The Company
Our client is a prestigious and highly respected premium retail and hospitality business with an international reputation for quality,innovationand exceptional customer experience. With a diverse portfolio of own-brand products and a complex global supply chain, they are committed tomaintainingthe highest standards of product quality, food safety,sustainabilityand ethical sourcing.
The Role
Reporting to the Director of Technical & Sustainability, the Lead Senior Category Technical Manager will provide technical leadership across a broad portfolio of food and non-food own-label products.
This is a pivotal role responsible for managing the technical and corporate social responsibility (CSR) elements of the new product development process, supplier approvalprogrammes, technical compliance, auditing, specificationmanagementand supplier quality systems.
Leading a small team, you will work cross-functionally with Buying, Product Development, Quality, Sustainability and Operational teams, while building strong partnerships across a diverse supplier base. You will be instrumental in ensuring products are developed and launched with full legal compliance, robust due diligence, effective riskmanagementand industry-leading quality standards.
Key Accountabilities
- Lead the technical delivery of new product development projects,ensuringall technical, regulatory and CSR requirements are met within agreed timelines.
- Act as the technical expert within cross-functional project teams, influencing stakeholders and driving successful product launches.
- Oversee the creation,reviewand approval of product specifications across food and non-food categories.
- Ensure all products meet legal, safety, quality,traceabilityand international compliance requirements.
- Develop,implementand continuously improve supplier quality management systems.
- Manage supplier approval processes,auditsand ongoing supplier performanceprogrammes.
- Conduct supplier audits and site visits, ensuring corrective actions are implemented and closed effectively.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives relating to product quality, food safety, ethicalsourcingand sustainability.
- Monitor and report on supplier performance, CSR commitments, workerwelfareand modern slavery risk management.
- Maintain and develop operational procedures,policiesand codes of practice to manage business risk.
- Lead technical trainingprogrammesfor internal stakeholders and suppliers.
- Manage surveillance testingprogrammesand ensure trends,risksand performance data are reported effectively.
- Lead, coach and develop Technical Development Technologists to deliver high levels of performance and engagement.
Person Profile
The successful candidate will be a credible and influential technical professional with a strongtrack recordwithin retail,manufacturingor a related consumer goods environment.
You willpossess:
- A scientific degree or equivalent qualification.
- A minimum of five years' experience in a technical,qualityor food safety role.
- Proven experience leading technical activities within a product development environment.
- Strong supplier auditing, supplierassuranceand quality management experience.
- Experience creating,reviewingand approving product specifications.
- Demonstrable success influencing cross-functional stakeholders and driving change.
- Previouspeople management and team leadership experience.
- Strong knowledge of quality management systems, food safetystandardsand regulatory requirements.
- Excellent project management,organisationandprioritisationskills.
- The ability toanalysecomplex information, make sounddecisionsand solve problems effectively.
- Strong communication, relationship-buildingand stakeholder management skills.
- A proactive, delivery-focused approach with the ability to balance strategic thinking and operational execution.
This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced technical leader looking to play a key role in shaping product quality, supplierstandardsand sustainability performance within a highly regardedorganisation.
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