Quality Assurance Chemist

The role in one line: You are the independent verification layer between our manufacturer and our customer. You make sure every batch that leaves the manufacturer is what we said it would be — and you have the technical language to hold them accountable when it isn't.

Context: We manufacture through a third-party contract manufacturer. Currently there is no verification step between batch delivery and dispatch. We need someone who can build that layer from scratch and own it — with minimal equipment, maximum rigour.

What you'll own:

• Batch acceptance testing — every batch that arrives gets checked before it is approved for dispatch. pH, viscosity, colour, odour, texture — compared against a reference standard you build and maintain
  
• Reference standards — create and maintain a physical and documented reference for each product so every new batch has something to compare against
  
• Manufacturer documentation — demand and review Certificate of Analysis, batch records, and raw material certificates with every delivery. No CoA, no batch approval
  
• Rejection protocol — build and enforce a clear process for what happens when a batch fails — who gets notified, what the manufacturer must do, how we document it
  
• Manufacturer communication — be the technical point of contact with our manufacturer. Speak their language. Ask the questions they don't expect a small brand to ask
  
• Batch record system — maintain a simple log of every batch received — date, batch number, test results, approval or rejection status
  
• Supplier audit — periodically evaluate our manufacturer on process consistency, hygiene, and raw material sourcing. Flag risks to the founder
  

Must have:

• B.Sc or M.Sc Chemistry, Pharmacy, or Cosmetic Science
  
• 2+ years in QA for cosmetics, personal care, or pharmaceuticals
  
• Hands-on experience with basic batch testing — pH meter, viscometer, sensory evaluation
  
• Knows how to read, evaluate, and challenge a Certificate of Analysis
  
• Has worked directly with a contract manufacturer — not just in a lab
  

Strong plus:

• Has worked with a Pakistani cosmetic contract manufacturer specifically
  
• Knows the common ways local manufacturers cut corners and how to catch it
  
• Familiar with GMP principles
  
• Has built a batch record or product specification system from scratch
  
• Experience with actives — niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, zinc oxide, ceramides
  

What this role is not: This is not an R&D role. We are not formulating new products right now. We need someone whose entire focus is: did this batch meet spec, and if not, why — and what does the manufacturer need to fix.