Assistant Scientist

Are you looking for your next challenge within a lab environment?

Join our client's dynamic team as an Assistant Scientist in the FMCG industry, where innovation and quality are at the core of what they do.

We are currently seeking a meticulous and experienced individual to fill this role

**Responsibilities**:

- Collaborate with manufacturing, purchasing, logistics, R&D, customer service, and quality teams to conduct analytical and sensory testing of incoming materials, in-process, and finished goods, comparing them to standard samples and product specifications.
- Lead or support directed laboratory activities, including method, consumables, COSHH, GLP, and instrumentation upkeep, maintenance, and calibration.
- Maintain a clean and orderly laboratory, ensuring lab equipment and consumables are well-stocked.
- Record and log data in QC according to GLPs, BRCGS, and customer/regulatory authority requirements.
- Interpret scientific data independently and understand its impact on business operations.
- Conduct analytical chemistry, including the preparation of reagents.
- Troubleshoot laboratory equipment and perform problem-solving activities.
- Participate in method improvement and innovative projects with mentorship.
- Perform calculations, troubleshoot analytical results, and investigate non-conformances.
- Report unusual lab results to the QA Manager and/or Technical Director.
- Use approved QC Testing Methods, initiate revisions when needed, and complete training for new methods.
- Assist with Food Safety Initiatives, including environmental monitoring, HACCP, and internal audits.
- Perform calibration and/or verification of laboratory equipment.
- Comply with all business and legal health and safety standards.
- Participate in training and studies to improve assay accuracy and implement new equipment or procedures.
- Engage in internal and third-party inter
- and intra-lab collaborative/ring test studies.
- Actively participate in problem-solving activities.

**Other Duties**:

- Fulfill duties in alignment with organisational values.
- Adhere to the company's food safety and quality culture policy and objectives.
- Complete annual training for Good Manufacturing Practices, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points, Food Defense, and Food Safety.
- Additional initial and refresher training as assigned.

**Education/Experience/Skills**:
**Required**:

- 2-5 years of prior QC/analytical laboratory experience.
- Formal education in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, instrumentation, mathematics and statistics, physics, biology, food nutrition and science, or other relevant science disciplines.
- Proficiency in data entry on instruments and ERP systems, and navigation of computer software.
- Independent problem-solving ability.
- Strong teamwork and collaboration skills.
- Prior experience working across functions in an organization.
- Ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks within timelines.

**Desired**:

- Lean manufacturing/Six Sigma certification.
- Prior experience in FMCG environment
- Analytical experience in GC/HPLC/UPLC and a range of typical food industry analytical laboratory instruments
- Experience with lab automation systems and sample management systems such as lab electronic notebooks, lab information systems and chromatography data systems.
- Experience with Waters Empower and/or Agilent OpenLab CDS.