Technical Manager - Prepared Produce, Salads and Meat Free

Technical Manager - Prepared Produce, Salads and Meat Free
Up to £62,500 plus great benefits, including a company car (Work Level 5)
Field-based - in this role you'll work in a hybrid way, splitting your time between home, supplier sites and coming into the Manchester Co-op office 1 to 2 days a week. Regular UK travel and occasional overseas travel will be required, along with occasional weekend work.

We're looking for a Technical Manager to join our Food Commercial team at Co-op and lead the technical agenda across our Prepared Produce, Salads and Meat Free categories. In this role, you'll use your technical expertise to make sure our own-brand products are safe, legal, authentic and manufactured to the highest standards. Working closely with suppliers, growers, buyers and product developers, you'll help drive quality, support innovation and manage technical risk across complex supply chains. You'll play an important part in protecting Co-op's reputation and making sure our products consistently meet the expectations of our members and customers.

Why this role matters

At Co-op, we're committed to providing innovative, ethical and sustainable products at great prices for our members and customers. As Technical Manager, you'll provide expert technical leadership across strategically important categories, working closely with suppliers and internal partners to make sure product safety, quality and integrity remain at the heart of everything we do. You'll influence sourcing decisions, support innovation programmes, drive supplier performance and help shape the future direction of your categories.

What you'll do

•    Lead the technical management of our Prepared Produce, Salads and Meat Free categories, making sure products are safe, legal, authentic and consistently high quality
•    Lead technical investigations relating to product incidents, customer complaints and emerging risks, ensuring appropriate corrective actions are implemented
•    Set and maintain technical standards for Co-op own-brand products, ensuring they're clear, measurable and deliver the quality our customers expect
•    Build strong relationships with suppliers, growers, buyers, product developers and other key stakeholders to support category performance
•    Work with suppliers and internal teams to develop and deliver technical plans that support category strategy and commercial objectives
•    Lead supplier performance management, driving compliance with food safety, quality, legal and ethical requirements and proactively addressing under-performance where required
•    Carry out supplier visits, audits and technical reviews to identify risks, opportunities and areas for continuous improvement
•    Support innovation and new product development by providing technical guidance throughout the product lifecycle
•    Use technical, quality and customer insight to identify trends, solve problems and support decision-making
•    Proactively manage product, supplier and supply chain risks, helping to protect customers and Co-op's brand reputation
•    Support sustainability, responsible sourcing and supply chain resilience initiatives across your categories

What you’ll bring

We’re committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you’ll need to bring:

•    Significant technical experience within food retail, manufacturing, foodservice or a supplier environment, supported by a relevant qualification or equivalent experience
•    HACCP qualification (level 3 or higher), with good knowledge of food safety quality management systems and UK food legislation
•    Experience of managing supplier relationships, leading audits and driving continuous improvement across supply chains
•    A strong understanding of own-brand product management, technical governance and fresh, chilled or prepared food categories
•    Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and challenge constructively
•    Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to turn data and insight into action

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

•    An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
•    28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays 
•    A pension with up to 10% employer contributions 
•    Private healthcare
•    Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ) 
•    30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands 
•    Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it 
•    Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice 
•    24/7 colleague support service 
•    Training and support for your development and career progression
•    Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.

We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we’ll support you.

Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion.

As part of your application, you'll need to complete an online assessment. This assessment typically takes up to 50 minutes. If you're a current Co-op colleague, this does not need to be completed.