<div><h3>About the role</h3><p>We are looking for a visionary Category Technical Manager to lead a team of Technical Managers / Technologists in safeguarding Waitroses reputation for excellence. The role oversees the safety, legality, and quality of products while driving technical innovation and product development. If you are an inspiring leader with a passion for provenance and cross‑functional collaboration, you are invited to help elevate our standards and shape the future of our brand.</p><ul><li><b>Salary</b> - £75,800– £121,000</li><li><b>Contract type</b> - Two Permanent contracts</li><li><b>Working pattern / flexible working</b> - Hybrid (office and home), with a preference for 3 days in person per week for the Waitrose Own Brand Team, though not a hard rule.</li><li><b>Location</b> - Bracknell Head office</li><li><b>Interviews</b> - Scheduled for end of June / early July</li></ul><h3>Key responsibilities</h3><p>Responsible for leading a team of expert Technical Managers and Technologists in the technical 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, compliance to relevant brand standards and provenance of those products and their components.</p><ul><li>Manage and deliver product development programmes to secure and develop the brand reputation of Waitrose.</li><li>Identify and implement technical innovation within the department and supply chain to drive improved business efficiency and growth.</li><li>Develop and implement technical and sourcing standards that maintain and enhance the Waitrose and Partners Brand reputation.</li><li>Lead and manage a team of Technical Managers and Technologists to reach their full potential and be a role model for our Partnership values.</li><li>Facilitate cross‑functional working across category PODs, demonstrating appropriate stakeholder engagement.</li></ul><h3>Essential skills/experience you’ll need</h3><ul><li>Relevant Food Science degree or equivalent formal qualification.</li><li>HACCP level 3 and Lead Auditor training.</li><li>Relevant specialist training (e.g., allergens, microbiology, pesticide management, cosmetics).</li><li>Current (within last 12 months) extensive technical experience within the food or non‑food industry.</li><li>Recent experience in line management of a team and driving improvement through data‑driven insights.</li></ul><h3>Important points to note</h3><p>The role may be subject to pre‑employment vetting, including DBS checks and, for some roles, financial probity checks, conducted by a third‑party registered body. You will be informed of any required checks during the recruitment process and encouraged to complete any vetting documents promptly to avoid delays.</p><p>We occasionally close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications, so we recommend applying early. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability, please contact us as soon as possible.</p><p>We support flexible working to help maintain a good work‑life balance; this might include flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible.</p></div>