Technical Director

Senior R&D Leadership | Medical Technology | Scotland

Kleboe Jardine is working with an established and growing business in Scotland to appoint an experienced senior R&D leader as Technical Director.

Working closely with the executive leadership team, the successful individual will take responsibility for a substantial R&D function, providing direction to experienced scientists and engineers and overseeing the delivery of complex technical development programmes.

This is a role for someone who enjoys being close to the science but has progressed beyond day-to-day technical delivery into leading people, making decisions and taking accountability for outcomes.

Importantly, the appointment offers a genuine opportunity to progress into a CTO position, making it particularly attractive to an established R&D leader looking for their next step or someone already operating at a senior technical level who wants greater influence over business direction.

The Opportunity

• The successful individual will lead a multidisciplinary R&D function, taking ownership of technical direction, programme performance and the development of the team.
• The role will involve balancing multiple priorities, working through challenging technical problems and ensuring that development activities translate into successful commercial outcomes.
• There will also be significant interaction with customers and senior stakeholders, requiring someone who can communicate complex technical matters clearly, challenge thinking constructively and make confident decisions.
• Alongside operational leadership, there is scope to influence how the technical function develops, contributing to future capabilities, resources and longer-term strategy.

What We're Looking For

We are particularly interested in speaking with individuals who have built their careers within scientific R&D and progressed into technical leadership.

You will bring a combination of:

• Strong scientific credibility, ideally gained within diagnostics, medical technology or a related scientific product development environment.
• Experience leading and developing technical teams, including experienced scientists and multidisciplinary specialists.
• A track record of delivering technically challenging development programmes, ideally through to commercialisation.
• The ability to work across different technologies and technical disciplines, rather than being limited to one specialist area.
• Sound judgement when assessing technical risks, setting priorities and making decisions.
• Confidence engaging with customers, senior management and wider business stakeholders.
• Experience working within a quality-focused or regulated development environment.

We are open to considering candidates from different organisational backgrounds. Direct experience in an equivalent role is not essential where an individual can demonstrate the scientific breadth, leadership capability and adaptability needed to succeed.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to step into a highly influential leadership role within an established, growing business, with the autonomy to make decisions, shape technical direction and have a genuine impact on its future.

You'll inherit an experienced multidisciplinary team and work across a diverse range of technically challenging development programmes, offering considerably more variety than a traditional single-product R&D environment.

Working closely with the executive leadership team, you'll have the opportunity to influence technical strategy, develop the capabilities of the R&D function and play an important role in the company's continued growth.

For an ambitious senior R&D leader, the role also offers a genuine pathway to CTO, with the opportunity to take on broader strategic responsibilities as you demonstrate your impact.

The position is based in Scotland, with a competitive senior leadership package and relocation support available.

For a confidential discussion, please contact Kleboe Jardine.