Overview
The Flooring Systems division offers a broad and attractive range of environmentally friendly natural linoleum, high-quality vinyl floors, entrance matting systems for cleaning and drying shoes, carpet tiles, needle felt, and Flotex, the washable high-tech textile flooring. These flooring products are the first choice for public buildings, department stores, hospitals, healthcare facilities, schools, libraries, commercial and office spaces, leisure centers, shops, hotels, restaurants, cafeterias, and residential applications. Forbo is a world leader in linoleum with a market share of about 70 percent. Flooring Systems also provides ready-made adhesives for floor coverings, parquet flooring, ceramic tiles, leveling compounds, and Eurocol liquid floors. The division operates across 15 sites in 26 countries with 3000 employees, including 4 sites in the United Kingdom. More information at http://www.forbo.co.uk/
Location: Ripley, Derbyshire
The Ripley site produces a range of flocked floor coverings in sheet, tile, and plank formats. The site spans 12000sqm of manufacturing space and 9000sqm of warehouse space. Manufacturing processes include polyamide yarn cutting, dyeing, drying, electrostatic flocking, rotary and digital printing, backing application and final cutting/conversion. Ripley holds ISO14001, ISO9001, ISO45001 and ISO 5001 quality accreditations (the first UK manufacturing site to achieve this).
R&D Technologist – The Role
We’re looking for a curious and driven R&D Technologist to join our close-knit team of three at the Ripley site, working directly with the Head of QA & Development for BU Textiles. In this full-time, hands-on role (36.5 hrs/week), you will lead raw material evaluations, support Flotex production and help solve production challenges, and develop new Flotex products and innovations.
Key Responsibilities
* Ensuring safe working practices across lab and factory environments
* Applying expertise in colour theory, dyeing techniques, and colourfastness
* Evaluating raw materials using knowledge of their properties and how they react to different processing conditions
* Supporting production with problem solving, technical insights and guidance
* Operating lab and pilot equipment with a sound understanding of lab protocols
* Driving R&D projects independently and collaboratively to meet deadlines
* Communicating effectively and using available tools to develop innovative textile solutions
* Using available resources to investigate, recommend and develop innovative products/solutions and contribute to continuous improvement
The Successful Candidate Must
* Education: Have a science-based degree level or above
* Technical Proficiency: Strong understanding of raw materials, R&D processes, and lab equipment, including safe lab practices and experimental design
* Project Management: Experience in planning, prioritising, and delivering R&D projects on time, often juggling multiple tasks
* Communication: Clear and effective communication in sharing ideas, writing reports, and collaborating across departments
* Attention to detail: Precision in lab work, documentation, and quality control
* Analytical thinking: Ability to interpret data, troubleshoot issues, and draw meaningful conclusions from experiments
* Innovation mindset: Curiosity and creativity to explore new ideas and develop novel solutions
* Adaptability: Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment with shifting priorities
* Teamwork and independence: Able to work autonomously when needed, but also thrive in cross-functional teams
* IT: Proficiency in Microsoft Office
* Experience: Experience in a manufacturing environment is preferable
* Experience in textile dyeing or colourist experience is preferable
Salary: £47,000
Bonus target: £1,880
Fully site based
Stakeholder Pension Scheme, with death in service benefit
34 days holiday (including bank holidays)
Cash plan Scheme
Occupational Health provision
Employee Assistance Programme
Free on-site parking facilities
To apply, please forward a cover letter explaining how you meet the above requirements along with a current CV detailing your current and expected salary/benefits package to Sarah McMasters, HR Business Partner (Ripley site)
sarah.mcmasters@forbo.com
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