Division/Department
Technical & Ethical

Location
Coventry / Holborn Store Support Centre & Home

Reporting to
Head of Technical

In a nutshell

As the Technical Manager (UK), you will lead and execute the global technical strategy for Sainsbury’s & Argos. Your leadership will ensure that our products remain aligned with industry trends and technological advancements, maintaining our company's innovative edge. You will drive a continuous product improvement approach within the UK team ensuring customer feedback is assessed and implemented into new product development. By collaborating with cross-functional teams, you will formulate department strategies that align with commercial objectives and drive ongoing improvement.
As the Technical Manager (UK), you will lead and execute projects, as well as assist the Head of Technical in the development and execution of projects that align with our business goals. Moreover, you will develop and implement technical policies, guidelines, and standards that comply with regulations and establish new benchmarks for excellence in product development.

As a leader, you will be responsible for ensuring that your team works in close alignment with commercial stakeholders to develop product engineering to cost strategies, comprehensive product specifications and validation processes. You will collaborate with your team to ensure compliance with safety, legal, and quality standards. Additionally, you will lead the team throughout all aspects of new product development, from conception to the end of the product lifecycle. Your leadership will foster a culture of excellence, building a world-class team committed to our company values and customer-focused decision-making.

You will work closely with the Asia Technical Managers to ensure that flow and continuity lines are consistently updated in line with any new developments, regulations, and legal obligations. By collaborating, you will ensure that any production issues are resolved swiftly and that any financial implications are communicated to the Commercial teams for cost recovery.

What I am accountable for

Partnering with Commercial, Sourcing, Sustainability and Design teams to Develop the Strategic plan across your departments that foster a passion for the brand, product category with clear focus on the customer. Support the UK regulation team to ensure Sainsbury’s / Argos are proactive with new regulatory requirements and are implemented into BAU standard processes and ways of working for the cross functional teams. Responsible for leading and supporting your team to achieve key goals and KPIs, including having necessary discussions to ensure objectives are met. Drive accountability with your team for new product development, to ensure products are designed and delivered in line with department strategies and customer feedback. Ensure clear benchmarking of products against competitors and customer expectations. You will lead and execute strategic projects, as well as assist the Head of Technical in developing and implementing comprehensive technical strategies that aligns with Sainsbury’s / Argos overall business plan and meets key department KPI’s. Accountable for the delivery of Sainsbury’s Argos General Merchandise and Clothing J&W strategy on product development ensuring safety, legality and quality standards are reviewed as required to support the business delivering the sales and profit plan. Lead the creation and implementation of best practice, quality improvement, strategy, policies, processes and procedures to improve operational performance to meet the long-term strategy and development of the wider Global technical team and supply base. Lead and support your team with returns investigations / serious complaints & product resolution, ensuring learnings are captured and built into future product development plans driving a continuous improvement culture. Accountable to develop a proactive results-oriented team who can foster a culture of excellence and continuous improvement within the organization.  Lead your team to collaborate with our Asia peers to manage the supply base to ensure that we are working with the most capable factories to deliver the best value for money, driving excellence in quality and Ethical standards.

What I need to know

Essential

Extensive technical Product knowledge / Manufacturing knowledge in your specialist area - Household Electricals. Strongly developed leadership, people management and communication skills.  Ability to coach and develop team members and suppliers with different backgrounds.  Able to build strong cross functional relationships, that support business growth and foster department relationships. Has wide knowledge and connections in product supply chains and relevant retail experts. Able to work under pressure and make balanced, timely decisions.  Competent in problem solving, team building, planning and decision making.  Familiar with UK legislation and requirements.   Ideally a degree or equivalent in relevant subject (Desirable)

What I need to show

Obsessed with the customer, you must:

Use data and insight to understand customer needs and solve customer problems. Use our Purpose to support decision making everyday. Role model living our customer commitments and guide teams to do the same.

Obsessed with performance, you must:

Know and be accountable for your part to play, delivering it brilliantly. Align team goals and ruthlessly prioritise resources to deliver our Customer Commitments. Assign clear accountabilities, hold people accountable (in your team and out) and act on performance both good and bad.

Lead beyond boundaries, you must:

Actively share and seek to understand the big picture, both internal and external. Story tells our Next Level Sainsbury’s strategy to drive end-to-end thinking. Build productive partnership inside and outside our organisation.

Lead fearless teams, you must:

Create the environment for diverse perspective and challenge, where we are always looking to raise the bar. Grow everyone around you (up, down and across) through adult-to-adult feedback and coaching Know yourself (strengths, weaknesses and impact on others) and continuously develop

Directly or indirectly manages

Directly manage Lead Technologists and Technologist and Asst technologists.
Indirectly - Assistant technologists (C3) Manages relationships with suppliers, 3rd party providers, 3rd party NGO’s and Licensees and industry experts.

Budget
•    Producing a clear and structured Travel business case to feed into budget building.
•    Ensuring the agreed budgets are Managed and adhered to.

Support we will provide
•    Sainsbury’s, Argos General department support functions
•    Sainsbury’s, Argos training courses detailed on each individual training plan on the training matrix 
•    Leadership training and support.
•    Link discussions, objectives, and personal development plan support
•    Corporate policies, technical documents.
•    Supplier or service provider support.

 

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