Head of Technical

Job Description

This is a newly created and influential leadership role where you will define and deliver Booker’s technical strategy, ensuring the highest levels of product safety, quality, integrity and compliance across a broad and diverse portfolio. The role demands strong technical expertise, strategic insight and operational excellence, along with the confidence to guide the business as it continues to deliver safe, trusted and competitive products for customers.

As a senior technical leader, you will represent the voice of food safety, quality and compliance across the organisation. You will work closely with senior stakeholders, drive meaningful change and help embed a strong product first culture throughout the business. You will lead the technical planning cycle and strengthen governance, processes and performance frameworks so the technical function operates to the highest standards and continues to protect Booker’s reputation. You will also develop and inspire a high performing team with the skills and behaviours needed to deliver consistently excellent results.

• Lead the long term technical strategy to support business priorities and uphold the highest standards of product safety, quality and integrity.
• Anticipate emerging risks, regulatory changes and new technologies to keep Booker at the forefront of technical excellence.
• Turn insight into clear actions that protect customers and strengthen technical governance across the organisation.
• Continuously improve the technical framework, policies and standards to ensure they remain robust, efficient and fit for the future.
• Represent Booker as a senior technical expert and build strong, compliant and high performing supplier partnerships.
• Drive a consistent product and quality culture across the business, ensuring safe, legal and high quality products at every stage.
• Monitor key performance measures across customers, suppliers and compliance to identify issues early and support continuous improvement.

• Significant technical leadership experience within food retail, wholesale, manufacturing or a similar environment.
• Strong strategic and operational capability in food safety, quality management, compliance and product development processes.
• Demonstrable experience in risk management, incident handling, and technical governance.
• Proven ability to lead and inspire technical teams to deliver high standards at pace.
• Experience in category, product and specification development, and understanding of end‑to‑end supply chain assurance.
• A strong track record of delivering technical transformation, continuous improvement and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Ability to work confidently with senior leaders, influence decision‑making and challenge constructively.
• Relevant technical/food science qualification.

Booker is the UK's leading food & drink wholesaler. We are privileged to serve independent retailers, caterers and small businesses, from locations across the country. We operate over 190 cash and carry branches, eight distribution centres, five Best Food Logistics sites, as well as six support centre locations across the UK.

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) at Booker means that whoever you are and whatever your background, we always want you to feel represented and that you can be yourself at work. In short, we’re a place where Everyone’s Welcome.

We know life looks a little different for each of us. That’s why at Booker and Best, we always welcome conversations about flexible working. Some people are at the start of their careers, some want the freedom to do the things they love. Others are going through life-changing moments like becoming a carer, nearing retirement, adapting to parenthood, or something else. So, talk to us throughout your application about how we may be able to support you.

We’re proud that Booker is a Disability Confident Committed employer and we’re committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. For further information on the accessibility support you can expect, please contact recruitment@bookergroup.com

Please note

We can only accept candidates over the age of 18 if the role requires working before 6:15 am or after 9:45 pm or involves working in areas such as the warehouse, beers, wines & spirits, and driving roles.

On the occasions where we have high volumes of applicants, some roles may close earlier than the advertised end date in order for us to manage all of the applicants appropriately. We will only be able to offer individual feedback to those candidates who attend an interview.

*Booker Group is part of Tesco plc, however, is operated separately from the core Tesco business and as such the benefits offered will be different from those offered at Tesco*

For more information about us please visit www.bookergroupjobs.co.uk