analytical methods, systems, and scientific best practice;
• You will apply your understanding of Design of Experiments (DoE), including software such as Minitab, to design structured studies, optimise processes, and generate robust, data‑driven insights that support confident decision‑making;
• You will draw upon your knowledge of material science to support the evaluation of material behaviour, contribute to product and process optimisation, and provide deeper scientific insight where required.