Location: Johnstone's Food Service & Lees of Scotland
Shift: Monday to Friday
Salary: Competitive + Benefits
We have an exciting opportunity to join the Development team in the role of the Senior Development Technologist at our Lees and Johnstone’s sites as part of ‘Finsbury Food Group’.
Johnstone’s creates irresistible single‑serve traybakes that perfectly complement that mid‑morning coffee or afternoon tea break. The renowned caramel shortbread has become a staple in coffee shops nationwide, delighting customers with its perfect balance of buttery shortbread, creamy caramel, and rich chocolate.
Lees stands out for its ability to create confections that are more than just sweets – they’re edible nostalgia. Our iconic snowballs, teacakes, and meringues have woven themselves into the fabric of Scottish culture, becoming go‑to treats for both everyday indulgence and celebratory moments.
The Senior Development Technologist will work as part of the development team to develop and innovate new products and processes, ensuring our bakery products are produced and delivered effectively to the satisfaction of our customers.
This is a fast‑paced role, where the successful candidate will have excellent organisational and communication skills. They will have worked in a similar development position, innovating new products and processes in response to customer briefs to maintain and grow a creative catalogue of products for our customers. With great attention to detail, they will present new product and process facts and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively to customers internally and externally and cross‑function. A willingness to travel is required as the Senior Development Technologist may occasionally visit our other sites.
This is a great opportunity for someone to gain experience with one of the UK’s largest bakery businesses. They’ll work closely with a friendly and engaging team from both a site and group perspective, offering opportunities for growth and long‑term career development.
What you’ll actually do
As the Senior Development Technologist you will develop new products to meet internal and external standards and requirements for the broader area of responsibility. You will have an overall awareness of comparative products from major retailers and competitors, and will manage focused development of new products to deliver the required margin of our customers and the business. You will also play a hands‑on role in the preparation and creation of product samples when required.
You will monitor and benchmark product quality of new and existing products and raise issues with the development manager. You will work to critical‑path plans, organise and control resources to deliver products and processes to an agreed quality and timescale. You will also be responsible for managing customer accounts.
Ideally this is you
* Degree preferred in Food science / technology or similar degree / HND equivalent or relevant experience
* Knowledge and interest of Food
* Excellent communication skills
* Computer literate – computer skills and knowledge of word and excel systems
* Driving license
* Basic or above Food hygiene
What’s in it for you
* Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to allow quality time with your new arrival
* Enhanced Pension Scheme for our employees
* Death in Service Benefit
* Free Employee Assistance Programme (open to colleagues and their families)
* Retail discounts accessible via our Benefits Hub platform
* Company shop available at sites (heavily discounted, yummy products)
* Refer a Friend Scheme (up to £300 per referral – t&cs dependent)
* Employee Recognition Awards · Extensive Learning & Development opportunities (including opportunities for sponsored professional memberships and our own in‑house development course)
* An opportunity to be part of a fantastic, growing organisation. Head over to our LinkedIn page to find out more
Our vision is to be the leading specialty bakery group in the UK and we want the best people in place to achieve this. Our continued success is built entirely on the talented people who work here, so employee development is important to us because everyone is a valued member of the team, and we want every individual to have the skills and capabilities to achieve both your own personal goals and our business goals. We want good people to join our company, to help our company continue to go from strength to strength. If this sounds like you, please get in contact to learn more!
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