Salary - £75,800- £121,000
Contract type - We are recruiting for two positions both on a Permanent contract.
Working pattern/flexible working - The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business. Alongside this we have also signalled a clear intent for Central teams to work ‘more in person than not.’ For the Waitrose Own Brand Team this means 3 days a week of in-person time but it is not a hard and fast rule requiring everyone to be in the office 3 days a week. Supplier visits, time in our shops and time in the office all contribute to this requirement.
Location - Bracknell Head office
Interviews - We are aiming for interviews to take place end of June / Early July
Key responsibilities
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 and compliance to relevant brand standards and provenance of those products and their components.
To manage and deliver product development programmes; to secure and develop the brand reputation of Waitrose
To identify and implement within the department and supply chain, technical innovation to drive improved business efficiency and growth
To develop and implement technical and sourcing standards that maintain and enhance the Waitrose and Partners Brand reputation
Lead and manage a team of Technical Managers and Technologists to reach their full potential and to be a role model for our Partnership values
Facilitate cross functional working across category PODs, demonstrating appropriate stakeholder engagement
Essential skills/experience you’ll need
Relevant Food Science degree or equivalent formal qualification
HACCP level 3 and Lead Auditor training
Relevant specialist training e.g allergens, microbiology, pesticide management, cosmetics
Current (within last 12 months) extensive technical experience within the food or non food industry'
Recent experience in line management of a team and driving improvement through data driven insights
#LI-HEADOFFICE
#LI-EW1
To learn more about this role, please copy and paste this link into a new browser window: https://embed.wirewax.com/8114190Closing Date:
June 21, 2026
Pay:
Contract Type:
Hours of Work:
Job Level:
Where You'll Be Working:
Bracknell Campus, Doncastle Road, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 8YAABOUT THE PARTNERSHIPWe’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.
We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.
As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.
We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.
As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.
Important points to note:
It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.
We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.
We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.
Skills Required
- Relevant Food Science degree or equivalent formal qualification
- HACCP Level 3 and Lead Auditor training
- Relevant specialist training (e.g., allergens, microbiology, pesticide management, cosmetics)
- Current (within last 12 months) extensive technical experience within the food or non-food industry
- Recent experience in line management of a team and driving improvement through data-driven insights
What We Do
Working in Partnership for a happier world. Our Partnership is an ongoing experiment to find happier, more trusted ways of doing business, for the benefit of us all. We work together to create a successful business and a fairer, more sustainable future for Partners, customers, suppliers and communities. Our Partnership is owned entirely in trust by Partners which means we are more than employees; we share knowledge, power and profit. Our Purpose inspires our principles, drives our decisions and acts as our guide. Visit www.jlpjobs.com directly to view our current opportunities.
