Technical Manager – Hammersmith - £55,000 – Immediate start

Oakley Recruitment is working in partnership with an expanding organisation based in Hammersmith. This is an excellent opportunity to join the team as a Technical Manager on initially a temporary basis for up to 3 Months, this role is also offering hybrid working

Culture and Environment

The organisation is built on strong values and provides a respectful and supportive work environment. The fact that many employees have been with the company for a long time speaks volumes about the positive culture within this great organisation.

Personality

This candidate will be responsible for the delivery of all department activity in line with the Key Dates. You will manage an Assistant Technologist and be responsible for ensuring the day-to-day activity of the Hardlines department is efficient and focussed on the department requirements.

You will be working very closely with the Buyer and Buying team, Merchandising and Design along with the Assistant Technologist, together driving the progress of the Department forward. Someone who is highly organised, IT proficient, self-motivated and drive efficiency across all tasks will thrive in this role.

Reward

• Up to 3 Months

• Holiday pay accrued

• Monday to Friday – 42 hours per week

• Hybrid working – 3 days in the office 2 days from home

Job Role:

• Accountable for the adherence to the Technical Teams Key dates

• Understanding and effectively planning for the department’s workload

• Managing direct report/s, demonstrating clear leadership, ensuring the training of direct reports and wider team members to up-skill, coach and develop knowledge

• Working with the Buyer & Senior Technical Manager to create the Seasonal Strategy including product, customer approach & satisfaction, suppliers and sustainability

• Contributing to Supplier sourcing and to own the onboarding process, responding to short-term and long-term product strategies

• Monitoring supplier performance, lead technical reviews, complete the Vendor Score Card process seasonally and be responsible for the Technical Teams contribution to the Hardlines Supplier Appraisals

• Leading, challenging and delivering best practise for processes, delivering maximum efficiency on the Hardlines departments

• Responsible for the Technical contribution to Design Packs, the instruction and processing of relevant testing throughout the season and the subsequent legal and preferred compliance of all Hardline product

• Reviewing and approving of all new products

• Weekly diarising fit sessions, the preparation and results

• Weekly processing of the technical sections of each suppliers Critical Path

• Ensuring delays are solved and the most efficient next steps instructed

• Fostering strong relationships with each suppliers’ technical team, evidenced in slick ways of working and positive outcomes even in times of conflict

• Adhering to compliance to Better Buying principles across all ways of working 

• Understanding the basic requirements of testing hardline product, legal compliance and ‘over and above’ testing activity

• Managing sustainability related testing and ensuring packaging reflects correct messaging

• Ensuring packaging content is contributed in-line with key dates

• Staying up to date and contribute knowledge to progressing memberships to industry bodies, networks, working groups, be able to call on network for support, advice and sharing of innovation

• Problem solve quickly and commercially, using technical knowledge and judgement to identify emerging issues, protecting Harrods interests

• Operate easily across the 4 categories of Stationery, Home, Toys & Seasonal, leading by example and fostering a ‘delivering excellence’ mindset as one team

• Responsible for the assessment of product suitability for international countries to ensure compliance with legal and religious requirements and the collation of supporting documentation

• Responsible for management of integration of databases that hold product information. E.g. SAP, PLM systems

• Carrying out routine supplier audits/visits verifying compliance with Brand Standards

• Supporting strategic partner suppliers as defined by the scorecards and supporting to build technical competency where required

• Managing travel required according to seasonal dates

• Solution orientated approach to all tasks, constant open communication and an ‘accountable’ approach to tasks

• Deputise for Senior Technical Manager when required

• To be recognised as subject matter expert for Harrods Hardlines and ensures that products are consistently produced to an exceptional quality

• Implementing the T&Cs and the Brand Standards in the Supplier Manual ensuring these are adhered to across the supply base and protect commercial compliance and interests

• Dealing with technically related documents required by suppliers to include auditing documents, technical spec sheets etc

• Monitoring and updating regularly, actively revisiting with suppliers and ensuring company delivers a best in class experience for Suppliers

• Continuously monitoring of product quality through competitor benchmarking; with the aim to deliver best in class, reviewing seasonally, delivering results and actions to the wider team, Technical Manager, and ensuring implementation

• Investigating root cause of safety and quality issues/complaints and implementing corrective and preventative action plans

• Ensuring that the safety, integrity, legal and quality standards are set for products as part of the development process and ensuring that they are delivered for all products in line with the Key Dates

• Actively keeping up to date with emerging and changing product regulations to ensure legal compliance at all times

• Contributing to Own Label Sustainability and CSR plan ensuring best practise, challenging to drive innovation

• Working collaboratively at all times with the Buying team to support delivery of the target by season

• Gathering information from Suppliers on sustainable options, assess commercially and actively drive change through the team & product

• Recommending authenticating bodies by category and work to build company registrations to the most appropriate options

• Responsible for data capture from Suppliers and driving next steps

Skills and experience:

• Confident to positively challenge technical processes with experience of delivering improved changes; ultimately solution orientated

• Fosters a ‘one-team’ approach at all times

• Experience of stakeholder engagement with an open communication style

• Wide range of category experience (homeware, stationery, seasonal, toys)

• Good experience in supplier auditing

• Strong knowledge of Hardlines compliance laws and certifications

• Experience of sustainability, CSR processes and ethical management

• Strategic and analytic thinker

• Excellent time management

Click here to apply

Please Note: We do not contact or write to unsuccessful candidates. If we have not contacted you within 48 hours of your application, you should presume that your application was unsuccessful. By applying for this vacancy, you are permitting for Oakley Recruitment to contact you and retain your details. In compliance with the regulations (April 2004) in place under the Employment Agencies Act, Oakley Recruitment will require proof of identification. A copy of your passport, birth certificate and NI number will be required, as part of your interview process.