Senior Research Scientist – Inorganic Materials

CPI helps make great ideas and inventions a reality. We’re a team of intelligent people using advances in science and technology to solve the biggest global challenges in healthcare and sustainability.

Through our incredible people and innovation infrastructure, we collaborate with our partners in industry, academia, government, and the investment community to accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative products.

From health technologies and pharmaceuticals to sustainable food and materials innovations, we turn the entrepreneurial spirit and radical thinking of our people and partners into incredible impact that makes our world a better place.

CPI has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Research Scientist – Inorganic Materials to join the established and growing Nanomaterials and Composites team within the National Formulation Centre based at NETPark in Sedgefield. 

The Team

The Nanomaterials and Composites team win and deliver a broad range of commercial and collaborative R&D projects in the area of sustainable polymeric materials, bio-materials, nanoparticle/​polymer composites and sustainable inorganic materials.

Role Specifics

Reporting to the Team Manager you will be responsible for providing technical expertise, capability and input, contributing to the delivery of projects in the broad area of sustainable Inorganic Materials. You will act as a technical lead, leading small to large scale projects ranging from initial proof of concept projects lasting only a few days to multi-year projects/​programs. You will draw upon your technical skills and experience to provide carefully thought through advice and expertise to a range of stakeholders across CPI. 

You will work closely with the Business Development and Bid writing teams to secure new public and privately funded projects in the sustainable inorganic materials space. You will have the opportunity to work at the interface of academia and industry, with a large number of projects, partners, technologies and market sectors. This variety will give you the opportunity to work on fundamental science/R&D as well as product development and commercialisation.

Some exciting projects the team have recently worked on are:

Scaling up e‑waste recycling with Descycle investment

Cleaning up with wastewater management solutions

UKRI funding for innovative battery manufacturing projects

Key tasks in the role will include (but are not limited to) the below:

• Identify new technical developments and trends, translate these into building blocks for opportunities within the technology team, initiating the creation of (new) technological innovations/​applications.
• Utilise own expert knowledge to assist in translating technology team strategy into practice through the delivery of plans to achieve technology team objectives.
• Build, maintain and exploit a network of relevant external stakeholders, customers, partners, research organisations and authorities, to represent the technology team and self as a credible expert, identifying opportunities for future projects and developments.
• Actively contribute to a culture of continuous capability development through coaching, mentoring and/​or developing colleagues across the technology team and organisation, providing insights into areas of specialism. Which may include coaching and developing colleagues (both technically and behaviourally) to help them reach their potential and acting as a mentor to colleagues across the organisation, providing an expert-level perspective. 
• Work collaboratively with Business Development, Bid Proposal and technical colleagues to contribute to proposal / project development and direct customer engagement. Seek out and engage in business development opportunities where appropriate. 
• Set up, plan and execute experimental / pilot scale runs and analyse, interpret and report the results of these, translating obtained findings and knowledge.

Applications are particularly welcome from candidates with expertise in sustainable inorganic materials with a view to involvement in on-going and future projects in, for example, novel catalysis for waste-water remediation, sustainable metals extraction from waste electronic materials and/​or our broadening portfolio of battery materials projects.

Applications are also welcome from candidates with experience in recovery of waste inorganic materials e.g. refractory linings, mining residues etc. and re-processing thereof. Typical approaches might involve characterisation of such materials, milling, functionalisation and/​or dispersion into liquid/​polymer matrices using techniques typically employed in industry.

To be successful in this role, you will:

• Be educated to a minimum of HNC/​Foundation degree (or equivalent) in a Scientific/​Engineering discipline, with industrial experience at a senior level. 
• Possess significant technical expertise in Inorganic Materials as well as compelling evidence of complex technical problem-solving.
• Exhibit professional mastery of principles and practices in Inorganic Materials gained through career to date in area of expertise.
• Be able to demonstrate evidence of building knowledge sharing and network building practice across teams and organisations to achieve desired results.
• Actively demonstrate in-depth technical and theoretical knowledge of Inorganic Materials and can participate at a high level in more than one area. Is viewed as an authority in at least one area by peers and managers.
• Take responsibility for diverse or complex technical activities where it is necessary to use own initiative and judgement, implementing innovative solutions in complex
  situations.

It would be great if you:

• Are educated to Masters/​PhD with relevant industrial experience.
• Have line management and people development experience within interdisciplinary teams, preferably gained in industry.

At CPI, we offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, this includes:

• Up to 36 days holiday, including bank holidays – Plus a holiday purchasing scheme
• Generous pension scheme
• Life assurance and accident insurance schemes
• Flexible working
• Learning and Development Opportunities
• Free parking

Find out more about our culture and benefits.

CPI is an organisation based in the UK. Commencement of employment is conditional to demonstrating right to work in the UK, sponsorship may be available.