Associate Researcher

Purpose of the Role

The Research Associate supports the Research & Development Manager in the formulation, testing, and innovation of new products across Personal Care, Home Care, Institutional, and Water Treatment categories. This role combines hands-on laboratory work, technical research, and compliance monitoring to ensure that developed formulations meet the highest standards of Formulation Development, safety, stability, efficacy, and regulatory compliance.

As a Research Associate, the individual contributes to the company's innovation pipeline, strengthens product quality, and supports continuous improvement initiatives in line with Reza Hygiene's strategic growth.

Key Responsibilities

Area

What Success Looks Like

Formulation Development

• Develop, test, and optimize product formulations across multiple categories.
• Ensure formulations meet safety, efficacy, and stability standards.
• Troubleshoot and resolve formulation challenges during scale-up and production.

Research & Innovation

• Conduct research into new ingredients, technologies, and market trends.
• Provide technical input into innovation projects and product improvement initiatives.
• Benchmark competitor products and provide insights for differentiation.

Testing & Evaluation

• Perform stability, compatibility, and performance testing on formulations.
• Analyze test results and implement improvements to formulations.
• Document all findings and provide clear reports to stakeholders.

Regulatory Compliance & Quality

• Ensure compliance with local and international product regulations.
• Collaborate with QA teams to maintain product quality standards.
• Support audits and provide technical documentation when required.

Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain accurate laboratory records, test reports, and formulation logs.
• Prepare technical reports and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.

Health, Safety & Environment

• Apply best practices in laboratory safety, including chemical handling and waste disposal.
• Follow 5S methodology to maintain a clean and organized lab environment.
• Identify and report any HSE risks; contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.

Collaboration

• Work effectively within cross-functional teams (QA, Production, Regulatory, and Commercial).
• Demonstrate professionalism and teamwork, representing Reza with discipline and integrity.

KPIs & Measures of Success

• Formulation Output: Number of formulations successfully developed and transferred to production.
• Testing Compliance: % of tests completed on time; % of successful stability/efficacy outcomes.
• Innovation Contribution: Number of new ingredients/technologies assessed and proposed annually.
• Regulatory Compliance: Zero non-compliance findings during audits.
• Documentation Quality: Accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of lab records and reports.
• Collaboration & Support: Feedback from QA, Production, and R&D leadership on contribution and teamwork.
• HSE Standards: Zero lab safety incidents; compliance with chemical handling and waste disposal protocols.

SFIA Level 3 Behavioral Competencies (Apply)

Competency

What It Looks Like in This Role

Autonomy

• Works under general direction in the laboratory environment, applying procedures and making independent decisions on routine tasks.
• Escalates complex formulation or compliance issues to senior colleagues.

Influence

• Contributes to project outcomes by providing technical input.
• Influences colleagues through accurate data, professional reporting, and collaborative problem-solving.

Complexity

• Performs varied laboratory and research activities, adapting methods to customer and regulatory needs.
• Handles multiple projects simultaneously with structured prioritization.

Business Skills

• Demonstrates professional communication, accurate record keeping, and reliability in delivery.
• Shows initiative in learning new techniques and applying continuous improvement principles.

Required Skills & Experience

• 3-5 years' relevant experience in product formulation and laboratory research, with mandatory experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Strong knowledge of chemistry, formulation science, or related disciplines.
• Familiarity with stability testing, laboratory methods, and regulatory compliance.
• Proficiency in MS Office and laboratory documentation tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry or pharmacy.
• Postgraduate study in formulation science, Knowledge of regulatory affairs is an advantage.

Key Relationships

• Internal: Research & Development Manager, Quality Assurance, Production, Regulatory Affairs, Commercial Team.
• External: None