Cooksongold
Analytical Chemist
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Analytical Chemist
Birmingham Jewellery Quarter | Full-time, on site | Mon–Fri
£28,500 – £30,500
We are Cooksongold, a global manufacturer of precious metal products and a part of HM Precious Metals, one of Europe’s largest refiners and processors of precious metals. We provide bespoke manufacturing, stampings and precious metal scrap refining, and precious metal 3D printing services to customers across the jewellery, aerospace, medical, and automotive industries.
We are a friendly, well-established business of around 280 people, and we are continuing to grow. Our commitment to quality and customer service has earned us the Feefo Trusted Platinum Service Award for 2026, as well as named Jewellery Supplier of the Year at the 2025 National UK Jewellery Awards.
We are looking for an Analytical Chemist to join our laboratory in Birmingham's historic Jewellery Quarter. This is a unique role as almost every sample you handle contains precious metal, making accuracy and attention to detail absolutely critical. The laboratory plays a vital role in the business, as materials cannot be released back into the business until the laboratory has confirmed exactly what they contain.
What the job involves
You will report to our Laboratory Team Leader and work as part of a small, experienced team, providing prompt and accurate analysis for refining and quality control.
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- Fire assay and cupellation, using high-temperature furnaces and precision weighing. It takes practice, and we will train you if it is new to you.
- Screening unknown alloys by XRF to establish what you are dealing with and select the correct analytical method.
- Quantitative analysis of gold, silver and platinum by ICP-OES and potentiometric (auto) titration.
- Booking samples in from production departments and logging them into the material database.
- Turning results around promptly, as metal cannot be released back into the business until the analysis is complete.
- Arranging samples that need to go to external laboratories, and making sure they are dispatched to agreed timescales.
- Keeping the laboratory clean and safe, and handling precious metal carefully and accountably.
What we are looking for
- A degree in chemistry or a related science (or equivalent).
- Hands-on laboratory experience, including safe handling of acids and chemicals and accurate weighing of samples.
- Attention to detail, and the patience for precise, repetitive work that needs to be right first time.
- Someone who can use their initiative and work independently, but is also happy to muck in — in a team this size, everyone gets involved in whatever it takes to get the job done.
- Good organisation, general administration skills and confidence with Excel.
- The ability to keep calm and work to deadlines when several departments need results at once.
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Desired, but not essential
Please do not rule yourself out if you have not done these. If you are careful and methodical, we are happy to train you on the techniques.
- Fire assay / cupellation
- ICP-OES, XRF or auto-titrator operation
- Use of precision balances
- Analytical chemistry modules, or manufacturer training courses in ICP or XRF
- H&S procedures
What we can offer in return
- The chance to learn specialist techniques. Fire assay and precious metal analysis are largely learned on the job, and there are not many laboratories doing this work.
- Up to 34 days’ paid leave per year.
- A generous pension scheme, with employee contributions matched by the company up to 8%.
- Life assurance up to x4 salary.
- Employee Assistance Programme, with free access to a GP, counselling and legal advice.
- Interest-free loans for travel-to-work costs (annual travel passes or parking permits).
- A city-centre site based in the Jewellery Quarter, a short walk from Snow Hill and New Street.
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