Technical Manager

Key responsibilities:

• Delivering the Own Brand Product Plan for the category by supporting the technical elements of all approved projects, and project managing those assigned to technical.

• Operating in a collaborative matrix way of working across Quality & Technical, Regulatory, Policy & Compliance, Product Innovation, CPG Trading, Marketing, Customer Services, Retail and Ethics & Sustainability to deliver shared KPIs 

• Identifying opportunities for technical innovation & process optimisation across product ranges and supply chains to create growth and efficiency, improve brand equity and implement best practice.

• Developing and maintaining robust internal & external networks in order to shape the development of standards relevant to own category and to maintain manufacturing knowledge and implement best practice in supply base. 

• Managing and developing the technical relationship with Waitrose suppliers and identify product or supplier risks within the Category Trading area, establish root causes and develop technical improvement plans to mitigate.

• Implementing the onboarding and approving of new suppliers in line with Waitrose Technical standards. 

• Ensuring accurate and compliant supplier and site information and product information to the required standard on all applicable systems.

• Contributing to the development of appropriate technical, legal and brand strategies, policies and standards, in collaboration with Regulation, Policy & Compliance and other relevant teams.

• Managing product incidents for Own Label lines, with required follow up activity. 

Essential skills/experience you’ll need: 

• Degree in food science (or similar) or equivalent experience in Technical within the Food & Grocery industry

• HACCP training (Level 3), Lead Assessor

• At least 5 years Technical experience within the food industry

• Supplier management and technical development

• Specialist training e.g allergens, microbiology, pesticide management, cosmetics regulations, specification management and product labelling legal requirements

Desirable skills/experience you may have:

• Additional specialist qualifications in specific category or product areas as required