Technical Manager

Our client has a fantastic opportunity for a Technical Manager. This is an excellent chance to join the Technical team at one of the UK’s leading and fastest growing retailers. RESPONSIBILITIES

Key responsibilities

To own and drive the quality specification of the product and range offer across defined product categories. Working in partnership with suppliers and Category colleagues defining product specific documentation, to ensure we make quality measurable for our customers.

Ensures supplier performance standards relating to product quality, safety, legal and ethical compliance are communicated to the category stakeholders (internal / external).  Ensuring supplier compliance.

Ongoing assessment of the supply base to ensure we are using capable, responsible suppliers based on their competencies, capability and capacity such that our customer expectations of products are met or exceeded.

Be a key member of the team that delivers existing and new product development via category and range reviews, with line trials and product launches, process, packaging and ingredient innovation. Sharing expertise and identify solutions that deliver product integrity, supplier efficiency and compliance thus enabling Commercial colleagues to buy better for less.

Contribute own particular technical expertise to the development, implementation and compliance of technical policies and codes of practice or standards, in order to enhance the reputation brand and the quality of the product offer.

Build and maintain relationships with all stakeholders liaising with external agencies, including local enforcement authorities (e.g. Environmental Health and Trading Standards) on food safety and quality non-conformance issues, taking timely action as required to address their concerns, so that food safety and reputational risk is effectively managed.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Key Internal Relationships 

• Line manager & wider DFT leadership
• Senior buyer
• CTM
• Food policy
• Product Development
• Group risk
• Store operations, logistics and supply chain

Key External Relationships 

External suppliers, NGO’s, Enforcement, research associations and service contract providers.  Contact usually limited to matters directly relating to product category that you are accountable for.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Required Skills/Qualifications

• Food safety, quality and legal knowledge as applicable to retailing.
• Knowledge of category required in order deliver
• Experience of leading complex/large scale categories
• Relationship building with key suppliers
• Experience of other Retailers is desirable
• Confidence to develop relationships delivering cross functional work
• Experience of delivering to a plan
• Experience of working in a fast paced environment
• Degree level in relevant science, or relevant work experience