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Sector: Retail and Wholesale
Role: Manager
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time
About the role
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.
* 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. A financial probity check will also need to be completed for this role.
Key responsibilities
* Lead and develop the technical relationship with Waitrose suppliers across a category.
* Lead the team to maintain Waitrose Product Pathway content accuracy.
* Work 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.
* Ensure Joint Business Plans and Category Plans are balanced and sustainable.
* 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.
* Lead and manage a team of Technical Managers and Technologists using Partnership Values to develop their potential and deliver the Waitrose Technical Strategy.
* 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.
About The Partnership
We're the largest employee-owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. As Partners, we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We embrace our differences and create an environment where we're free to be ourselves and can THRIVE.
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.
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