Product Technical Manager - Produce

Product Technical Manager - Produce

Contract type: Permanent

Location: Hatfield (Hybrid working - 3 days in the office)

Working hours per week: 40 hours

Level: Manager

Application Closing Date: Friday 19th June

About us

Our mission is to deliver joy in every shop, through unbeatable choice, unrivalled service, and reassuringly good value. We’re also on a mission to empower our business with smart technology; we've recently launched our AI Academy, providing a tailored AI learning journey for every colleague.

We’re Ocado Retail, a market-leading joint venture between Ocado Group and M&S, and the world’s largest dedicated online supermarket, ocado.com. Not only is Ocado the only place to shop a full range of M&S food online, but it’s also the home to the widest online supermarket range in the UK and champion of small, independent brands. We’re also the brains behind Zoom by Ocado, our same-day grocery delivery service.

About the team and the role

The Product Technical Manager has responsibility for the Produce category for product, safety, quality and legality for the Ocado Own Brand range. This includes ongoing management of supplier due diligence and product performance, as well as maintaining supplier and product due diligence across the product category.

What you’ll do

• Managing all Product Safety, Supplier management, Product quality, compliance and internal and external reporting against the product category

• Manage the successful launch of the technical elements of Ocado Own Brand products.

• Ensure all Technical KPI targets are managed and reported against

• Support product incidents and manage complaints

• Maintain and update product specifications and QAS’s

• Keep up to date on all relating regulatory and technical challenges needed to ensure the Own Brand range is safe, legal and compliant at all times

• Manage varietal and seasonal changeovers across the Ocado Own brand range

• Manage country risk profiles and the global sourcing plan

Accountabilities:

• Implementing and retaining the company’s high technical standards across the category

• Engaging with stakeholders to maintain Product Safety, Compliance and Quality in everything we do

• Maintain all due diligence processes to ensure all Ocado Own Brand products are safe and legal

Managing the category Own Brand supply base for

• Product Quality monitoring and improvement plans

• Maintain quality against QAS benchmark standards

• Supplier audit

• Building strong partnerships and developing efficient ways of working with the category supply base

• Ongoing supplier risk assessment

Engage on the Own Brand supply base for

• Sustainability

• Sourcing with integrity, including Human Rights

Who you are

• Minimum 5 years of Technical Management experience with 3 years in Fresh Produce

• Food technology degree (or similar Agricultural/Horticultural degree)

• HACCP Level 3 qualified (desirable)

• Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate (desirable)

• Lead Auditor qualified (desirable or equivalent experience)

• Adept in product risk and crisis management

• Ability to interpret data and act upon it

• Adaptability and flexibility in an ever-changing environment

• Focus on quality, accuracy and attention to detail

• Highly organised and self-motivated

• Embedded knowledge of food law and product law

What’s in it for you

By joining Ocado Retail, you’ll have the chance to experience life at the world’s largest online retailer, work with an amazing bunch of people who challenge what’s possible each day, and grow your skills and career in online retail. You'll also be part of our AI Academy, a dedicated learning journey designed to empower every colleague with the smart technology skills of the future.

If that’s not enough to tempt you, you’ll also get access to loads of great benefits to sweeten the deal. Here’s a taste of what we offer:

Health & Wellbeing: Private medical insurance with option to add your family, Digital GP appointments, market-leading family policies, mental health support, discounted gym memberships, dental insurance, and more.

Spend & Save: Annual bonus scheme split between personal and business objectives, recognition with reward platform, up to 7% matched pension contributions, 15% Ocado discount, 20% M&S discount, free breakfast every day in the office, electric vehicle leasing scheme, and free shuttle bus from Hatfield station to the office.

Never miss the moments that matter: Hybrid working, 26 days holiday plus 8 flexible bank holidays, options to buy extra holiday, 2 weeks work from anywhere, and lifestyle break opportunities.

Our Hiring Process

Lucky for us, we receive a high volume of applications and genuinely appreciate the time and effort invested by every candidate. To ensure a fair and thorough process, every application is reviewed by a member of our team. If your skills and experience are a strong match, a Talent Partner will contact you to discuss the role and guide you through the next steps of our hiring process.

Your Application and AI

In the spirit of innovation, we welcome you to use AI tools in your application, just as we use them in our own business at Ocado Retail. However, as you leverage this technology, please don't lose sight of the most important element: your unique self. Your experiences, passions, and personality are what truly set you apart. Ensure that your application still authentically conveys who you are and why you're a great fit for us.

Everyone’s welcome

We’re an equal opportunities employer, which means that we make sure all potential colleagues are treated fairly and equally. We want to ensure everyone has a fair chance to apply; if you need this job description in an alternative format (e.g., larger print, different document type, etc.), please reach out to us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to assist you, and if you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know on the application form.