Lead Material Chemist
5 days ago
Nottingham
Job Title: Lead Chemist (flexible title) Location: Nottingham (UK & EU travel required) Remuneration: Competitive salary + equity options + bonus Start Date: Immediate Contract Type: Full-time Visa Sponsorship: Available for the right candidate About C4C Concrete4Change (C4C) is a deep-tech climate company developing patented CO₂-mineralisation technology to permanently lock CO₂ into concrete and reduce clinker dependency — decarbonising one of the world’s most carbon-intensive materials. Our innovation transforms waste calcium sources into a carbon-negative supplementary cementitious material, enabling durable, low-carbon concrete while producing valuable circular by-products. We have successfully scaled our process 10× and are commissioning our first pilot plant in Nottingham using real flue gas. Pilot data will directly feed into commercial demonstration systems across the UK and Europe (10–100× scale). C4C is backed by major strategic investors (including SCG and Goldbeck), collaborates with leading universities, and is securing significant public funding to accelerate industrial deployment. This is a pivotal moment to join as we scale from lab to industrial deployment and raise our next institutional round. Learn more: • Tech Overview: ___, • Lab Day: ___, • Team Perspective: ___, • Founder Story: ___ The Opportunity — Lead Chemist We are seeking an accomplished, hands-on Lead Chemist to drive our chemistry roadmap, guide experimental strategy, and support scale-up from lab to pilot and industrial environments. You will oversee core chemistry programmes spanning mineralisation mechanisms, additive formulation, crystallisation pathways, and SCM performance. You will work closely with cross-functional teams in concrete science, engineering, and analytics to accelerate product and process development. This role is ideal for an ambitious scientist ready to lead, influence cross-disciplinary teams, and help bring a world-first climate technology to market. Key Responsibilities Scientific & Technical Leadership • Design and lead experimental programmes for CO₂-mineralisation and SCM development, • Optimise crystallisation pathways, reaction conditions, and material performance, • Define and improve characterisation workflows (XRD, XRF, SEM, calorimetry, etc.), • Support pilot plant validation and translation of lab results to industrial design, • Ensure rigorous scientific method, safety and quality standards Team Leadership & Delivery • Mentor scientists and technicians and foster a high-performance culture, • Implement structured R&D processes, documentation, and analytical discipline, • Work closely with process engineering and concrete teams on integrated solutions Innovation & Partnerships • Support technical collaborations with universities, labs, and industrial partners, • Represent C4C in technical discussions and industry forums Funding & Reporting • Contribute technical inputs to grant proposals and collaborative bids, • Support reporting, audits, and technical deliverables Communication & Strategy • Present technical results to leadership, investors, and partners, • Translate data into clear development plans and decision-making inputs Mobility • Ability to travel and spend time on-site at future demo locations (UK/EU) Essential Requirements • PhD in chemistry or materials science., • 8+ years R&D experience in inorganic chemistry, materials, or mineral systems, • Minimum 5 years in a senior role in a startup, • Strong record of experimental design, data analysis, and material optimisation, • Hands-on experience with analytical tools (XRD, XRF, SEM, etc.), • Proven ability to lead and mentor technical staff, • Experience taking technology from lab research to pilot-scale (TRL 4–7), • Excellent communication skills and ability to work in fast-moving environments Desirable Experience • Cement chemistry, SCMs, or CO₂-mineralisation, • Industrial crystallisation, mineral processing, or CCU, • Concrete testing / mix optimisation exposure, • Understanding of LCA, EPDs, or environmental regulations, • Grant collaboration and technical reporting, • Experience building systems in a scale-up environment What We Offer • Strategic scientific leadership role in a fast-growing climate-tech company, • Equity and performance-based rewards, • Private health insurance & pension, • Competitive annual leave, • Join a mission-driven team delivering real-world climate impact Join us to help reinvent concrete and build a carbon-negative industrial future.