Posting End Date: February 5, 2025 Join John Lewis or Waitrose today If you've ever stepped through the doors of a John Lewis or Waitrose shop, shopped online, or seen any of our adverts, you'll know there's something unique about us. That unique proposition is our Partners. As co-owners they have a say in our business and receive a share of the profits, so they put time and effort into making it work. Our Partners are the reason we're the success we are. They're our secret sauce; the opportunity for us to differentiate. Job Summary: This 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. Job Description: 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 LI-HYBRID LI-SH1 Pay: £76,100.00 - £101,600.00 Annual Scheduled Weekly hours: 35 Worker Type: Permanent Partner Job Level: Partnership Level 5 Hours of Work: 09:00-17:30 At the John Lewis Partnership, we embrace our differences. We want you to be you. Because, well, we know you're at your best when you're free to be yourself. Being a truly inclusive employer to us means creating an environment which celebrates your contribution, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, social background, religion or belief. It's why we've set our own aim to become the UK’s most inclusive business - for our Partners (employees) and our customers. We firmly believe that our future success lies in diversity of thought from all Partners and it's integral in our mission to build a happier world. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us. And, once you're a Partner, your differences will make all the difference. Find out more about D&I in the Partnership here. 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 it is possible to do so. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview. https://embed.wirewax.com/8114190