Senior Development Technologist

Job description

Senior Development Technologist

Fife, Scotland (On-site)

Salary: Competitive & benefits

Vickerstock are working in partnership with a global seafood business to recruit a Senior Development Technologist for their site in Fife.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced food professional to take ownership of complex product launches across fresh, smoked and added-value seafood categories, working closely with major UK retailers.

You will play a pivotal role in taking products from concept handover through to full-scale manufacture, ensuring processes are robust, efficient and fully compliant within a highly regulated food production environment.

Your new role:

Reporting to the Process Development Manager, you will lead the coordination and execution of new and modified product launches, acting as a key technical contact across cross-functional teams and retail customers.

This role carries a higher level of autonomy and responsibility, including regular retailer interaction and occasional deputising for the Process Development Manager.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading preparation and coordination of new and revised product launches.
• Planning, managing and executing production trials to ensure scalability, repeatability and food safety compliance.
• Identifying and resolving potential process or production issues ahead of launch.
• Coordinating post-trial reviews, sampling and continuous improvement actions.
• Ensuring accurate and complete data capture to support commercial costings and profitability.
• Working closely with Technical, Production, Engineering and Finance teams to develop robust specifications and ensure accurate ERP system setup.
• Managing artwork approval and certification requirements for on-pack claims within your product portfolio.
• Supporting implementation of new processes or machinery alongside engineering teams.
• Maintaining regular contact with retailer technologists and supporting Gate approval processes.
• Conducting store visits, product bench marking and customer/supplier visits where required.

The role is primarily office hours; however, flexibility is required to support evening or weekend trials when necessary.

What you’ll need to succeed:

• Degree or diploma in Food Science, Chemistry, Microbiology or related discipline.
• Proven experience in a similar Development or Senior Development role within food manufacturing (seafood or protein experience advantageous).
• Strong understanding of food processing, retailer standards and regulatory frameworks.
• Demonstrable experience leading factory trials and successful product launches.
• Experience working directly with retailer technologists.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of product costings.
• Excellent organisational skills with high attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and influence cross-functional teams.

Desirable:

• Food Safety qualification (REHIS or equivalent).
• Experience supporting capital projects or new process implementation.
• Experience within a major retail-facing manufacturing environment.

What you’ll receive:

• Competitive salary.
• Benefits package.
• Opportunity to work within a global seafood business with strong retail partnerships.
• High level of autonomy and ownership across product launches.
• Genuine opportunity to progress within a growing and forward-thinking organisation.

To speak in absolute confidence about this opportunity, please send an up-to-date CV via the link provided or contact Maria Murphy, Principal Recruitment Consultant at Vickerstock on 0161 5075 448.

Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

Dunfermline

Type of Contract

Full-time jobs

Published at

10-03-2026

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English