Lead Applications Chemist – PU Foam

Location: Initially Manchester, relocating to Wolverhampton in 2025

At SI Group, we aspire for all employees to live and work to their full potential. We foster a unique environment where each employee is empowered to create value for our business with a commitment to safety and compliance. We promote personal and professional success that aligns with productivity and extraordinary results. Become a Catalyst for Change and help ignite impossible.

The Role:

Lead the development of innovative stabilizer solutions for polyurethanes, ensuring the delivery of high-quality research outcomes that support product commercialisation and meet customer and regulatory demands.

How You Will Make an Impact:

• Ensure the safe and efficient operation of the polyurethane testing laboratory
• Drive research and development of stabilizer packages for polyurethanes, initially focusing on flexible slab stock foams

-Support the production and commercialization of proprietary SI Group products.

-Generate application data for stabilization packages designed to meet evolving customer needs and regulatory requirements in the flexible slabstock foams polyurethane market

-Expand R&D efforts to include other polyurethane application areas, such as thermoplastic polyurethanes

-Develop sustainable and green chemistries that add value for customers and enhance SI Group’s sustainability profile

• Engage with customers and represent SI Group at conferences

-Collect VOC and initiate new research projects based on market needs

-Promote proprietary SI Group solutions to the market

• Collaborate with external consultants and internal teams to develop market insights and align with future performance and regulatory needs. This information will inform senior management and drive the design of R&D innovation programs
• Manage ACFC or DFX projects, ensuring full compliance with the Stage and Gate process
• Perform laboratory work, adhering to strict safety protocols, particularly when handling isocyanates

Creating Extraordinary Starts With:

• MS/PhD in Synthetic Organic or Polymer Chemistry
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in formulation foaming and application testing of PU foams
• Practical expertise in PU formulation development, lab-scale foaming reactions, and foam testing
• In-depth knowledge of functional additives for creating PU foams with customer-desirable properties
• Familiarity with Phosphorus, Sulphur, Amine, and Phenolic antioxidant chemistries
• Strong capability in developing experimental protocols based on analytical and experimental data
• Proficiency in experimental design for formulation development
• Project management skills with a proactive approach to ensuring a safe working environment
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities
• Proficiency in MS Office, image processing, and related computer skills

What We Value:

We strive for all employees to nurture physical, mental and emotional health both personally and professionally. Our commitment to health and wellness centres around prevention, early detection and embracing a healthy lifestyle. Some offerings may vary by role or country, but may include:

• Physical Health benefits including healthcare packages and vision care subsidies.
• Financial Wellness opportunities including life assurance and enhanced employer pension contributions.
• Wellbeing benefits including additional holiday entitlement, flexible and hybrid working opportunities, access to mental health support, various optional social activities, and fruit available on site.
• Progression opportunities including access to learning and development programmes that will empower you to grow both personally and professionally.

Belonging at SI Group

At SI Group, we strive for all employees to perform to their fullest potential. We create an environment where diversity is embraced, voices are heard, boundaries are pushed, and value is created.

We celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion as a driving force toward making the impossible possible, and we’re committed to ensuring all employees embrace it.

Data Privacy

We are committed to protecting your personal data. The information you provide will be used solely for recruitment purposes and processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy and local regulations. By submitting your application, you consent to our processing of your personal data.

Note for Recruitment Agencies: We handle job openings internally and prioritise direct hiring and referrals for efficiency. If necessary, we work with agencies from our Preferred Supplier List (PSL). We will not consider speculative CVs from agencies not on our PSL, and no introduction fee will be applicable.