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Company Description
Solent Group work with a diverse portfolio of Retailers and supply bespoke products within various categories, including Health & Beauty, Household Impulse Snacking and Reusable Bags. We are proud to be best-in‑class when it comes to own-label product innovation. Our Categories are fast‑paced with ever‑evolving trends and a host of ground‑breaking products coming to market on a regular basis – we add value to retailers by leading and owning each category.
Our core values stand with the quality of our people, and we are committed to helping our team excel. Working for us, you'll be part of a global team with offices in South Africa, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Vietnam and the UK, as we inspire, manufacture and deliver a new wave of cutting‑edge products in partnership with some of the world's best retailers.
Position
POSITION: Global Technical and Quality Director
DIVISION/DEPT: Technical Department
REPORT TO: COO
LINE MANAGEMENT: Team of approx. 30
LOCATION: Office based in Christchurch, Dorset – hybrid model
TRAVEL: Regular travel – Mostly Asia and potentially SA
As the Global Technical and Quality Director for Solent you will lead, influence and develop a global team across our non-food and foods business to deliver key appropriate performance measures that meets and exceeds customer expectations and KPIs. The Operational Board role will require you to take global accountability for the delivery of agreed strategies through technical product innovation, compliance and due diligence. You will lead and support all R&D projects, focusing on bringing market disrupting technologies into the company NPD pipeline and you will champion Solent’s sustainability initiatives. You will provide strategic input into the Solent Business strategy that delivers sustainable profit growth.
Requirements
Key Responsibilities:
* Technical innovation strategy aligned to product & commercial strategies
* Manufacturing compliance strategy
* Human rights due diligence and sustainability strategy
* Develop and maintain technical guidelines, policies and standards
* Technical team leadership and mentoring alongside full budget ownership
* Manage technical aspects of supplier relationships in line with Solent policies & strategies
* Support development of sustainable, competent supplier base to deliver required technical & innovation standards
* Joint delivery of product development innovation at a strategic level
About you:
* Entrepreneurial drive – be passionate for success and good at bringing creative ideas of others to market coupled with good judgement and engages in innovative thinking in unusual situations
* Change manager – must be able to continually expect and adapt to changes in our markets
* Interpersonal skills - must be able to build strong networks and strategic relationships across a wide network including customers, suppliers, commercial, product and supply chain colleagues
* Visionary – seeing and independently developing & influencing opportunities
* Strong communicator – ability to confidently hold their own with leaders in their field with the ability to simplify complex technologies and terminologies
* Strong negotiation & influencing skills – proven track record across all levels of the organisation
* Decision making - Consistent decision making, owns decision to positive risk mitigation and execution by demonstrating strong business understanding and commercial knowledge
* Strong leadership skills – demonstrates a passion and commitment for excellence and high performance (delivery focused, goal driven, flexible)
* Problem solving - Proactive solution seeker with relevant competence and ability to hold their own with stakeholders
* Management - manage delivery in a positive and consistent way that creates a challenging growth experience
* People management – leads by example, with the ability to play an active mentorship & coaching role for all direct reports and technical teams
Experience:
* Technical or compliance management experience in an FMCG manufacturer
* Retail experience for example working in a technical or compliance role at a high street retailer
* Experience in technical development of both non-food and food consumer goods
* Experience working globally, understanding different cultures and attitudes
* Awareness of legislation governing the sale of personal care, household goods and food products
Other information
What we offer:
* Competitive salary with annual salary reviews
* Structured bonuses (based on company & individual performance)
* 25 days holiday per annum, increasing to 27 (3 years service) and 30 (5 years’ or more)
* Salary sacrifice EVP scheme
* Extensive benefits programme including buying additional holiday, medical cash plan, access to mental health support and many other benefits
* Flexible hours and work from home available to all staff
* Great learning and development and progression opportunities
* Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave
* Solent social events run by our inhouse Social Team
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