Hybrid Category Technical Manager – Food Safety & Innovation

Asda Stores Ltd; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary company bonus

Company pension up to 7% matched

Company Car allowance of £5,700

15% colleague discount in store and온라인

Wellbeing services including Stream, 7

Allies Inclusion Networks

Job summary

Asda Stores Ltd is hiring a Category Technical Manager to lead supplier partners, ensuring safe, legal and high-quality products across Fresh Core Chilled, Bakery & Counters. You’ll champion technical standards, guide quality improvements and manage supplier risk while aligning with commercial goals.

In this role, you will drive technical governance, oversee incident investigations, and support new product development and launches with cross-functional teams across the supply base.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing complex food categories and supplier networks.
• Strong technical expertise in food safety, quality management and regulatory compliance.
• Knowledge of manufacturing environments and industry standards, including BRCGS and HACCP.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility at all levels.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of customer needs.
• Ability to prioritise effectively in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Track record of making sound decisions and delivering measurable results.
• Experience building strong, sustainable supplier relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support supplier partners to deliver safe, legal and high-quality products.
• Act as technical lead for your category areas and support strategy delivery.
• Champion Asda's technical standards and compliance expectations.
• Develop and implement quality improvement plans with suppliers.
• Build strong relationships across the supply base and manage quality issues.
• Identify opportunities, mitigate risks and add value to the business.
• Lead incident management and investigations into customer complaints.
• Support new product development projects and on-time launches.
• Maintain supplier sites and specifications in due diligence systems.
• Monitor audits, documentation and governance across categories.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Commercial awareness

Influencing

Problem solving

Education

Degree in food-related/scientific/relevant technical discipline

Job description

Asda Stores Ltd is hiring a Category Technical Manager to lead supplier partners, ensuring safe, legal and high-quality products across Fresh Core Chilled, Bakery & Counters. You’ll champion technical standards, guide quality improvements and manage supplier risk while aligning with commercial goals.

In this role, you will drive technical governance, oversee incident investigations, and support new product development and launches with cross-functional teams across the supply base.