We are thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for a CategoryTechnical Manager to become a vital part of our Technical Team at our Produce Packing Facility facility in Normanton. If you are passionate about and eager to contribute to a dynamic team, this role is perfect for you!

Position Details:

• Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5pm
• Location: IPL Normanton – with flexibility to travel across our UK and overseas supplier base as and when required
• Contract Type: Permanent

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Management of ASDA/IPL specifications and communication to the business/supply base ensuring goods to specification are procured and supplied.
• On-boarding and maintaining due diligence controls of our suppliers, and auditing requirements
• Interaction with QA teams in ASDA and IPL packing sites to ensure specifications are met.
• Use of customer feedback, data management and trend analysis to enable implementation of corrective actions relating to IPL agreed technical KPI’s
• Influencing buying decisions in relation to supplier selection and supply calendar, to ensure the best quality products at the right price are always available for our customers
• Delivering the new product and varietal plan alongside the procurement teams
• Supporting the GNFR team to deliver practical solutions within our supplier base for the reduction and/or removal packaging that will impact or EPR charges.
• Keeping up to date with industry issues and factors that could potentially affect product safety, quality, legality, integrity or availability, and putting actions in place to mitigate the impact on IPL/ASDA products
• Supporting our Responsible Sourcing objectives and commitments, being the eyes and ears within our supplier base, helping our suppliers to deliver initiatives that support our commitments, and where applicable engaging with NGO’s and Govt. organisations
• Managing our technologist / technical administrator colleagues, developing their skills and experience to ensure we have robust succession plans
• Visit Asda suppliers and stores regularly to monitor quality, see how our products are performing, engaging with our store colleagues and suppliers to drive quality perception improvements within span of control.

What are we looking for?

• The guardian of product safety, quality and legality for salad products in Asda.
• Experience in a technical role within a retail food business, ideally with fresh produce experience although not essential
• Experience and confidence in auditing third party vendors as well as conducting internal audits
• Ability to translate technical issues into easily understood language
• Agile and able to manage priorities and workload for self and direct reports.
• Able to remain laser focussed on product quality with an understanding of commercial
• Logical and evidence led approach with good influencing skills
• HACCP Level 3 and internal auditing/BRC training and Lead Assessor experience is desirable but not essential
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to travel to sites within the UK and overseas
• Knowledge of the full project life cycle
• A full driving licence with access to your own vehicle is essential for this due to the amount of travel involved