Applied Chemistry Consultant

Apply practical chemistry, rigorous scientific thinking and creative problem solving to complex real-world challenges across a variety of industries.

We are looking for an Applied Chemistry Consultant to join our Applied Sciences team. You should have a strong technical foundation in chemistry, a passion for applying scientific understanding through practical experimentation, and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

This role is ideal for someone who has recently completed a PhD, or who has 2-5 years of experience in industry, research or technology development, and is looking to broaden their experience across a diverse range of technically challenging projects rooted in chemistry. No two projects are the same, and success in this role comes from being able to rapidly understand unfamiliar technical challenges and apply chemistry in new contexts.

You will work alongside other chemists, physicists, biologists, mechanical and electronics engineers, materials scientists, modellers and domain specialists to help clients understand, develop, assess and improve technologies, products, processes and systems. Projects will span sectors including energy, manufacturing, consumer products, healthcare, defence, transport, sustainability and emerging technologies.

This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys combining hands-on experimental work with analytical thinking, clear communication and practical problem solving. We are looking for someone with strong scientific fundamentals, curiosity, adaptability and the confidence to apply chemistry in unfamiliar contexts.

The Role

This is a hands-on technical consulting role focused on applying chemistry to solve varied client challenges.

You may contribute to projects involving:

• Experimental design and laboratory investigation
• Chemical analysis, testing and characterisation
• Materials, formulations, surfaces and interfaces
• Electrochemical, catalytic and separation technologies
• Process chemistry and chemical engineering-adjacent challenges
• Technology assessment, technical due diligence and innovation strategy
• Failure analysis, root-cause investigation and troubleshooting
• Sustainability, decarbonisation and circular economy technologies
• Development and evaluation of novel products, processes or materials
• Interpretation of experimental, manufacturing or operational data

You will typically work in multidisciplinary teams led by experienced technical specialists.

Responsibilities

You will:

• Design, plan and carry out laboratory experiments to investigate chemical systems, materials, products or processes.
• Analyse, interpret and communicate experimental and technical data.
• Apply chemical principles to solve complex, ambiguous or unfamiliar technical problems.
• Support the development, testing and assessment of new technologies, products, materials or processes.
• Contribute to technical due diligence, technology scouting and evidence-based assessments.
• Identify sources of uncertainty, experimental limitations and technical risk.
• Translate scientific findings into clear, practical recommendations for colleagues and clients.
• Contribute to technical reports, presentations, proposals and client deliverables.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues from other science and engineering disciplines, as well as sector specialist backgrounds.
• Support internal research, innovation and capability development activities.
• Build expertise across multiple chemistry-related domains and application areas.
• Engage directly with clients to understand technical challenges, shape project approaches and present findings.

You are likely to have a degree, MSc or PhD in:

• Chemistry
• Applied Chemistry
• Materials Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• A closely related scientific or engineering discipline

You should have experience in several of the following areas:

• Hands-on laboratory experimentation
• Experimental design and practical problem solving
• Chemical analysis and characterisation
• Materials or formulation development
• Surface, interface or materials chemistry
• Process development, scale-up or manufacturing-related chemistry
• Analytical techniques
• Development of laboratory equipment, test rigs, analytical instruments or emerging technologies
• Data analysis and interpretation of experimental results
• Troubleshooting complex technical problems
• Communicating scientific findings to technical and non-technical audiences

Experience with chemistry or modelling specific tools would be advantageous but is not essential.

The Ideal Candidate

You will be:

• Curious about how chemistry affects materials, devices and processes in the real world.
• Practical and hands-on in your approach to scientific problem solving.
• Comfortable working in laboratories and interpreting experimental evidence.
• Strong analytically, with the ability to break down complex technical questions.
• Interested in applying chemistry across different sectors, technologies and client challenges.
• Clear and confident in communicating technical ideas to different audiences.
• Collaborative, adaptable and keen to learn from colleagues with different backgrounds.
• Pragmatic, creative and comfortable tackling unfamiliar problems.
• Motivated by translating scientific understanding into practical impact.
• Comfortable working with ambiguity and defining problems that do not have obvious solutions.

We are less concerned about your exact sector background than your ability to apply chemistry thoughtfully, learn quickly, work practically and communicate clearly in unfamiliar situations.

What You’ll Gain

This role offers the opportunity to:

• Work on a diverse range of scientific and engineering challenges.
• Apply science to real-world problems across multiple sectors and technologies.
• Develop both technical depth and breadth in a consulting environment.
• Gain experience in laboratory, workshop, manufacturing and client-facing contexts.
• Work alongside experienced scientists and engineers.
• Build skills in experimentation, analysis, technology assessment and evidence-based decision making.
• Develop your ability to communicate complex science clearly and persuasively.
• Grow into a future technical leadership role within a developing applied sciences capability.

Typical Candidate Profiles

• Chemistry PhD graduate looking to apply their research skills to varied industrial and technology challenges.
• Early-career chemist with 2–5 years of experience in industrial R&D, product development, formulation, materials or analytical science.
• Research scientist from a university, national laboratory, research institute or technology development organisation.

We know the skill-gap and ‘somewhat need to tick every box’ can get in the way of meeting brilliant candidates, so please don’t hesitate to apply – we’d love to hear from you.

If you enjoy practical chemistry, solving difficult technical problems and applying science to meaningful real-world challenges, we would love to hear from you.

Please be aware that some of our UK roles at PA Consulting require a UK security clearance.

All PA people are required to undergo background checks and to achieve the Baseline Personnel Security Standard however, some UK roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting, where applicants must have at least 5 years of continuous residency in the UK.

We therefore ask that you only apply if you meet the residency requirements (i.e. you are a British citizen or have been resident in the UK for the past 5 years), as this is the prerequisite for a security clearance. If you're unsure about your eligibility, we encourage you to review the UK Government’s guidance on security vetting before applying.

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