Head of Technical - Raw Materials & Sustainability

Tesco is seeking a Head of Technical for Raw Materials & Sustainability in Welwyn Garden City. This global management role involves leading a team to ensure the quality and sustainability of raw materials in clothing. Responsibilities include strategic delivery of safe products, mentoring experts, driving sustainability initiatives, and maintaining supplier relationships. The position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including an annual bonus, private medical insurance, and generous leave policies.
What’s in it for you

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• Annual bonus scheme of up to 45% of base salary
• Car Cash Allowance
• Holiday starting at 25 days plus a personal day (plus Bank holidays)
• Private medical insurance
• Retirement savings plan - save between 6% - 10% and Tesco will contribute 1.5 times this amount
• 26 weeks maternity and adoption leave (after 1 years’ service) at full pay, followed by 13 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay or Statutory Adoption Pay, we also offer 6 weeks fully paid paternity leave

About The Role

Home and Clothing at Tesco is recruiting a Head of Technical, responsible for Raw Materials and Sustainability. This is a global management role, based in our Welwyn Garden City Office, leading a team responsible for the raw materials & packaging used in our F&F Clothing ranges - ensuring our quality and sustainability targets are met. This role also supports with sustainability initiatives across the total Home & Clothing team. It involves internal cross functional collaboration leading our clothing circularity ambitions and external networking to deliver on joint industry initiatives.

Lead the strategic delivery of safe, legal, responsibly sourced, quality products for the category through focus on the raw materials used and the sustainability attributes of the products developed. Motivate change based on customer and industry intel and translate our strategy into operational plan for my team of experts and the wider category team. Focus on delivering for our customers and living our values, leading my team by example.

You will be responsible for
• Leading a UK and Sourcing team to ensure fibre, yarns, fabric, dyes, chemicals, products, processes and suppliers are safe, legal, ethical and meet relevant Tesco policy and audit requirements and customer expectations
• Leading a team of experts, mentoring and enabling them to achieve the Fabric & Packaging Technical critical metrics and be the guardians of brand integrity.
• Using your industry network and knowledge to drive Home & Clothing specific initiatives that align with central Tesco sustainability plans
• Align the Clothing Sustainable raw material and packaging plan with Tesco sustainability plans.
• Leading the team to deliver on our approved Mill strategy across Home and Clothing textile products.
• Driving the delivery of our supplier planet plants for the own brand supply base across Home and Clothing.
• Align Home & Clothing Nominated Packaging supplier strategy
• Using knowledge and expertise to answer meaningful questions on raw materials and sustainability topics and assess credible solutions to issues
• Driving innovation and improvements in the field e.g. fabric sustainability and quality; sustainability data management, sustainability initiatives
• Leading the Technical plan to support the Category strategy
• Contributing to and/or leading change programmes in my category
• Ensuring an excellent relationship is maintained with our suppliers and external partners
• Forecasting and leading budgets effectively, always being cost conscious
• Developing and leading a high performing team, giving them the opportunities to be their best

You will need

Operational Skills Relevant For This Job
• Budget/spend management
• Supplier management
• Partner engagement and management
• Horizon Scanning
• Project/programme management
• Change Management
• Technical Auditing
• Data Analysis
• Microsoft Office
• People management

Experience Relevant For This Job
• Meaningful experience/qualification(s) in the field of sustainability
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, technical standards and what is on the horizon
• Experience in both crafting and driving strategy as well as delivery of plans
• Track record of leading and working in sophisticated NWTs
• Experience of working with external partners and industry forums
• Supplier management
• Previous team management experience of a medium sized team

Hybrid