Chemical Operator

Synthomer is a leading supplier of high-performance, highly specialised polymers and ingredients that play vital roles in key sectors such as coatings, construction, adhesives, and health and protection – growing markets that serve billions of end users worldwide. Headquartered in London, UK and publicly listed there since 1971, we employ c.3,900 employees across our 5 innovation centres of excellence and more than 29 manufacturing sites across Europe, North America and Asia. Around 20% of our sales volumes are from new and patent protected products.

At our innovation centres of excellence in the UK, Germany, China, Malaysia and Ohio, USA we collaborate closely with our customers to develop new products and enhance existing ones tailored to their needs, with an increasing range of sustainability benefits. Since 2021, we have been proud holders of the London Stock Exchange Green Economy Mark, which recognises green technology businesses making a significant contribution to a more sustainable, low-carbon economy.

What are we looking for?

A Chemical Operator who will be responsible for unsupervised safe operation of polymer reaction processes.  In this role, this operator may also be called upon to perform filtering operations and transfer materials to containers (drums, totes) or bulk storage (storage tanks, tank trucks or rail cars). Flexibility to work any shift is highly desired!

Your tasks and responsibilities…

• Operate the control systems, including both manual control of system inputs as well as the monitoring of automatic processes
• Follow detailed operating procedures to monitor multiple reaction processes unsupervised and accurately document all requested information for batch completion, including on batch guides, transfer logs, and storage logs.
• Monitor critical process information and understand system capabilities and limits, including how to recalculate and adjust parameters to meet desired outcomes.
• Understand chemical hazards and know key raw material incompatibilities to avoid contamination
• Immediately report any problems, issues, or significant production deviations to the crew lead and supervisor
• Complete all training and attend all meetings as required by the job function, which may include but is not limited to daily shift change, routine safety meetings, or other plant communication
• Safely operate forklifts to transport material
• Safely and accurately handle hoses, connections, and manifolds to transfer products through the facility
• Understand the operation of supporting production equipment, such as scales, meters, pumps, filters, homogenizers, and heat exchangers as needed.
• Participate in plant improvement teams to promote safety or lean manufacturing
• Flexibility in shift availability is a plus.

Who you are…

Required Qualifications:

• Computer skills
• Ability and willingness to perform general, routine maintenance
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.
• Must regularly lift up to 50 pounds and move (with a hand truck) up to 550 pounds.
• Employees must be physically able to and pass annually, a respirator fit test, and be prepared (i.e., clean-shaven) to don a respirator when required by work conditions and/or during an emergency response incident.
• High School diploma or equivalent plus 2 years related experience in Chemical Industry.

Preferred Qualifications:

5+ years’ experience as an Operator

Associates Degree in Science

DISCLAIMER:

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, success profile characteristics or qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Management retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the Job at any time.

🌍 Global Benefits Overview

• 💰 Competitive, market-aligned compensation

• 🎯 Discretionary global bonus scheme

• 📈 Discretionary Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) – for senior positions

• 🚗 Company car or car allowance – varies by region and role

• 🩺 Healthcare – tailored to regional locations

• 👶 Parental leave and family support – maternity, paternity, adoption (aligned with regional policies)

• 🏡 Working options – flexibility where it matters, based on role and business needs

• 📚 Learning & development opportunities – training, online platforms, buddy/mentorship programs, Internal Synthomer University with L&D offers

• 💙 Wellbeing support – employee assistance program (EAP), mental health resources, wellbeing initiatives

• 🌱 Retirement / pension contributions – plans vary by country

• 🤝 Culture of Inclusion – where everyone can thrive

• 🏆 Performance culture, global reward & recognition programmes