Join Pets at Home as an Accessories Product Technologist on a 12-month Fixed Term Contract covering maternity leave. Based in a hybrid arrangement at the Handforth Support Office, you will play a key role in developing safe, high-quality pet accessories from concept to launch by collaborating with buying, sourcing, and supplier teams.
Requirements
Minimum 2+ years of experience in a Product Technologist or technical product development role.
Knowledge of end-to-end manufacturing processes, product safety requirements, compliance, and quality management systems.
Understanding of consumer product construction, materials, and manufacturing techniques.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and spreadsheet-based tracking tools.
No specific degree is stated as a requirement in the posting.
Skills & Responsibilities
Product testing and coordination: Coordinate testing programmes with laboratories to ensure all legal and compliance requirements are met.
Specification management: Create and maintain detailed product specifications and technical documentation throughout the product lifecycle.
Supplier quality support: Work alongside buyers and suppliers to establish clear quality, performance, and compliance requirements.
Packaging and regulatory review: Review product packaging copy and warnings to ensure clarity and regulatory compliance.
Potential transition routes: People from quality assurance, junior buyer, or manufacturing quality control roles may bring relevant technical and supply chain skills, alongside meeting the 2+ years of product technologist experience required.
At Pets at Home, we're passionate about creating products that help pets and their owners live happier lives together. We're looking for a curious, detail-oriented Product Technologist to join our Accessories team on a 12-month maternity cover contract.
If you're someone who enjoys understanding how products are designed, manufactured and improved, and you have a passion for quality, innovation and delivering a great customer experience, we'd love to hear from you.
About the Role
Working closely with Buying, Asia Sourcing, suppliers and a range of cross-functional teams, you'll play a key role in developing safe, high-quality pet accessories from concept through to launch.
You'll ensure products meet our technical, quality and compliance standards, helping to turn great ideas into products our customers and pets can trust. From reviewing specifications and product testing to supporting supplier quality and continuous improvement, you'll be involved throughout the entire product development journey.
What you'll be doing
Supporting the development and launch of new own-brand pet accessory products within agreed critical path timelines.
Working alongside Buyers, suppliers and sourcing teams to establish clear quality, performance and compliance requirements from the earliest stages of development.
Creating and maintaining detailed product specifications, ensuring accuracy, consistency and traceability.
Reviewing product packaging copy, warnings and technical information to ensure compliance and clarity.
Managing and maintaining technical documentation throughout the product development lifecycle.
Assessing products against agreed standards, specifications and performance expectations.
Coordinating product testing programmes and liaising with testing laboratories to ensure all legal and compliance requirements are met.
Supporting the development and maintenance of technical standards across accessory categories.
Providing technical expertise on product construction, materials, performance and manufacturing processes.
Keeping up to date with regulatory developments and industry best practice within the pet accessories market.
Collaborating with stakeholders across Commercial, Pet, Quality and Sourcing teams to drive product quality and innovation.
About you
You'll already have experience within a Product Technologist role and enjoy working in a collaborative, fast-paced environment where no two days are the same.
Previous experience (2+ years) in a Product Technologist or similar technical product development role.
Knowledge of end-to-end manufacturing processes, from raw materials through to production, packaging and distribution.
Understanding of supplier manufacturing and product development processes.
Knowledge of product safety requirements, compliance and quality management systems.
Experience working with consumer products and an understanding of product construction, materials and manufacturing techniques.
Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Confidence working with Microsoft Office and spreadsheet-based tracking tools.
A proactive mindset with a keen eye for detail and a passion for continuous improvement.
Why Pets at Home?
We're a business built around people who care deeply about pets and the people who love them. You'll join a supportive team where collaboration, innovation and development are encouraged, and where your work will directly contribute to creating products that make a real difference to pet owners across the UK.
Pets just see people. We take our inspiration from pets, and we value and respect differences in all their forms. Our aim is to reflect the diversity of the communities we operate in, and every colleague can be their true self at work.
Ready to help shape the next generation of pet products? We'd love to hear from you.
