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Job Description

Brakes are currently recruiting for a Technical Manager to join the Merchandising team on a full time, permanent basis, reporting to the Head of Product Technology.   

As the Technical Manager you will work as part of a merchandising category team and manage all elements relating to Product Quality, Safety, Legality, and Integrity for a portfolio of own brand and vendor brand suppliers and products ensuring a comprehensive technical support service is provided. 

This role is offering a hybrid working contract, with 1 day per week in our Ashford, Kent office for Team Collaboration, so you must be in a commutable distance and open to travel. The earliest start date for this role is 1st July.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities: 

Provide support, guidance and expertise to the procurement & category team in context of supplier selection, supplier expertise, product quality attributes and control parameters which will successfully contribute to exceeding customer expectations, growing sales and profit.  

Support the European sourcing initiative to deliver against the annual growth targets. 

Stay abreast of industry challenges, issues and developments, sharing insight within the technical, category & procurements teams to mitigate impact and support sales growth.  

Effective supplier management from initial selection & approval, setting clear technical expectations, providing guidance & support, issuing performance updates and instigate joint business/improvement plans.  

Maintain the own brand approved supplier database, complete initial approval and routine surveillance audits ensuring visit reports are documented and all non-conformances are effective closed out.  

Maintain up to date specifications for all products.  

Generate and approve own brand artwork.  

Instigate product risk management action plan & develop an awareness of emerging issues, escalating within the business to mitigate business and customer impact.  

Focus on complaint trending, monitoring & root case analysis, working with suppliers to support the annual KPI.  

Instigate a robust quality assessment programme for product range.  

Provide support & input to ensure marketing literature is informative for our customers.  

Work closely with product development on new product launches, brand changes, product changes, tiering including first production runs where required.  

Deliver innovative technical solutions which add value to the business in areas such as cost reduction and/or improved quality without cost increase. 

About you: 

The ideal candidate must have a technical background and have a full understanding within a food service / fast-paced technical team (QA/QC) with a relevant degree in Food Science/Technology. You will have demonstratable industry experience and knowledge of QMS, European and UK Legislations and HACCP. It is key to have excellent communication skills as you will be customer focused and be well organised and use effective project management skills. You will show tenacity and a desire to follow things through to completion, with strong planning and organisational skills, and a high attention to detail. It is highly desirable to have a Lead assessor qualification and supplier and product management experience. 

What you’ll receive: 

A competitive salary 

Car Allowance of £5,500 per annum. 

Private Medical healthcare 

Generous holiday allowance, with option to purchase 5 additional holiday days 

Pension scheme 

Hybrid working contract 

Huge discounts on all sorts of lovely food and award-winning products through our staff shop 

Discounts on Cinema tickets, shopping and earn cashback on purchases through Sodexo.  

Recognition awards and Incentives 

Career progression opportunities - being part of Sysco, the world’s leading foodservice business, opens up a world of possibility