Technical Specialist - KTP Associate

Location: 

Briar Chemicals Ltd, Sweet Briar Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR6 5AP

Salary: 

£32,000 per annum with additional £4,000 for duration of the project for professional and personal development 

Contract Type: 

Fixed Term (24 months)

Basis: 

Full Time, predominantly based at the Company’s site in Norwich

Closing Date: 

23.59 hours BST on Sunday 10 July 2022

This role is an exciting opportunity for candidates qualified to PhD standard in a field related to organic chemistry/ chemical engineering. They will have a demonstrated track record of experimental work/ laboratory results relevant to the field of chemical synthesis/ engineering with an aptitude for problem solving. The applicant will be expected to show a significant willingness to expand their knowledge into new areas and be open to work in an industrial environment.

This is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) funded by Briar Chemicals Ltd and Innovate UK. It is essential you understand how KTP works and the vital role you will play if you secure this position. To learn more please visit www.aston.ac.uk/ktp

This KTP project aims to overcome the current limitations in herbicides organic chemistry synthesis by embedding novel R&D capabilities, based on a combinatorial chemistry approach. By the means of the project, KTP associate will help to enable Briar to become the market leader for a herbicide manufacture, and extend sales to new target territories.

Candidate Profile: Qualified to PhD standard in a field related to organic chemistry, with a strong chemical engineering understanding.

 Key skills/ experience required include:

• Track record of experimental work/ laboratory results relevant to the field of chemical synthesis/ engineering with an aptitude for problem solving;
• Some knowledge of parallel/ high-throughput synthesis (combinatorial chemistry) and scaling-up from lab-based experiments to industrial scale manufacturing;
• Some experience/ knowledge in catalysis, especially for large-scale/ industrial applications
• Some experience/ knowledge in coagulation and adsorption techniques and related materials
• Experience of working in a chemical manufacturing plant and be aware of safety critical applications and working with hazardous substances

 Personal attributes:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 
• Proactive attitude to cope with the typical day-to-day challenges encountered in working in a technology-based industry, finding original solutions that will be crucial to deliver the project with the necessary high levels of innovation
• Work independently on own initiative as and when required.
• Management skills either in an academic or industrial environment are desirable.
• Self-motivated and confident with good persuasion and negotiation skills.  

The Company: Briar Chemicals Ltd (Briar) is a chemical contract manufacturing organisation (CMO) specialising in herbicides manufacture. In recent years it has seen steady demand increase in its largest herbicide product, with an anticipated further 50% growth by 2025. More about the company: http://briarchemicals.com   

Location: You will be based predominantly at Briar Chemicals Ltd in Norwich but will also have access to facilities at Aston University in central Birmingham. Some travel to key clients may also be required. 

Please note, successful candidate will be a subject to occupational health check before commencement in post. 

For informal enquiries about this role please contact Dr Andrew Sutherland, Reader in Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, e-mail: [email protected]