Hera Beauty
Development Chemist
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Development Chemist
Working Pattern: Full time - Monday to Friday, 08:00 – 16:00
Salary: Competitive, depending on experience
Location: Peterborough
About Hera Beauty Ltd.
Hera Beauty is a growing UK manufacturer of skincare, haircare, and wellbeing products, based in Peterborough.
Since 2011, we have worked with personal care brands across the UK, providing an end-to-end manufacturing service covering formulation, compliance, packaging, and account management.
Our aim is to make it easier for our customers to bring great products to market. We are known for being flexible, responsive, and innovative, with a strong focus on quality and long-term partnerships.
As the business continues to grow, we are investing in our people, our processes, and the way we work. We want Hera Beauty to be a place where people can develop, take ownership, and make a real contribution to the success of the business. We are now looking for a Development Chemist to join our R&D team and play an important role in developing innovative products for both our customers and our own product portfolio.
The Role of Development Chemist
As a Development Chemist, you will be responsible for developing high-quality skincare, haircare, and personal care formulations from initial concept through to launch.
You will work on a variety of customer and internal development projects, interpreting briefs, creating and refining formulations, preparing samples, and supporting products through testing, scale-up, and manufacture.
This is a hands-on role suited to someone with a relevant scientific degree who has a genuine passion for product development, enjoys working in the lab, and is confident taking ownership of projects. You will be proactive, use your initiative, and work collaboratively with Sales, Quality, Production, suppliers, and other members of the R&D team to ensure projects move forward effectively and meet customer, regulatory, and commercial requirements.
You will also keep up to date with new ingredients, technologies, and market trends, helping Hera Beauty continue to develop innovative and commercially relevant products.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Applicants must hold a degree in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, or another relevant scientific subject to be considered for this role.
As a Development Chemist, you will:
- Develop high-quality and innovative skincare, haircare, and personal care formulations in response to customer and internal briefs.
- Manage multiple New Product Development projects from initial concept through to launch.
- Interpret customer briefs and develop formulations that meet performance, cost, and commercial requirements.
- Work closely with the Sales team to provide formulation proposals, samples, and technical support within agreed timescales.
- Prepare, assess, and refine product samples for prospective and existing customers.
- Coordinate third-party product testing submissions and respond to testing queries.
- Work closely with the R&D and Quality teams to ensure formulations meet ingredient, regulatory, and quality requirements.
- Research new ingredients, technologies, market trends, and product launches to identify development opportunities.
- Build strong relationships with suppliers to obtain raw materials, samples, technical information, and commercial support.
- Support the sourcing and evaluation of new raw materials.
- Work closely with Production and Operations to support laboratory scale-up trials and the successful transfer of formulations into manufacture.
- Provide technical support when formulation or production challenges arise during scale-up and manufacture.
- Contribute to private label development projects and the growth of our in-house formulation library.
- Maintain accurate formulation, testing, and development records.
- Help develop and maintain effective laboratory procedures and best practices.
- Support continuous improvement across R&D and the wider product development process.
- Ensure laboratory standards, procedures, and Health & Safety requirements are consistently followed.
As a Development Chemist, you’ll bring:
- A degree in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, or another relevant scientific subject.
- Experience developing formulations within cosmetics, personal care, or a related industry.
- A genuine interest in skincare, haircare, personal care, and product development.
- Practical laboratory and formulation experience.
- The ability to take ownership of development projects and manage several priorities at the same time.
- Good problem-solving skills and a practical, solutions-focused approach.
- Strong attention to detail and a commitment to producing high-quality work.
- Good communication and organizational skills.
- The ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a wider team.
- Confidence working with colleagues across Sales, Quality, Production, and other areas of the business.
- A proactive approach and the confidence to take initiative.
- An understanding of formulation testing, stability, and product development processes.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Experience within cosmetics, skincare, haircare, toiletries, or another regulated product development environment would be a strong advantage.
Experience supporting formulations through scale-up and manufacture, working with third-party testing laboratories, or developing private label products would also be useful.
Applicants must hold a degree in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, or another relevant scientific subject to be considered for this role.
Benefits
- 29 days' holiday pro rata, including Bank Holidays
- Company Bonus Scheme
- Quarterly incentives
- Long service award
- Above & Beyond employee recognition scheme
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Calendar of staff social events
- Free on-site parking
We are looking for someone who is curious and excited by the opportunity to turn ideas into successful products. You will be joining a growing business where you can take ownership of your work, develop your technical knowledge, and make a genuine contribution to the products we bring to market.
Application question(s):
- Do you have experience developing skincare, haircare, or personal care formulations?
- Do you have a degree in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, or a related scientific discipline?
Work authorisation: United Kingdom (required)
Location: Peterborough PE3 8SB
Work Location: In person
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London