Lead Technical Manager FTC

The Company

Our client is a prestigious and highly respected premium retail and hospitality business with an international reputation for quality,innovation and 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,sustainability and ethical sourcing.

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 approval programmes, 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.

• Lead the technical delivery of new product development projects,ensuring all 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,traceability and international compliance requirements.
• Develop,implement and continuously improve supplier quality management systems.
• Manage supplier approval processes,auditsand ongoing supplier performance programmes.
• 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,policies and 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.

The successful candidate will be a credible and influential technical professional with a strong track record within retail,manufacturingor a related consumer goods environment.

• 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,reviewing and approving product specifications.
• Demonstrable success influencing cross-functional stakeholders and driving change.
• Previous people 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-building and 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 regarded organisation.