Analytical Chemistry
We recruit analytical chemists across the UK and Europe, supporting pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, CROs, scientific instrument manufacturers and food, environmental, forensic and contract testing laboratories. With scientific backgrounds ourselves, we understand the techniques and instrumentation behind the CV - from chromatography and mass spectrometry to spectroscopy and other analytical techniques - it’s specialist analytical chemistry recruitment built on genuine scientific understanding.
Techniques
Techniques
Specialist analytical chemistry recruitment covering LC-MS, HPLC, GC-MS, GC, ICP-MS, NMR, dissolution, stability methods and other chromatography, mass spectrometry and separation science techniques.
Techniques
Techniques
Specialist analytical chemistry recruitment covering LC-MS, HPLC, GC-MS, GC, ICP-MS, NMR, dissolution, stability methods and other chromatography, mass spectrometry and separation science techniques.
Roles
Roles
Job titles from Graduate Laboratory Analyst through to Study Director, Senior Analytical Scientist, Project Manager, Technical Specialist and Laboratory Manager.
Roles
Roles
Job titles from Graduate Laboratory Analyst through to Study Director, Senior Analytical Scientist, Project Manager, Technical Specialist and Laboratory Manager.
Industries
Industries
Industries served: pharmaceutical, biotech, CRO, contract testing, food, environmental, bioanalysis, forensic, polymers, materials science, and CDMO.
Industries
Industries
Industries served: pharmaceutical, biotech, CRO, contract testing, food, environmental, bioanalysis, forensic, polymers, materials science, and CDMO.
Employment Type
Employment Type
Permanent, temporary and contract assignments across the UK and Europe.
Employment Type
Employment Type
Permanent, temporary and contract assignments across the UK and Europe.
Techniques and instruments we recruit across
Analytical chemistry recruitment runs on technique fluency. VRS consultants ask which mass analyser, which ionisation source, which column chemistry, and which matrix - because a Q-TOF scientist working in food residue analysis is a different candidate to an Orbitrap user working in biopharmaceutical analysis, even when both CVs say 'mass spectrometry'.
Which separation and mass spectrometry techniques does VRS recruit for?
All major chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques, including HPLC, UHPLC, UPLC, GC, ICP, LC-MS, GC-MS, ICP-MS, ICP-OES, LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS. Our expertise spans a broad range of mass analysers, including time-of-flight (TOF), quadrupole, triple quadrupole, ion trap, Orbitrap, magnetic sector, ion mobility technologies and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS).
Beyond mass spectrometry, which other analytical techniques do you cover?
Our expertise extends to dissolution testing and titrations for pharmaceutical QC, DSC and TGA for thermal analysis, Karl Fischer (KF) titration, NMR, FTIR, UV-Vis and capillary electrophoresis (CE). And that's by no means an exhaustive list. If you use it to analyse, chances are we've recruited for it! Our expertise is vendor-neutral, covering instrumentation from all major manufacturers.
Analytical Chemistry roles we recruit for
From Graduate Laboratory Analyst to Head of Analytical Chemistry and Director-level appointments, we recruit across all levels of experience. Typical roles include Analytical Chemists, Senior Analytical Scientists, QC Chemists, QC Analysts, Laboratory Analysts, Formulation Scientists, Stability Scientists, Bioanalytical Scientists, Toxicology Scientists, Environmental Analysts, Forensic Chemists, Technical Specialists, Method Development Specialists, Analytical Team Leaders, Laboratory Managers, Study Drectors, Principal Scientists and Applications Specialists.. and plenty of variations in between!
Does VRS recruit graduate and entry-level analytical chemists?
Absolutely! We recruit at all levels, from BSc, MSc and PhD graduates taking their first steps into industry to experienced scientists looking for their next move. We also work closely with universities and support early-career scientists through careers workshops, mentoring and advise on making the transition from academia to industry. Our blog has plenty of useful resources for graduates and PhD researchers exploring career options.
What types of contract assignments does VRS recruit for in analytical chemistry?
We recruit contract analytical chemists and laboratory specialists for a wide range of assignments, from hands-on laboratory support and to laboratory relocations and interim management cover. Whether you need short-term support during busy project periods, regulatory submissions or maternity leave, or additional expertise for longer-term projects, we've got you covered!
Industries we recruit for
Our analytical chemistry recruitment expertise spans pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, CROs, clinical laboratories, scientific instrument vendors, third-party service providers and contract testing laboratories across the UK and Europe. We support organisations working in food, environmental, forensic and materials testing, alongside other specialist areas including polymers, speciality chemicals, proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics and ecotoxicology.
Which UK regions hire the most analytical chemists?
We recruit analytical chemists across the whole of the UK, but there is a strong concentration of analytical chemsitry jobs in major scientific hubs such as the Golden Triangle of Cambridge, Oxford and London, the Northern Powerhouse across Manchester and Cheshire and Scotland's Central Belt. But by no means does science doesn't stop there! From Edinburgh to Exeter and Belfast to Brighton, we support scientific recruitment wherever our clients and candidates need us.
How does pharmaceutical analytical recruitment differ from food or environmental?
Many of the analytical techniques are transferable across industries, but regulatory requirements and applications can differ considerably. Pharmaceutical roles often require GLP, GMP, ICH compliance and validated methods, while food and environmental testing may focus on complex sample matrices, method development and ISO regulations. Forensic laboratories bring additional requirements around expert witness and reporting.
Absolutely! We recruit analytical chemists across the UK, Europe and North America. From our Paris office, we support scientific recruitment throughout Europe, with regular opportunities in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Nordic countries. Our US office covers analytical chemistry recruitment across North America, too!