Retail Product Technologist

Victoria and Albert Museum; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life assurance scheme (4 x annual)

Private pension contributions

Free museum access

Discount platform

Job summary

The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) Retail Buying team seeks a focused professional to oversee product testing, compliance, and certification for all merchandise across shops and online. You will ensure products meet regulatory standards and sustainability targets, collaborating with Buyers, Merchandisers, Designers and external partners.

Responsibilities include managing documentation, reviewing labelling, and maintaining records while keeping abreast of evolving UK/EU/global legislation.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience of responsibility for product compliance in a retail setting.
• Excellent understanding of regulatory processes (UK, EU and international).
• Experience managing technical documentation and compliance records.

Responsibilities

• Manage product testing, compliance and certification processes for V&A merchandise.
• Collaborate with Buying, Merchandising and Design teams to ensure compliance across V&A Retail for bought-in and own-brand products.
• Own the compliance strategy and processes from start to finish, developing and implementing updates with internal and external partners.
• Act as a first point of contact for technical and compliance queries relating to retail product.

Skills

Regulatory knowledge

Documentation management

Job description

This position is located within the V&A Retail Buying team, working closely with Buyers and Merchandisers to oversee product testing and compliance documentation across all merchandise sold within the V&A shops and online. Reporting to the Head of Retail, the role is key to the V&A’s commitment to the highest standards of design, ensuring all products meet regulatory and certification standards, across a wide range of categories that includes toys, food, toiletries, homeware and fashion.

Responsibilities include:

• To manage product testing, compliance and certification processes for V&A merchandise, in line with wider departmental strategy and critical path.
• To work collaboratively with Buying, Merchandising and Design teams to ensure compliance across V&A Retail for both bought-in and own-brand products
• To own the compliance strategy and processes from start to finish, developing as needed and working with internal and external partners to implement
• To act as a first point of contact for internal and external parties for technical and compliance queries relating to retail product
• To be appraised of all relevant legislation and its communication to wider teams as needed
• To set out and communicate the compliance requirements for all categories and territories into which V&A Shops sell
• To work closely with suppliers to ensure standards are met, investigate irregularities, report findings, and help implement corrective actions
• To gather, review and approve third-party test documentation. To maintain records and data related to compliance. To review product labelling, warnings and back-of-pack information to ensure regulatory compliance
• To perform risk assessments and create/update policies and processes where necessary
• To support GPSR processes by maintaining and providing relevant product and packaging specifications
• To develop and implement a product recall strategy for in-store and online
• To work closely with internal teams such as Warehouse, Front of House, Merchandising and Web to conduct training and co-ordinate process improvements
• To ensure V&A Retail sustainability targets are monitored, updated and recorded across retail activity including GOTS, FSC etc

Who are we looking for:

Demonstrableexperienceofresponsibilityforproduct compliance in a retail setting, and of the legislation/certification environment that applies

Excellent understanding of regulatory process (UK, EU and international), ideally in lifestyle/gifting sector, including working, recent knowledge of key categories including toys, food and cosmetics

Strongunderstandingofsupply chain management (UK, EU and international) with experience working directly with manufacturing partners

Experience managing technical documentation and compliance records

Excellent attention to detail within a contractual, compliance or legal framework

Understanding of sustainability targets and experience with certifications such as GOTS, FSC, SedEx etc.

Collaborative,communicativeand flexible approach to incoming requirements,confidentin workingacrossmultiple projects

Proactive, independent working style, with ability to innovate processes and work across many teams

Excellent written English and highly numerate with the ability to carry out complex numerical analysis.

Significant interpersonal and consultative skills, including the ability to communicate, present, negotiate, influence and build credibility with colleagues and external parties.

The ability to work independently and as part a team, showing both own initiative and collaborative thinking.

Experience of managing and prioritising a high workload, multiple complex issues and tasks in a changing environment with tight deadlines

Excellent IT and Microsoft Office skills, including demonstrable proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, Word and email.

Shares our Values of Sustainability, Equity, Creativity, Collaboration & Generosity

What’s in it for you?

• 29 days of holiday + public holidays each year
• 5.5% employee pension contribution, 10% employer pension contribution (post-probation)
• Life assurance scheme (to value of 4 x annual salary)
• Family-friendly policies e.g. enhanced maternity + paid carers leave
• Free sanitary products for all employees across our sites
• Free entrance to many major museums and exhibitions
• Benefits platform offering discounts at major retailers
• & many more

Full job description and list of benefits on our website