Lead Technical Manager

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Lead Technical Manager to join Booker’s Technical team. This is a senior leadership role where you’ll help shape and deliver our technical strategy, ensuring the highest standards of food safety, quality, integrity and compliance across our product range and supply base.

Reporting to the Head of Technical, you’ll play a key role in strengthening governance, managing risk, and influencing decision making across the business. You’ll act as a trusted technical authority, working cross functionally to drive continuous improvement and ensure we stay ahead of industry and regulatory expectations.

This is a high impact role for a confident, credible leader who can balance strategic thinking with hands on delivery and excellent team management.

• Translating technical strategy into clear, practical delivery plans
• Acting as a senior voice for food safety, quality and product integrity
• Strengthening technical frameworks, standards and governance across the business
• Leading technical risk assessment across products, suppliers and compliance
• Driving performance through KPIs, insight and continuous improvement
• Influencing senior stakeholders to ensure technical priorities are embedded in key decisions
• Partnering with commercial, supply chain, legal and operations teams
• Leading, coaching and developing a high performing technical team
• Managing incidents, withdrawals and recalls with clear, evidence based decisions
• Building strong relationships with suppliers, regulators and industry bodies
• Deputising for the Head of Technical when required

• Strong experience in a senior technical role within food retail, wholesale or manufacturing
• Proven expertise in food safety, quality management and compliance
• Experience in technical risk assessment, incident management and governance
• Ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders across the business
• Strong understanding of supplier assurance and end to end supply chain
• Leadership experience with the ability to inspire and develop teams
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex issues
• A high level of integrity, judgement and attention to detail
• A relevant technical or 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, 8 distribution centres, 5 Best Food Logistics sites, as well as 6 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 Leader 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