Category Technical Manager

About the role

We are looking for a visionary Category Technical Manager to lead a team of Technical Managers / Technologists in safeguarding Waitrose's reputation for excellence. You will oversee the safety, legality, and quality of our products while driving technical innovation and product development. If you are an inspiring leader with a passion for provenance and cross-functional collaboration, we invite you to help us elevate our standards and shape the future of our brand. 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

Responsibilities

• 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
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• To learn more about this role, please copy and paste this link into a new browser window: https://embed.wirewax.com/8114190
• Closing Date:
• June 21, 2026
• Pay:
• £75,800.00 - £121,000.00 Annual
• Contract Type:
• Permanent
• Hours of Work:
• 35
• Job Level:
• Partnership Level 5
• Where You'll Be Working:
• Bracknell Campus, Doncastle Road, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 8YA
• ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP
• We'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:
• 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 hou

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