Science jobs in Sussex

Join a friendly, employee-owned, award-winning international outdoor business as a Laboratory Technician

The Company

Located in the picturesque, rural setting of East Sussex, Nikwax is a highly successful outdoor business that is run by a close-knit and friendly team of employees, whom we are proud to call Partners.

Nikwax is a leading manufacturer of care products and material systems for outdoor clothing, footwear, and equipment. Working closely with our trusted Partners, we develop and manufacture our products in-house, ensuring exceptional quality and innovation. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to be the only outdoor company to have received the Queen's Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development, and in 2026 we have been honoured with a King's Award for the same. Since our founding in 1977, we have remained committed to minimising our environmental impact and have maintained carbon-balanced operations throughout our history.

We highly value our Partners, and this is an exciting opportunity to join our Group.

The Role

As a Lab Technician you'll responsible for improving the return on investment in Nikwax development by maintaining and updating testing schedules of all new emulsions, products or components that are considered to have potential and providing reliable and well-documented results on the performance and characteristics of materials that have been tested.

Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Being the authority on testing, running tests and experiments to make sure our products are first-class, and meticulously documenting insights.
• Taking the lead in Páramo fabric and components testing, turning every examination into a triumph that elevates the team.
• Joining the Nikwax innovation team, contributing to the development and seamless implementation of industrial processes.
• Enforcing Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), adhere to COSHH regulations, and craft reports with a compelling narrative.
• Ensuring the laboratory is fully stocked with the essentials for experimentation.
• Demonstrating quality control aptitude, conducting routine checks and competitor testing to keep us at the forefront of innovation.
• Being responsible for plant and lab equipment, coordinating their performance and ensuring they are always in top-notch condition.
• Staying on top of the latest chemical trends and industry innovations to keep our team ahead of the curve.
• Creating exciting demonstration materials for Marketing and Sales to shine at trade shows.

You Will

• Dive into tasks with a meticulous and systematic approach, leaving no detail unturned in your work and record-keeping.
• Bring lab experience if you have it; otherwise, we will train you.
• Be good at juggling tasks; allowing your organisational skills to turn repetitive tasks into a symphony of efficiency.
• Be dependable, work hard, and get along well with the team.
• Know your way around a computer; with command of standard computer software packages, especially Microsoft Office.
• Ideally be fully familiar with Quality Control and all of the steps involved.
• Let your education shine, holding at least an A Level (or equivalent) in a science-related field.

You will be working in a busy manufacturing environment near Wadhurst, East Sussex; due to the rural location you must have your own transport.

The Rewards

• Competitive benefits and rewards including pension, health cash plan and profit related bonus scheme
• Additional flexible benefits options including boosted pension contributions, extra holiday or assistance with childcare costs
• Annual leave starting at 27 days rising with service, plus public holidays
• Friendly and informal environment with monthly team lunches and quarterly events
• Be part of an employee-owned business where you can clearly see the effect of your efforts
• Contribute to an award-winning international company with values that you can believe in.

We are passionate and committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer, encouraging different perspectives and experiences to make us a more innovative and creative workplace.

Candidates must be able to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK.

• Please see our applicant privacy policy here: https://www.nikwax.com/download/JobApplicantPrivacyNotice_20180511.pdf

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Benefits:

• Additional leave
• Bereavement leave
• Casual dress
• Company events
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee discount
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Enhanced paternity leave
• Free flu jabs
• Free parking
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Private dental insurance
• Profit sharing
• Referral programme
• Sick pay

Work Location: In person