Job Description
Key Organics Limited is a long-established, Cornwall-based specialty contract chemistry company with over 40 years of continuous operation. We are seeking an experienced Physical Organic Chemist to join our technical team in Camelford. This is a broad, hands-on role that combines synthetic and analytical chemistry within a quality-assured environment. The successful candidate will contribute to contract chemistry projects, analytical services (with a focus on ICP-OES/MS), and research and development activities across our portfolio, which increasingly includes critical minerals extraction and materials chemistry.
This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated chemist who enjoys variety, values scientific rigour, and wants to work in an environment where their contributions have direct commercial impact.
Synthetic & Analytical Chemistry Expertise
• Conduct and interpret ICP-OES analyses for elemental characterisation, method development, and critical minerals programmes.
• Perform physical organic chemistry studies including kinetic, thermodynamic, and mechanistic investigations.
• Support method development and validation in accordance with ISO 9001 quality frameworks.
• Operate and maintain analytical instrumentation including ICP-OES, NMR, HPLC, GC-MS, and UV-Vis where appropriate.
• Undertake synthetic organic chemistry projects where relevant.
Essential Requirements
• Degree (BSc or MChem) in Chemistry or a closely related discipline; a higher degree (MSc or PhD) in physical organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, or a related field is strongly preferred.
• A minimum of five years' post-qualification experience in a chemical-research, analytical, or contract chemistry environment.
• Demonstrable hands-on experience operating ICP-OES and/or ICP-MS instrumentation, including sample preparation, calibration, and data interpretation.
• Proven experience working within an ISO 9001-accredited or GLP-compliant quality environment, with a thorough understanding of the associated documentation requirements.
• Sound understanding of physical organic chemistry principles, including reaction mechanisms, kinetics, and structure-activity relationships.
• Competence in standard characterisation techniques including NMR, HPLC, GC-MS, and mass spectrometry.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; able to produce clear, concise technical reports and present findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong organisational skills, high attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects concurrently.
What We Offer
• Competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• Generous holiday entitlement.
• Pension scheme.
• A stimulating, collaborative technical environment with exposure to genuinely diverse chemistry, from fine chemical synthesis to critical minerals analytical programmes.
• A stable, long-established company with a strong reputation, undergoing an exciting period of growth and diversification.
Interested candidates should submit a covering letter and current CV to: personnel@keyorganics.net
NO AGENCIES PLEASE