Senior Technical Manager at Pret A Manger
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This range is provided by Pret A Manger. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.
Base pay range
We’re Pret: proud makers of freshly made food, organic coffee, and big ideas. Across 750+ shops and 20+ countries, our teams are shaping the future of Pret through innovation, inclusion, great customer service and a shared passion for doing the right thing. We’re growing fast on our mission to be the employer of choice in hospitality, everywhere we operate – so this an exciting time to hop on board.
We Believe in Growing Good Things
Growth is at the heart of everything we do. From the freshly hand‑made food we create every day, to supporting our teams, we help our people grow in confidence, skills and to pursue their unique paths. Pret is where passionate, hardworking, wonderful people (like you!) find what they need to shine. And the proof is in the pudding – over 80% of our Managers started on the shop floor! So did 20% of our Support Centre teams, including our CEO, Pano.
What we're looking for
We’re looking for passionate team players to bring joy to our customers every day. As our Senior Technical Manager (UK), you’ll play a critical role behind the scenes—making sure everything we serve is safe, legal and true to Pret’s high standards. The Food Technical Team exists to ensure that all food in the UK meets Pret standards, legal requirements and food safety expectations. This is achieved by establishing, maintaining, reviewing and continuously improving the systems, processes and standards that underpin food safety and due diligence.
As Senior Technical Manager UK, you’ll manage supply base quality and supply issues, equip Pret with the right tools to continuously improve the quality of inbound products and ingredients, and provide expert guidance on food safety and quality across our shops.
You’ll be part of the UK Technical Team, safeguarding the reputation of the Pret brand - quality, safety and legality - while supporting Pret’s approach to food through robust food science and effective supply base management. The role delivers strong oversight of food safety, quality and legality across the UK and Ireland and reports to the Head of Technical UK & EU within the Food Commercial Team.
Key responsibilities
Maintaining a technical relationship with food suppliers
Driving continuous improvement in quality, including complaints and total defects KPIs
Managing quality issues and incidents, embedding learnings into enhanced procedures for optimal future recovery
Ensuring robust processes are in place to deliver effective manufacturing technical management, meet quality standards, and achieve long‑term improvement plans
Supporting unexpected supply chain changes, including capacity constraints, factory relocations, and crisis management
Identifying cost‑saving opportunities (TCOF reduction) and supporting delivery
Delivering a sustainable business within the area in line with established Pret policies
Finished product administration
Ensuring every MTS and BTS product has an up-to-date, active specification on Hamilton Grant
Maintaining thorough and current risk assessments, including HACCP and prerequisite programmes
Ensuring legality of all Pret BTS and MTS labels and published food information, with up-to-date legislative knowledge
Ensuring appropriate shelf life across the Pret range, incorporating safety and quality, and recommending life extensions where suitable
Conducting quality taste panels for MTS ingredients, BTS products, and finished products (e.g. Chef’s Specials) as appropriate
Delivering internal and external quality reports and trend analysis
Shop Facing
Monitoring, trending, and responding to shop complaints
Monitoring, trending, and responding to customer complaints
Generating and reviewing launch documentation for shops (Allergen Guide, Shelf Life Guide, Langar tickets)
NPD & innovation
Delivering NPD on time and to specification, working closely with suppliers, buyers, and product developers
Investigating innovation opportunities within the area
Maintaining an external network to “bring the outside in,” aligned to the area or personal passion
Projects
Responsible for the on‑time and on‑specification delivery of projects in my area; including the management of expectations, escalating requirements for resource and support
Experience and Skills required
Food science or Food technology qualification at degree level
10+ years experience in food technical roles, preferably within retail or food service.
Empathy with natural, fresh food, sustainability, and the environment.
About you
Be kind, honest and generous: bring genuine warmth and your authentic self to work every day.
Bring your passion: share our passion for food and exceptional customer service.
Spread joy every day: small acts of kindness are a big part of what makes the Pret experience special.
We offer
Gold Card: We love making people’s day through our food and drinks. That goes for our teams too. That’s why everyone gets a Gold Card. When you’re in the office, your food and drinks are on us. And when you’re not, you can use your Gold Card to get up to 5 Barista‑made drinks a day, and 50% off everything else (food, snacks, bottled drinks – the lot).
A few more perks
You’ll get 33 days of annual leave (including flexible Bank Holidays), increasing to 38 days the longer you’re with us.
Free private medical cover, with the option to add family or partner at an additional cost.
4% of your pension contribution matched by Pret, rises to 5% after 5 years.
Life assurance at 3x annual salary.
Loyalty award for 5, 10, 15, 20 years’ service.
Flexible Benefits Platform packed with lifestyle discounts.
Season ticket loans.
Financial wellbeing provisions.
Free mortgage services.
Sabbatical after 3 years.
Opportunities to support our charity, The Pret Foundation.
We also offer
Individual ways to grow - We offer lots of opportunities for learning, whether you join us for a short stint or the long game, you’re good to grow with us. Including fully funded professional qualifications, leadership development and mentoring.
Diversity and belonging - Everyone is welcome at Pret, we want you to feel confident and valued for who you are and to truly belong.
Pace and variety - Our work is fast paced with lots of variety, you’ll build a diverse skill set and learn a lot!
Community and purpose - We’re proud to make a difference through The Pret Foundation, from tackling homelessness to reducing food waste and creating positive change for people and communities.
Our values
Happy Teams Happy Customers
Amazing Standards Every day
Doing The Right Thing
The interview journey
Every interview process at Pret begins with the same two stages. First, you’ll have a relaxed 30‑minute conversation with our recruitment team so we can get to know you and your experience. Next, you’ll be invited to a one‑hour, in‑person interview with the hiring manager at our Head Office in London Victoria.
Depending on the role and function, there may be additional stages. These could include time spent in one of our shops, completing a task, or meeting a senior leader.
Before you apply
This role is based at Pret’s Support Centre in London Victoria, where we work in a hybrid way – typically three days a week in the office.
Deadline to apply for this role
Monday 5th January 2026
Seniority level
Mid‑Senior level
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Quality Assurance
Industries
Hospitality and Retail
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