Specialist Chemicals Recruitment for High-Performing Scientific and Technical Teams

SRG’s chemical recruitment experts connect organisations with top talent across R&D, manufacturing, and compliance. As a specialist chemical recruitment agency, we deliver tailored talent solutions across chemicals, polymers and materials science, supporting businesses throughout the chemical value chain.    

As established members of Chemicals Northwest and recognised as Supplier of the Year in the chemicals industry for 2025, we combine industry expertise with a consultative approach to hiring. From permanent appointments to project teams, our experienced chemical industry recruiters deliver tailored talent solutions that support organisations across the evolving chemicals sector.

Our Functional Specialisms

Quality & Analysis

We support hiring across analytical chemistry and quality functions, including QC and QA. Helping you ensure product integrity, compliance and consistent performance while connecting organisations with analytical chemists, quality professionals and laboratory specialists.

Commercial

We connect you with commercial professionals who understand your markets. From purchasing and product management to technical sales, account management and marketing, these candidates understand technical products, drive growth, and build strong customer relationships.

Research & Development

We support hiring across research, synthesis, formulation, product development and improvement. Our expertise spans chemical R&D recruitment, innovation-focused teams and specialist scientific functions that help employers bring new ideas to market.

Manufacturing

We help you build effective production teams, from operators through to process chemists and production leadership. Supporting safe, efficient and reliable manufacturing environments across the wider chemical industry recruitment landscape.

Engineering

We partner with organisations seeking talent across all engineering disciplines, from maintenance and EHS through to process and E&I engineering. Our expertise includes chemical engineering recruitment, process engineering talent, and broader engineering hiring solutions that keep projects and production running efficiently.

Regulatory

Covering REACH, SDS and product stewardship, we bridge the gap to bring you regulatory experts who can navigate changing requirements and bring products to market with confidence.

Industry Sectors We Cover

With deep knowledge of the chemicals market, we partner with reputed employers across specialist sectors to identify the talent needed to support innovation, production and business growth.

 
Specialty chemicals, coatings & fluids +

We support specialist hiring across fine chemicals, lubricants, specialty fluids, coatings and adhesives, connecting employers with technical, formulation, manufacturing and commercial talent.

Materials, metals & polymers +

Supporting organisations involved in materials innovation, metals processing, polymer development, production, quality and process improvement with specialist scientific and technical talent.

Agrochemicals +

Specialist knowledge of the talent required across agrochemical product development, regulatory, manufacturing and technical teams.

Food & FMCG +

We support fast-paced manufacturing environments with recruitment expertise focused on quality, compliance, production and operational excellence.

Waste management & recycling +

Supporting organisations with specialist talent across resource recovery, environmental services, recycling operations and sustainable production.

Why Choose SRG for Chemicals Recruitment?

With decades of scientific and chemicals recruitment experience, we take a consultative approach that adapts to your enterprise's hiring needs.

01

Chemical-Sector Expertise

Our consultants possess specialist knowledge across polymers, coatings, fuels, agrochemicals, and the wider chemical value chain.

02

Technical Understanding

Our consultants understand technical terminology, niche disciplines and the evolving chemicals market.

03

Scalable Hiring Solutions

Whether you're making a single hire or building an entire team, we provide contract, permanent and executive recruitment solutions.

04

Reliable Partnership

From briefing through to onboarding, we provide transparent communication, thorough screening and tailored attraction strategies.

Roles We Typically Recruit For

Explore the specialist scientific, technical, regulatory and commercial roles SRG recruits for across the chemicals industry. From chemical jobs to senior leadership appointments, our consultants connect organisations with the specialist talent they need across every stage of the chemical value chain.

Scientific, technical, regulatory and commercial chemicals roles

  • Development Chemist
  • R&D Chemist
  • Research Chemist
  • Analytical Chemist
  • Formulation Chemist
  • QC Chemist
  • Regulatory Affairs Specialist
  • Laboratory Technician
  • Materials Scientist
  • Applications Scientist
  • Chemical Engineer
  • Process Engineer
  • Production Engineer
  • Technical Sales Manager
  • Regulatory Manager
  • Supply Chain Manager
  • Technical Service Chemist
  • Project Engineer
  • Engineering Manager
  • Procurement Manager
Chemicals industry professionals in a production environment

FAQs

1. What types of roles do you recruit for within chemicals? +

We recruit across all key functions within chemicals, from hands-on technical positions through to senior leadership. Whether you’re hiring into one area or building a cross-functional team, we support every stage of the product, manufacturing and commercial lifecycle.

2. How do you identify and qualify candidates? +

We combine a proprietary database and network of over 150,000 candidates with targeted search and headhunting of both active and passive talent. Every candidate is screened through detailed interviews about their experience, skills and motivations before being shortlisted, so you’re only reviewing a small number of relevant, committed individuals rather than large volumes of CVs.

3. What makes SRG different in chemicals recruitment? +

85% of our consultants come from scientific backgrounds, so we understand the technical detail behind the roles and can have more informed conversations, challenge briefs where needed, and deliver candidates who genuinely fit.

Backed by Impellam, we also have the scale and flexibility to tailor our approach to your needs. Whether that’s contingent hiring, retained search, screening only or something more bespoke, we’ll adapt the model to work for you.

4. What types of companies do you work with? +

We work with a wide range of organisations across the chemicals market, from start-ups and SMEs through to global manufacturers, multinational groups and consultancies. Our specialist chemicals team span sectors including polymers, CASE, speciality chemicals, materials, metals, waste, cleantech and FMCG.

5. Do you only work on live roles, or can you support with talent mapping / salary benchmarking? +

We don’t just work reactively on live roles. We also regularly support clients with talent mapping, salary benchmarking and pipelining to help you plan ahead and make more informed hiring decisions. Whether you’re building a team, exploring the market or preparing for future hires, we can give you a clear view of what talent is available and how to approach it effectively.

Insights

We believe in the power of science - that’s why we stay at the forefront of the life sciences industry, keeping up to date with the latest research, innovations, and market trends to provide valuable insight and guidance to our clients and candidates.

Read our insights

We are always learning, adapting, and educating.

The highest paying chemicals roles: Salary Insights

The highest paying chemicals roles: Salary Insights

SRG explores fascinating salary and workforce insights from the chemicals sector, based on expert independent research.
The cost of a bad hire in chemical and materials manufacturing

The cost of a bad hire in chemical and materials manufacturing

In chemical and materials manufacturing, a bad hire is never just an HR issue. It is a production problem, a safety problem, and a profitability problem. The moment those three risks converge, the financial exposure can be swift, significant, and difficult to recover from.
Exploring top Chemicals career paths within Life Sciences

Exploring top Chemicals career paths within Life Sciences

Discover top chemicals careers in UK life sciences, key skills in demand, and expert insights to help you grow your career in a thriving, innovative sector.
The Hidden Link: How Industrial Chemicals Power the Life Sciences Industry

The Hidden Link: How Industrial Chemicals Power the Life Sciences Industry

Explore how industrial chemicals power life sciences breakthroughs in pharma, medtech, and innovative therapies.
Understanding Recruitment in the Chemical Industry: Trends, Skills & Challenges

Understanding Recruitment in the Chemical Industry: Trends, Skills & Challenges

Explore recruitment trends, in-demand skills, and challenges shaping the UK chemical industry, plus expert hiring advice.
How to Attract, Hire, and Retain Top Chemicals Talent in 2026?

How to Attract, Hire, and Retain Top Chemicals Talent in 2026?

Looking ahead to 2026, we explore the most effective ways to find, recruit and nurture top Chemicals talent.
The highest paying chemicals roles: Salary Insights

The highest paying chemicals roles: Salary Insights

SRG explores fascinating salary and workforce insights from the chemicals sector, based on expert independent research.
The cost of a bad hire in chemical and materials manufacturing

The cost of a bad hire in chemical and materials manufacturing

In chemical and materials manufacturing, a bad hire is never just an HR issue. It is a production problem, a safety problem, and a profitability problem. The moment those three risks converge, the financial exposure can be swift, significant, and difficult to recover from.