Product Technologist Toys/Early Years

JR United Kingdom; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK educational resources supplier seeks a Product Technologist to ensure quality in their Early Years product range. This role involves overseeing product safety standards, managing supplier relationships, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Ideal candidates will have experience in toy development and a strong understanding of safety regulations. The company promotes a collaborative work environment and offers a competitive salary and benefits.

Benefits

Birthday holiday

Contributory pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Volunteering Leave

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar role in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong understanding of safety and testing regulations (EN71, Toy Safety Directive).
• Experience managing product development processes.

Responsibilities

• Oversee sealing, testing, and product approvals for Early Years.
• Drive compliance ensuring products meet UK & European standards.
• Manage onboarding and performance of suppliers.

Skills

Team collaboration

Communication

Supplier relationship management

Problem-solving

IT skills

Job description

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Product Technologist Toys/Early Years, manchester

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Client:

Location:

manchester, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Views:

1

Posted:

31.05.2025

Expiry Date:

15.07.2025

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Job Description:

Are you passionate about delivering safe, high-quality products that help shape the future of education?

At Findel Education Ltd, we’re on a mission to provide inspiring, durable and compliant products to schools and nurseries across the UK and beyond. We're looking for a Product Technologist to join our Quality team and take ownership for quality across our Early Years product range.

If you have previous experience as a Product Technologist with a background in the development of toys or early years products, we’d love to hear from you. This is a key role within the Quality team, where you'll also collaborate closely with the Early Years and Buying & Merchandising teams, ensuring the best quality products for our youngest learners.

Your Role:

Some of the responsibilities of this great opportunity include:

• Own Quality for Early Years – oversee sealing, testing, critical path management, and product approvals.
• Drive compliance – ensure all products meet UK & European standards and customer expectations.
• Supplier Partnership – manage onboarding, monitoring, and performance of suppliers, ensuring documentation is up to date and standards are met.
• Investigate & Improve – handle customer complaints and product returns, identifying areas for improvement and delivering resolutions.
• Project Coordination – maintain the critical path, manage samples, and support on-time product launches.
• Be the Voice of Quality – act as a key contact in the absence of the Head of QA, supporting the department's day-to-day function.
• Ensure that products meet critical path deadlines and launch on time.
• Investigate and resolve customer complaints efficiently.
• Monitor product returns and ensure returns are kept within agreed targets.
• Onboard new suppliers effectively, ensuring full technical and ethical compliance.

About You:

We’re ideally looking for candidates with the following skills and experience:

• Experience in a similar role in a fast-paced environment, with a background in the development of Toys plus one (or more of the following) Nursery Products, Furniture, Sports Products, Science Products, Electronic Toys, Electrical Products, Educational Product.
• Strong understanding of safety and testing regulations – especially EN71 and the Toy Safety Directive.
• Experience managing product development processes and compliance documentation.
• Confident in handling supplier relationships and ethical audit reviews.
• Skilled in managing customer complaints and executing product recalls when necessary.
• A collaborative team player with excellent communication skills.
• Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office and SharePoint.
• Full UK driving licence and own transport (essential for site visits).
• Willingness to travel occasionally, including potential overseas trips.

What’s in it for you:

Competitive salary & benefits package including:

• Birthday holiday
• Contributory pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme, including online GP & well-being support
• Volunteering Leave

We support hybrid working, with 3 days per week at our collaborative workspace in Hyde, Greater Manchester.Our culture is friendly, welcoming and supportive, and we believe work should be fun.

About Findel

Findel is an eCommerce educational resources supplier in the UK and International schools and nurseries marketplace. We own several general and specialist educational brands; Hope, GLS, Davies Sports, Philip Harris, Spa4Schools, A-Z, EuHu and LDA.

We look for people who want to inspire future generations of learners and who will play a part in moving Findel forward for the greater good. We recruit people who stand out from the crowd, take responsibility for seeking out what adds value and think outside the box.

• To find out about Findel, our vision, values and all the great things we do to support communities and the environment, please visit: https://www.findel.co.uk/
• To apply, please visit: https://findeleducation.careers.adp.com/