Product Technologist

Salary: Competitive Plus Benefits
Location: Holborn Store Support Centre and Home, London, EC1N 2HT
Contract type: Permanent
Business area: Food Commercial
Closing date: 01 May 2025
Requisition ID: 296352

We'd all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance. That's waiting for you at Sainsbury's. Here, everything in our stores starts out in Food Commercial. Whether it's the product, proposition, packaging or price, or the fact that something tastes great, our team is responsible for all food items available in store, digitally and on demand. You'll discover it's incredibly fast-paced. People here are in it together and not afraid to take risks. They're enthusiastic too, and their amazing leadership team is right behind them. The knowledge and experience you gain here could set you up for career moves, anywhere else in the business. So, if you're passionate about food and just as hungry to learn, you'll fit in perfectly.

Division/Department

Sainsbury's Commercial/ Technical

Location

Holborn Store Support Centre

Reporting to

Lead Technical Manager (C5)

In a nutshell

The role of a Technologist is to manage the delivery of all aspects of the Sainsbury's Brand product and technical plans for their product area with emphasis on safe, legal, appropriate quality legality and supplier performance. Technologists work with the suppliers, our Sainsbury's Central Technical Operations (CTO) team, product developers, trading, supply chain and retail teams to deliver great quality products that are consistently produced to the correct standard and meet our agreed specifications, standards and policies. Technologists drive the quality and technical agenda for their product area, which includes responsibility for delivering through our suppliers our Plan for Better commitments and keeping the customer at the heart of all decisions.

In this role, you will work with the cross functional General Merchandise (GM) category team as Sainsbury's GM integrates into Sainsbury's Commercial. We will leverage joint Sourcing and Technical services for Argos and Sainsbury's GM, and as our strategy develops and we transform and integrate GM into Sainsbury's Commercial, we will continuously review our approach to ensure it remains appropriate and effective across all areas. Your role will be to work with the Lead Technical Manager to ensure we have appropriate Technical understanding and oversight from within Sainsbury's Commercial for Sainsbury's GM products, to support with the shift required to adapt to Sainsbury's ways of working (e.g. the gated process for NPD) and to support the development of the GM strategy.

What I am accountable for

• Implement ways of working with the cross functional GM team and work with them to implement the gated process into day-to-day ways of working
• Work as part of a cross functional team to implement the technical audit process into a standardised approach
• Work as part of a cross functional team to implement the ethical audit process into a standardised approach
• Support on activity as part of the cross functional team to establish what the appropriate product range will look like and what this means with regards to the supply base
• Support in establishing how Argos technical resources will be used as a shared service and how this will operate day to day
• Support the CTO team in reviewing all the data, systems, reporting, Policy/Legislation, governance and compliance against the Sainsbury's ways of working
• Work with the CTO team to establish a clear approach for supplier, third party providers and product assurance (PSI) using the expertise from the Argos team to guide and direct, ensuring no duplication occurs
• Supporting in managing safety, legality and quality of Sainsbury's brand products ensuring brand reputation and proportionate due diligence is maintained
• Is a custodian of quality and Sainsbury's Brand reputation by adopting a zero tolerance approach to all failings of quality, safety, legality and brand reputation.

What I need to know - essential criteria

• Degree or equivalent in relevant scientific, technology, product design/development, manufacturing or engineering discipline.
• Strong experience in technical within the supply base or retail environment, with relevant category knowledge required for the role. Relevant sourcing, retail or manufacturing experience will also be considered.
• Knowledge of quality systems, UK legislation and requirements, ethical audits, testing requirements and manufacturing processes
• Minimum of 2 years' experience in a technical role either in the supply base or at a retailer
• The role will require travel within the UK and overseas (depending on product area and supply base location)

What I need to show

• Good judgement, drive and influence and a clear targeted personal development plan to enhance these areas
• Delivery of KPI's and Sainsbury's brand strategy targets as defined within personal development review targets. Targets completed within set timescales for product area
• Be a role model for accuracy and right first time in all aspects of product and packaging
• Deliver technical excellence and attention to detail in all tasks
• Effective planning and prioritisation
• Excellent self-awareness and communication

Support we will provide

• Relevant resources to deliver Research and Development projects
• Performance development reviews and a personal development plan
• My Sainsbury's Learning- Technical Training Courses and Store Support Centre behavioural personal development courses.

We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer, so you'll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there's always the chance to try something new-whether that's as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working. When you join our team, we'll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Here are some of them:

Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to get 10% off at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks. This increases to 15% off at Sainsbury's every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day. We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover. You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance-related bonus of up to 10% of salary, depending on how we perform.

Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy additional holiday. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, pay advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers. And if you ever need it there is also an employee assistance programme.

Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks' pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks' pay for paternity leave.

Please see for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).