Lead Technologist - DIY & Garden

Job description

Division/Department
Technical & Ethical

Location
Ansty Park - Coventry with occasional travel to Holborn Store Support Centre & Home (Hybrid)

Reporting to
Technical manager

In a nutshell

UK Technologists manage the product development and delivery of Sainsbury’s Argos General Merchandise & Clothing product plans, ensuring quality, safety, and legality. They collaborate with their Asia Technical peers & Sourcing teams, Suppliers, Designers, Buyer’s, Merchandisers, supply chain/DC, and retail teams to consistently produce high-quality products that meet standards and policies in line with our customers’ expectations, ensuring they meet our cost of goods challenge.  We are responsible for regularly reviewing customer returns, star rating performance and responding to customer complaints, ensuring all learnings are built into future product specifications to reduce returns and improve customer experience.

Lead Technologists take on additional responsibilities by leading a small team of Technologists and / or Assistant Technologists, handling line management responsibilities. Both roles emphasize maintaining customer focus and meeting internal KPIs, the Leadership fundamentals and company values.

What I am accountable for 

• Responsible for delivering innovative product and new product development, through product evaluation, competitor benchmarking, customer/store feedback management, range reviews, and post-sales customer feedback.
• Manages the risk assessment for safety, legality, and quality of Sainsbury’s Argos Clothing J&W products, ensuring brand reputation and due diligence is upheld while guiding their teams to achieve these standards.
• Ensures technical approvals and timelines adhere to the critical path, coordinating with suppliers and global stakeholders, including product specifications and artwork approvals.
• Supports the execution of their category technical & sourcing strategy by collaborating with key stakeholders across the business such as Buying, Sourcing, Sustainability and Design. 
• Takes responsibility for promptly resolving issues and managing held stock in the UK, maintaining relevant trackers and incident report forms. 
• Delivery of department KPI’s and goals.
• Creates and provides technical training to ensure all product specifications and standards are clearly communicated and adhered to.
• Manages the creation, maintenance and updates of technical records (e.g., appraisal documents, workbooks, policies, product standards, testing reports, performance trackers) following company procedures and legal guidelines.
• Supports implementation of corporate sustainability plans.
• Investigates and resolves issues promptly, seeks opportunities to reduce returns by analysing customer feedback, returns data. Aims for continuous improvement of product quality and supply base technical capability.
• Embraces change and proactively supports new working methods in GM, exemplifying Sainsbury’s values.

Additionally, for Lead Technologists:

• Provides leadership, direction, management, and development to the team.
• Mentors and motivates the team with on-job training, coaching, and monitoring progress.
• Evaluates and reviews team performance, including regular 1-1s, WIN feedback, Link conversations, and PPM rating reviews with peers.

What I need to know

Essential

• Manufacturing or retailer experience in a technical environment.
• Proven experience with Garden / DIY or Electrical category or similar. 
• Commercial awareness.
• Experience in a technical role either in the supply base or at a retailer.
• The role may require travel within the UK and overseas.
• Able to deliver results under pressure in a fast-paced retail environment, both individually and as part of a team.
• Excellent self-awareness and communication.
• Deliver technical excellence and attention to detail in all tasks.
• Effective due diligence management.
• Effective planning and prioritisation.
• Computer literate

Desirable 

• Ideally a degree or equivalent in relevant subject.

What I need to show

Own it

• Deliver a wide range of tasks, and take ownership for solving problems that you identify.
• Actively share your thoughts and are prepared to challenge others in a positive way.
• Use business context and other information sources to make decisions.
• Regularly review your goals with your line manager

Make it better 

• Open minded and try new ways of doing things, making things simpler where possible.
• Adaptable and respond positively when circumstances change.
• Show curiosity about the business beyond your immediate role.
• Seek feedback from those you work with and understand your strengths and development areas.
• Provide regular fair and accurate feedback to others.

Be human 

• Ask questions to understand where others are coming from. Show care and respect for how others are feeling and provide support to those around you.
• Listen and ask questions about the needs and motivations of others to build effective relationships.
• Regularly gather customer feedback and use this insight to continuously improve the customer experience.

Directly or indirectly manages

• Leads manage Assistant technologists and/or Technologists directly.
• Indirectly -Manages relationships with supplier's, 3rd party NGO’s and Licensees. (where applicable)

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.
• Link discussions, objectives and personal development plan.
• My Sainsbury’s Learning- Sainsbury’s Non-Food Technical Training Courses and Store Support Centre behavioural personal development courses.
• Corporate policies, technical documents.
• Supplier or service provider support.