Category Technical Manager

Competitive salary plus benefits

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Category Technical Manager to join our Ambient Grocery team. The purpose of the job is to enable Asda to become Britain’s most trusted retailer. This will be achieved by working with our business partners to lead and deliver due diligence and brand requirements in our accountable categories and throughout our teams, as well as exciting our customers through fantastic innovation and quality for a primal meat and fish ranges.

As a Category Technical Manager for Ambient Grocery you will be responsible for promoting a culture of compliance, enabling the business strategy as well as protecting and enhancing the Asda Brand. You will manage the delivery of product and supplier compliance across ASDA supply base for products we sell to our customers. You will play a pivotal role in the development of product in our own brand ranges ensuring we are giving our customers the best quality at affordable prices and giving them the Asda feeling. Other responsibilities in the role include:

· Engage the trading and customer planning teams to deliver the own brand strategy for your product area, understanding the market and developing fantastic products to delight our customers.

· Deliver the critical path for development and launch of own brand product.

· Agree and implement quality plans with our supplying partners to ensure we offer consistently great quality.

· Implement plans for benchmarking, consistency and improvement based on customer feedback, such as online reviews, customer complaints.

· Manage the Technical review process, engaging business partners from start to end in line with our policy.

· Supporting the delivery of excellent supplier communications – e.g. supplier conferences / training programs.

· Be the category strategic lead for technical and where applicable, quality compliance in your accountable areas by working cross functionally to support the senior manager to deliver the business strategy and the application of technical innovation.

· Conduct strategic risk assessment reviews of the supplier base in conjunction with risk and strategic category plans.

· Ensure all visits and audits are completed as required after following a consistent, robust and documented risk assessment.

· Work as an enabler to your business unit, adding value to the category through knowledge of your supply base and product range.

· Ensure all specifications in the HIVE have a risk assessment, are agreed with your business partners and actioned as required.

· Line management and development of direct reports and commitment to growing talent.

· Ensure all active supplying sites are on the HIVE, and have required compliance and Responsible sourcing documentation

· Support the development, engagement (internal and external) and delivery of policies or processes relevant to your category areas to ensure compliance is embedded and effective at point of launch.

· Active participation in Horizon Scanning (internal / external) of the category area, investigating anomalies and supporting development of policy and processes to mitigate Asda brand exposure to risk.

“Let's find out about you”

As an experienced Technical Manager you will have experience of leading complex food categories within retail, FMCG or a manufacturing environment and have the ability to influence both internal and external stakeholders by demonstrating your professional knowledge and area of expertise. You will have a passion for this industry and subject matter expertise.

· Experience of leading complex food categories within retail, FMCG or Manufacturing environment. A natural problem solver and credible leader

· Influence both internal and external stakeholders by demonstrating your professional knowledge and area of expertise

· Degree or equivalent in relevant product or scientific area

· A solid background gained within a similar technical role, supplemented with extensive industry experience in category

· Understanding of technical and manufacturing experience

· Commercial and customer awareness

· Ability to prioritise and flex to business needs

· Proven track record of results delivery & decision making

· The ability to “make a difference” with a commercial instinct

· Build strong sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships with key suppliers

· Be able to demonstrate an ability to engage across multiple channels and work effectively and collaboratively across multiple teams

· Deliver at pace in a complex, fast-moving and ever-changing environment

· Lead by example and do the right thing whilst being open, honest, and accessible

· Dare to try through innovative thought and not waiting to make good things happen

Everything you'll love

To ensure we balance moments where we know we need to collaborate together and the need for flexibility, Asda has a hybrid way of working with a minimum 3 days a week in one of our Home Offices. Over and above this, each area of Asda may have additional requirements which may require spending more days in the office, visiting suppliers, stores or depots.

You will also get an excellent benefits package including:

• Discretionary company bonus

• Company pension up to 7% matched

• Company Car allowance of £5,700

• 15% colleague discount in store and online

• Free access to wellbeing services such as Stream, 24/7 virtual GP, counselling, health and dental cash plans and a 24/7 employee assistance helpline, alongside discounts across a range of services and activities, from airport parking, enhanced to theme parks and cinemas.

• Asda Allies Inclusion Networks – helping colleagues to make sure everybody is included and that our differences are recognised and celebrated

• Excellent parental leave policies, including maternity & adoption leave, paternity leave, shared parental leave, neonatal care leave, and support for those doing fertility treatments.

We want all colleagues to be able to bring their best and true selves to work, every day. Simply put, we want our colleagues to be Proud to be Asda and proud to be themselves