Head Of Chemistry

The Head of Chemistry will lead a multidisciplinary laboratory team of roughly 20 scientific professionals in Kettering, Northamptonshire. This full-time, permanent position offers a salary between £50,000 and £70,000 per annum and requires a fully site-based presence across 37.5 hours weekly. You will oversee technical excellence, drive commercial development, and nurture staff progression within a prominent UK testing and certification organisation. Your remit includes strategic planning, operational management, and maintaining rigorous quality standards across the function. Candidates should possess substantial chemistry leadership experience, strong people management capabilities, and a record of fostering departmental growth. This role suits a decisive leader seeking to influence laboratory direction while ensuring consistent delivery of high quality scientific services.

Head of Chemistry 12 Month FTC (Maternity Cover) Kettering, Northamptonshire

Full Time 37.5 Hours Per Week Competitive Salary + Excellent Benefits 100% sitebased

Are you an experienced chemistry leader with a passion for people development, technical excellence and commercial growth? We're supporting a leading UK testing, certification and research organisation in the recruitment of a Head of Chemistry to lead a well-established and highly regarded chemistry function on a 12-month maternity cover contract. This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of a multidisciplinary laboratory operation, leading a team of around 20 scientific professionals while helping shape the future direction of the department.

The Opportunity

You will provide strategic and operational leadership across the chemistry division, ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality testing services while driving commercial growth, innovation and continuous improvement. The laboratory is equipped with a range of analytical instrumentation including GC-MS, HPLC and LC-MS and supports clients across consumer product sectors through testing, compliance and certification services.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading, motivating and developing a team of managers, scientists and technicians
• Driving departmental growth through business development and market engagement
• Supporting sales and marketing initiatives to increase market share
• Maintaining technical excellence and regulatory compliance
• Managing UKAS-accredited activities and scope development
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with industry stakeholders, customers and regulatory bodies
• Championing continuous improvement, quality and health & safety standards
• Contributing technical expertise through webinars, publications and industry engagement

About You

• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing technical teams
• A strong chemistry, laboratory or scientific testing background
• Commercial awareness and experience supporting business growth
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills
• The ability to translate technical expertise into strategic business outcomes
• Experience managing quality systems within a regulated environment
• Strong organisational and leadership capabilities
• Desirable Degree qualified in Chemistry or a related scientific discipline
• Leadership or management qualification
• Experience working within accredited laboratory environments
• International stakeholder engagement experience

What's On Offer?

• Competitive salary
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Company pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Income protection
• Free onsite parking
• Opportunity to lead an established and respected scientific team
• Exposure to international projects and industry-leading technical work

If you're an ambitious chemistry leader looking for a role where you can influence strategy, develop people and drive commercial success, we'd love to hear from you.