Category Technical Manager (MPFDE)

About the roleThis is an exciting opportunity to lead our Technical Team for the Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dairy and Eggs (MPFDE) Category .
As Category Technical Manager, you will be responsible for leading a team of Technical Managers and Technologists in the management of a defined range of new and existing Waitrose products and their manufacture (at external manufacturers and/or farms).
To ensure the quality, safety, legality, and compliance to relevant standards.
You will also be responsible for implementing technical innovation, sourcing standards to secure the brand reputation of Waitrose, as well as deliver product development programmes to drive improved business efficiency and growth.

• Salary - £76,100 - £101,600  

• Contract type - This position is a Permanent contract

• Working pattern/flexible working - The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business. The expectation is that there will be 2 days per week in the office, supplier visits as required.

• Location - This role is based at our Bracknell Head Office, and requires regular travel to suppliers.

Please be aware that due to the nature and activities of this role, all successful candidates will have a DBS check carried out on them through a 3rd party registered body. For more details on DBS checks and what these entail, please visit the Government website. A financial probity check will also need to be completed for this role.

Key responsibilities

Commercial Delivery 

Lead and develop the technical relationship with Waitrose suppliers across a category 

Lead the team to maintain Waitrose Product Pathway content accuracy

Matrix Working

Working with dotted lines and shared KPIs to ensure Category Pod (Buying, Brand Development, Space and Value and Supply Chain) delivers results in line with Waitrose Technical and relevant brand standards 

Liaise directly with the Ethical & Sustainability Team to deliver the Ethical & Sustainability Strategy for the area within the Category Pod 

Manage supplier performance against Waitrose Technical and relevant brand standards

Manage technical elements of New Product Development (NPD) programmes and Product Tender programmes for the category alongside other Managers, Product Technology, Buying, and Brand Development functions 

Work with the Brand Innovation and Strategy & Change teams, to identify opportunities for technical innovation in product ranges and supply chains to create growth, efficiency and improve brand equity

Facilitate matrix working across Category Pods

Commercial Sustainability

Ensure Joint Business Plans and Category Plans are balanced and sustainable

Policy & Compliance

Lead your team and suppliers to meet and exceed technical, quality, and ethical standards

In collaboration with Technical Operations, Ethical & Sustainability team, and other relevant teams, continually review and identify areas of risk and opportunity, to develop and implement appropriate technical, legal, and brand strategies, policies, and standards

Maintain records and data to support legal due diligence 

Leadership

Lead and manage a team of Technical Managers and Technologists using Partnership Values to develop their potential and deliver the Waitrose Technical Strategy

Lead and manage a team of Technical Managers and Technologists to reach their full potential and to be a role model for Partnership values

Facilitate efficient and effective collaborative working within a Category Pod 

Crisis manage to protect brand reputation and minimise risk to customers including leading product incidents for branded and own label lines, with follow-up activity for own label incidents

Essential skills/experience you’ll need 

• HACCP level 3 and Lead Auditor training

• Relevant specialist training e.g allergens, microbiology, pesticide management, cosmetics

• Extensive technical experience within the food or non-food industry

• Experience in line management

Desirable skills/experience you may have

• Relevant Food Science degree or equivalent formal qualification

• Good commercial understanding

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About The Partnership

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.

Important points to note:

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting. If required, you’ll find out more about vetting throughout the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays.

We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.