Are you an experienced Category Technical Manager looking for the next step in your career?

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Category Technical Manager to join our Fresh team. The purpose of the job is to enable Asda to become Britain's most trusted retailer. This will be achieved by working with our business partners to lead and deliver due diligence and brand requirements in our accountable categories and throughout our teams, as well as exciting our customers with fantastic quality in our fresh food ranges. 

As an experienced Technical Manager you will have experience of leading complex food categories within retail, FMCG or a manufacturing environment and have the ability to influence both internal and external stakeholders by demonstrating your professional knowledge and area of expertise. You will have a passion for this area and subject matter expertise. 

 
The Role

As a Category Technical Manager for Fresh you will be responsible for promoting a culture of compliance, enabling the business strategy as well as protecting and enhancing the Asda Brand. You will manage the delivery of product and supplier compliance across ASDA supply base for products we sell to our customers. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring we are giving our customers the best quality at affordable prices across own brand ranges and giving them the Asda feeling. Other responsibilities in the role include: 

You will engage the trading and customer planning teams to deliver the own brand strategy for your product area, understanding the market and managing fantastic product ranges to delight our customers. You will be required to deliver the critical path for launch of own brand product and agree and implement quality plans with our supplying partners to ensure we offer consistently great quality. 

You will implement plans for consistency and improvement based on customer feedback, such as online reviews, customer complaints and you will manage the Technical review process, engaging business partners from start to end in line with our policy.  You will be supporting the delivery of excellent supplier communications - e.g. supplier conferences / training programs.

You will be the category strategic lead for technical and where applicable, quality compliance in your accountable areas by working cross functionally to support the senior manager to deliver the business strategy and the application of technical innovation. You will conduct strategic risk assessment reviews of the supplier base in conjunction with risk and strategic category plans and ensure all visits and audits are completed as required after following a consistent, robust and documented risk assessment.  

You will work as an enabler to your business partners, adding value to the category through knowledge of your supply base and product range and you will ensure all specifications in the HIVE have a risk assessment, are agreed with your business partners and actioned as required. You will also ensure all active supplying sites are on the HIVE, and have required compliance and Responsible sourcing documentation.

You will support the development, engagement (internal and external) and delivery of policies or processes relevant to your category areas to ensure compliance is embedded and effective at point of launch. You will ensure active participation in Horizon Scanning (internal / external) of the category area, investigating anomalies and supporting development of policy and processes to mitigate Asda brand exposure to risk. You will also be responsible for the line management and development of direct reports where appropriate and commitment to growing talent. 

About you:

• Experience of leading complex food categories within Retail, FMCG or Manufacturing environment. A natural problem solver and credible leader
• Influence both internal and external stakeholders by demonstrating your professional knowledge and area of expertise
• Degree or experience in relevant product or scientific area
• A solid background gained within a similar technical role, supplemented with extensive industry experience in category
• Understanding of food safety and manufacturing experience
• Commercial and customer awareness
• Ability to prioritise and flex to business needs
• Proven track record of results delivery & decision making
• The ability to "make a difference" with a commercial instinct
• Build strong sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships with key suppliers

If flexible working is important to you, then look no further! At Asda, we are proud of our culture and our commitment to flexible working. This role is based at Asda House, Leeds with the opportunity to work from home 2-3 days per week  

You will also get an excellent benefits package including:   

• 5,700 company car or car allowance plus discretionary company bonus   
• Company pension up to 7% matched   
• 10% colleague discount, free parking and many additional rewards.   

We want all colleagues to be able to bring their best and true selves to work, every day. Simply put, we want our colleagues to be Proud to be Asda and proud to be themselves.