Project Coordinator - SAFER

Salary: £35,000 to £39,000 annually pro-rata dependant on experience

Annual Leave entitlement: 25 days (plus 10 bank holidays) 

Working hours: Part-Time – 21 hours per week 

Contract: Fixed Term – 12 Months 

Location: Ratho, Edinburgh / Hybrid-working 

Closing date for applications: Tuesday 14th April 2026 at 12noon

HELP SHAPE SCOTLAND'S FOOD AND DRINK FUTURE

At Scotland Food & Drink, we lead and support the growth of the food and drink sector, working with partners and policymakers to drive responsible, sustainable growth. We are also a membership organisation, representing more than 400 companies at the heart of one of Scotland’s most exciting and innovative industries.

At Scotland Food & Drink, we are ambitious about making a difference and believe the best results come from collaboration. We champion innovation and continuous improvement, celebrate success, and stay authentic to our values through honesty and integrity. Just as importantly, we value balance, supporting our people to thrive at work and beyond.

If you’re passionate about making a difference and want to help shape the future of Scotland’s food and drink industry, we would love to hear from you.

SAFER is a strategic programme of Food Standards Scotland. It brings together regulators, government and industry to reform and modernise how food law is delivered in Scotland so it is fit for the future.

 

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Project Coordinator will support the delivery of SF&D’s contribution to the SAFER programme by leading operational activities, stakeholder engagement, and programme administration.

Operational Delivery

• Lead day-to-day operational aspects of the project.
• Support delivery of programme activities in line with agreed scope, timelines, and objectives.
• Assist in coordinating project plans, milestones, and outputs.

Industry Engagement

• Support and deliver engagement with food businesses and trade bodies.
• Organise and facilitate focus groups and stakeholder sessions.
• Maintain strong working relationships with industry stakeholders.

Research & Evidence Gathering

• Gather, analyse, and document evidence from engagement activities.
• Support analysis of cost-recovery models and their impact on different business types.
• Contribute to development and testing of digital tools or prototype models with FSS.

Reporting & Administration

• Prepare reports, briefings, and documentation for internal and external stakeholders.
• Support programme reporting requirements and governance processes.
• Maintain accurate project records and documentation.

Stakeholder Liaison

• Act as a key point of contact for stakeholders on operational matters.
• Support communication between SF&D, FSS, industry, and other partners.

Governance Support

• Assist in coordinating governance meetings, including preparing materials and tracking actions.
• Support delivery of quarterly review processes and risk tracking.

CORE OBJECTIVE

Support delivery to agreed scope.

 

ABOUT YOU

We’re looking for someone who is organised, proactive and able to support the smooth delivery of a highprofile programme. You’ll feel comfortable coordinating project activity, helping to keep plans on track and ensuring agreed actions are completed in a timely and structured way.

You’ll enjoy working with a wide range of people and building positive relationships with food businesses, trade bodies and partners. You’ll be happy organising and supporting engagement sessions such as focus groups, and you’ll be able to capture insights clearly and accurately in a way that supports the wider programme.

You’ll bring a thoughtful, analytical approach to your work, helping to gather and document evidence from engagement activities and supporting analysis of cost recovery models. Strong communication skills will help you act as a supportive point of contact for colleagues and partners, contributing to clear and effective liaison across SF&D, FSS and industry stakeholders.

You’ll take care in preparing reports and documentation, keeping accurate records and supporting governance activities such as meeting coordination and action tracking. You’ll take pride in delivering day-to-day tasks efficiently and will be open to identifying improvements that help strengthen our processes and ways of working.

WHAT WE OFFER

Our culture and people are core to delivering diverse and collaborative work. We have work life balance as one of our core values, and a comprehensive reward and benefits package, which includes: 

• 35 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays) pro rata
• Flexible working arrangements – including the option to enjoy a 9-day fortnight pattern, working nine days over two weeks, with every second Friday or Monday off
• An additional day of annual leave for your birthday
• A competitive group pension plan
• A healthcare cash plan providing financial assistance for everyday healthcare costs
• Salary sacrifice schemes, including cycle to work and electric/hybrid vehicles
• A life assurance scheme
• Support with professional development and training
• An employee assistance programme
• In-house wellness events, such as meditation and workplace massage
• Two paid volunteer days
• Staff awaydays
• Short-term working abroad policy
• Pets at work policy allowing the opportunity to bring your pets into the office on scheduled days
• Opportunities to attend and socialise at industry events

At Scotland Food & Drink we are an equal opportunity and disability confident employer, and we recognise that diversity and inclusion is a journey. We are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive. We support candidates with reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, so please let us know when applying if you will require any additional support.

 

 
HOW TO APPLY

Please send CV and covering letter, or any questions you have regarding the role to:

careers@foodanddrink.scot with the title of the job you are applying for in the subject line.

In person interviews for this role are to be confirmed

Prior to any employment commencing with Scotland Food & Drink you will be asked to provide documents to demonstrate your right to work in the UK.