Technical Manager - Meat, Fish, and Poultry

Sainsbury's; Greater London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK retailer is seeking a Technical Manager to oversee the technical aspects of their Brand products. This role focuses on ensuring safety, quality, and compliance while leading innovation and technical projects. The ideal candidate will have a degree in food safety or science, experience in supplier management, and a proven record of delivering technical innovation. Join the team to contribute to the success of a prominent retail brand within a fast-paced environment offering excellent benefits.

Benefits

Colleague discount

Health and wellbeing benefits

Financial benefits, including interest-free car loan

Flexible parental leave

Qualifications

• Strong scientific background in food safety.
• Proven experience in managing supplier engagement.
• History of driving technical innovation projects.

Responsibilities

• Manage technical aspects of Sainsbury's Brand products.
• Collaborate with suppliers and internal teams.
• Set quality standards and conduct product investigations.

Skills

Food safety knowledge

Supply management expertise

Technical innovation delivery

Education

Degree in food safety or food science

Job description

Why join us

Joining the Sainsbury’s team as a Technical Manager offers a unique opportunity to drive innovation and excellence in managing the technical aspects of Sainsbury’s Brand products, ensuring safety, quality, and compliance while upholding the brand’s reputation. As a key player in the product development process, you will have the chance to work collaboratively with various stakeholders, drive technical innovation, and lead projects that contribute to the profitability and sustainability goals of the organisation. With a focus on continuous improvement and professional development, this role provides a platform to showcase your expertise, make a significant impact, and contribute to the success of one of the UK’s leading retail brands.

What you’ll do

As a Technical Manager, you will be responsible for managing the delivery of all aspects of the Sainsbury’s Brand product and technical plans for your assigned product area, with a strong emphasis on ensuring safe, legal, and high-quality products that meet specified standards and policies. You will work closely with suppliers, internal teams, and industry experts to drive the quality and technical agenda for your product area, ensuring compliance with regulations and maintaining the brand’s reputation.

Your role will involve setting quality standards, conducting detailed investigations on product issues, implementing complaints reduction action plans, and driving technical innovation to enhance product quality and sustainability. Additionally, you will play a key role in supplier management, project delivery, and development of technical excellence within the category team, ultimately contributing to the success of the Sainsbury’s brand strategy.

Who you are

You are a seasoned professional with a strong scientific background and extensive experience in technical and manufacturing roles within the retail or supply base industry. With a proven track record of delivering results, you excel in managing the safety, legality, and quality of products while driving innovation and sustainability initiatives to meet customer needs and brand strategy. Your commercial awareness, attention to detail, and ability to influence and collaborate with stakeholders enable you to lead complex technical projects and continuous improvement efforts, ensuring product excellence and adherence to industry standards.

Essential Criteria

• Degree in food safety, food science, or an equivalent qualification, demonstrating technical expertise in the field.
• Proven experience in supply management and supplier engagement, with a track record of building effective partnerships.
• Evidence of delivering technical innovation projects, showcasing ability to drive improvements and implement new solutions.

Qualifications

We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer, so you’ll be welcomed whatever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new – whether that’s as part of an evolving team or elsewhere across the business – and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working. When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Here are some of them:

• Colleague discount, 10% off at Sainsbury’s, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks, increasing to 15% off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day.
• Health and wellbeing benefits: annual holiday allowance with buy‑out options, pension scheme, life cover, private healthcare, and an Employee Assistance Programme.
• Financial benefits: interest‑free car loan up to £10k, cycle‑to‑work scheme, season ticket loans, pay advance and performance‑related bonus of up to 20% of salary.
• Flexible parental leave: up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave, and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.

Please see www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).

Responsibilities

We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work‑life balance. That’s waiting for you at Sainsbury’s. Here, everything in our Sainsbury’s stores starts out in Sainsbury’s Commercial. Whether it’s the product, proposition, packaging or price, or the fact that something tastes great, our team is responsible for all food, non‑food and clothing items available in Sainsbury’s stores, digitally and on demand. You’ll discover it’s incredibly fast‑paced. People here are in it together and not afraid to take risks. They’re enthusiastic too, and their amazing leadership team is right behind them. The knowledge and experience you gain here could set you up for career moves anywhere else in the business. So, if you’re passionate about your products and just as hungry to learn, you’ll fit in perfectly.