Job Title: Lead Chemist (flexible title)
Location: Nottingham (UK & EU travel required)
Remuneration: Competitive salary + equity options + bonus
Start Date: Immediate
Contract Type: Full-time
Visa Sponsorship: Available for the right candidate
About C4C
Concrete4Change (C4C) is a deep-tech climate company developing patented CO₂-mineralisation technology to permanently lock CO₂ into concrete and reduce clinker dependency — decarbonising one of the world’s most carbon-intensive materials.
Our innovation transforms waste calcium sources into a carbon-negative supplementary cementitious material, enabling durable, low-carbon concrete while producing valuable circular by-products.
We have successfully scaled our process 10× and are commissioning our first pilot plant in Nottingham using real flue gas. Pilot data will directly feed into commercial demonstration systems across the UK and Europe (10–100× scale).
C4C is backed by major strategic investors (including SCG and Goldbeck), collaborates with leading universities, and is securing significant public funding to accelerate industrial deployment.
This is a pivotal moment to join as we scale from lab to industrial deployment and raise our next institutional round.
Learn more:
• Tech Overview: https://youtu.be/Qxjw-3vL4Ms
• Lab Day: https://youtu.be/q3tHdhAoUjI
• Team Perspective: https://youtu.be/dDa-xFofK3g
• Founder Story: https://youtu.be/vkcxFPeCkqU
The Opportunity — Lead Chemist
We are seeking an accomplished, hands-on Lead Chemist to drive our chemistry roadmap, guide experimental strategy, and support scale-up from lab to pilot and industrial environments.
You will oversee core chemistry programmes spanning mineralisation mechanisms, additive formulation, crystallisation pathways, and SCM performance. You will work closely with cross-functional teams in concrete science, engineering, and analytics to accelerate product and process development.
This role is ideal for an ambitious scientist ready to lead, influence cross-disciplinary teams, and help bring a world-first climate technology to market.
Key Responsibilities
Scientific & Technical Leadership
• Design and lead experimental programmes for CO₂-mineralisation and SCM development
• Optimise crystallisation pathways, reaction conditions, and material performance
• Define and improve characterisation workflows (XRD, XRF, SEM, calorimetry, etc.)
• Support pilot plant validation and translation of lab results to industrial design
• Ensure rigorous scientific method, safety and quality standards
Team Leadership & Delivery
• Mentor scientists and technicians and foster a high-performance culture
• Implement structured R&D processes, documentation, and analytical discipline
• Work closely with process engineering and concrete teams on integrated solutions
Innovation & Partnerships
• Support technical collaborations with universities, labs, and industrial partners
• Represent C4C in technical discussions and industry forums
Funding & Reporting
• Contribute technical inputs to grant proposals and collaborative bids
• Support reporting, audits, and technical deliverables
Communication & Strategy
• Present technical results to leadership, investors, and partners
• Translate data into clear development plans and decision-making inputs
Mobility
• Ability to travel and spend time on-site at future demo locations (UK/EU)
Essential Requirements
• PhD in chemistry or materials science.
• 8+ years R&D experience in inorganic chemistry, materials, or mineral systems
• Minimum 5 years in a senior role in a startup
• Strong record of experimental design, data analysis, and material optimisation
• Hands-on experience with analytical tools (XRD, XRF, SEM, etc.)
• Proven ability to lead and mentor technical staff
• Experience taking technology from lab research to pilot-scale (TRL 4–7)
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work in fast-moving environments
Desirable Experience
• Cement chemistry, SCMs, or CO₂-mineralisation
• Industrial crystallisation, mineral processing, or CCU
• Concrete testing / mix optimisation exposure
• Understanding of LCA, EPDs, or environmental regulations
• Grant collaboration and technical reporting
• Experience building systems in a scale-up environment
What We Offer
• Strategic scientific leadership role in a fast-growing climate-tech company
• Equity and performance-based rewards
• Private health insurance & pension
• Competitive annual leave
• Join a mission-driven team delivering real-world climate impact
Join us to help reinvent concrete and build a carbon-negative industrial future.