Synthomer is a leading supplier of high-performance, highly specialised polymers and ingredients that play vital roles in key sectors such as coatings, construction, adhesives, and health and protection – growing markets that serve billions of end users worldwide. Headquartered in London, UK and publicly listed there since 1971, we employ c.3,900 employees across our 5 innovation centres of excellence and more than 29 manufacturing sites across Europe, North America and Asia. Around 20% of our sales volumes are from new and patent protected products.
At our innovation centres of excellence in the UK, Germany, China, Malaysia and Ohio, USA we collaborate closely with our customers to develop new products and enhance existing ones tailored to their needs, with an increasing range of sustainability benefits. Since 2021, we have been proud holders of the London Stock Exchange Green Economy Mark, which recognises green technology businesses making a significant contribution to a more sustainable, low-carbon economy.
Main Accountabilities:
1. To identify, report on and improve safety related issues in immediate working environment using available tools and systems.
2. Serve as technical leader or project leader for research in strategic areas and complex R&D projects; designs and executes investigation plans around complex problems that involves more than one area of specialization; communicate all lab results and project reports to superior; and work closely with Technical Service, Operations Improvement Team, Commercial, Production, Regulatory Affairs and Marketing team.
3. Proactively identifies new opportunities for technical/research projects, propose technical projects which will enhance Synthomer business performance, and lead the investigation and evaluation of the feasibility for potential products and process improvements, as well as write patents to protect our products and know-how.
4. Develop new products/formulation based on customer/market needs provided by SBU with defined projects, actively exploring chances of converting new technologies into commercial products and supporting current product troubleshooting in manufacturing plants.
5. Write research reports
6. Support competitors’ patent monitoring in Intellectual Property landscape.
7. To develop training programs for lab personnel by advising and consulting in the areas of expertise; give technical direction for chemists who are doing work in related projects.
8. To be aware and adhere to the overall SHE & quality policies of the company.
Expected Deliverable:
New ideas and technical know-how generation, new products, and formulation.
Other Responsibilities:
Chemist Mentoring, etc.
🌍 Global Benefits Overview
💰 Competitive, market-aligned compensation
🎯 Discretionary global bonus scheme
📈 Discretionary Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) – for senior positions
🚗 Company car or car allowance – varies by region and role
🩺 Healthcare – tailored to regional locations
👶 Parental leave and family support – maternity, paternity, adoption (aligned with regional policies)
🏡 Working options – flexibility where it matters, based on role and business needs
📚 Learning & development opportunities – training, online platforms, buddy/mentorship programs, Internal Synthomer University with L&D offers
💙 Wellbeing support – employee assistance program (EAP), mental health resources, wellbeing initiatives
🌱 Retirement / pension contributions – plans vary by country
🤝 Culture of Inclusion – where everyone can thrive
🏆 Performance culture, global reward & recognition programmes
Skills Required
- Identify, report on, and improve safety-related issues in the laboratory environment.
- Serve as technical or project leader for strategic and complex R&D projects, designing and executing investigations.
- Proactively propose and lead technical research projects, evaluate feasibility of products and process improvements, and write patents.
- Develop new product formulations based on customer/market needs and support troubleshooting in manufacturing plants.
- Write research reports and communicate results to stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
- Support competitor patent monitoring and maintain awareness of the intellectual property landscape.
- Develop training programs and provide technical direction and mentoring for laboratory personnel and chemists.
- Adhere to company SHE (safety, health, environment) and quality policies.
What We Do
Synthomer is a business-to-business speciality chemicals producer. We create value for all our stakeholders by applying our expertise and innovation capabilities to provide high-performance water-based polymers and ingredients to a wide range of blue-chip customers in multiple attractive end markets. Synthomer are headquartered and stock listed in the UK. We have more than 30 operational sites across Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia including four innovation centres of excellence. The Company employs around 4,200 entrepreneurial, highly skilled employees with the expertise and experience to drive our success worldwide.
