Part Time Technical Manager

Ashford, Kent
Brakes
Job Description

Brakes are currently recruiting for a Part Time Technical Manager to join the team on a 12-month fixed term contract to join the Merchandising team covering Catering Supplies.

As the Technical Manager you will work as part of a designated category team and manage all elements relating to Product Quality, Safety, Legality, and Integrity for a defined portfolio of suppliers and products ensuring a comprehensive technical support service is provided.

This role is offering a hybrid working contract, with 1 day per week in our Ashford, Kent office for Team Collaboration, so you must be in a commutable distance and open to travel. The role is working 21 hours per week ideally split over 3-4 days.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

• Provide support, guidance and expertise to the procurement & category team in context of supplier selection, supplier expertise, product quality attributes and control parameters which will successfully contribute to exceeding customer expectations, growing sales and profit.
• Support the PGM and common assortment to deliver against the annual growth target.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues in our European businesses to deliver growth initiatives and align on processes.
• Stay abreast of industry challenges, issues and developments, sharing insight within the technical, category & procurements teams to mitigate impact and support sales growth.
• Effective supplier management from initial selection & approval through conducting site audits, setting clear technical expectations, providing guidance & support, issuing performance updates and instigate joint business/improvement plans.
• Maintain the approved supplier database, complete due diligence audits as required ensuring reports are documented and all non-conformances are effective closed out.
• Maintain up to date specifications for all products.
• Generate and approve own brand artwork.
• Instigate product risk management action plan & develop an awareness of emerging issues, escalating within the business to mitigate business and customer impact.
• Focus on complaint trending, monitoring & root case analysis, working with suppliers to support the annual KPI.
• Instigate a robust quality assessment programme for product range.
• Provide support & input to ensure marketing literature is informative for our customers.
• Support NPD product launches including first production runs.
• Deliver innovative technical solutions which add value to the business in areas such as cost reduction and/or improved quality without cost increase.

About you:

The ideal candidate must have a technical background and have a full understanding within a food service / fast-paced technical team (QA/QC) with a relevant degree in Food Science/Technology. You will have demonstratable industry experience and knowledge of QMS, European and UK Legislations and HACCP. It is key to have excellent communication skills as you will be customer focused and be well organised and use effective project management skills. You will show tenacity and a desire to follow things through to completion, with strong planning and organisational skills, and a high attention to detail. It is highly desirable to have a Lead assessor qualification and supplier and product management experience.

What you’ll receive:

• A competitive salary
• Company Car or Car Allowance of £5,500 per annum.
• Private Medical healthcare
• Generous holiday allowance, with option to purchase 5 additional holiday days
• Pension scheme
• Hybrid working contract
• Huge discounts on all sorts of lovely food and award-winning products through our staff shop
• Discounts on Cinema tickets, shopping and earn cashback on purchases through Sodexo.
• Recognition awards and Incentives
• Career progression opportunities – being part of Sysco, the world’s leading foodservice business, opens up a world of possibility