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- Tasks: Lead product development and quality assurance for furniture, ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards.
- Company: Dunelm is the UK's top homewares retailer, dedicated to making home life lovelier for customers.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, supportive culture, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Join a forward-thinking team focused on sustainability and innovation in a fast-paced retail environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in product technology, management skills, and strong knowledge of compliance and manufacturing processes required.
- Other info: This role is based in Leicester, offering a chance to lead and mentor a small team.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
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Direct message the job poster from Dunelm
Home. There’s no place like it. And there’s no feeling like helping people create the joy of feeling truly at home. At Dunelm, that’s what we do. We’re the UK\’s number one choice for homewares because we make home life lovelier for our customers. And the caring and encouraging culture we\’ve created makes this a place you\’ll feel right at home too.
We are the UK’s Number One homewares retailer offering c85,000 products building a consumer-focused total retail business that delights customers through our multichannel operation.
We are determined in our plans to increase further expansion of the business to more customers, shopping more frequently, with more choice, enhanced digital and physical services, and new capabilities to innovate and operate at pace in a fast-changing landscape. In developing the business for the long-term benefit of our customers, we are investing in our supply chain, stores and technology to improve the customer proposition as we progress.
Department Overview
As an ambitious company with a forward-thinking sustainability programme, we are committed to ensuring the business is fit for the future. Our Good & Circular strategy includes embedding circular thinking into product design and sourcing, as well as helping our customers use and reuse our products more sustainably.
We have a great opportunity to join our Product Quality team as a Senior Technologist (Furniture).
You will be responsible for driving the technical development, quality assurance, and compliance of our product ranges, while ensuring that all products meet legal, safety, and quality standards to exceed customer expectations. This role requires expertise in product development, supplier management, and technical innovation within the retail sector, as well as excellent time management and prioritisation skills.
While working within the commercial and quality team, you will also line manage a small group of technologists and junior technologists, providing them with weekly 121s to offer advice, support and development opportunities.
What you will be doing:
Product Development & Quality Assurance
- Oversee the end-to-end product development process, ensuring compliance with technical, safety, and quality standards.
- Ensure products comply with industry regulations, Dunelm quality standards and sustainability initiatives.
- Ensure manufacturing sites meet Dunelm technical and ethical standards including auditing requirements. Support with corrective actions.
- Conduct risk assessments and implement corrective actions to maintain high product quality.
- Lead product testing and approval processes, collaborating with third-party testing facilities where required.
- Stay up to date with industry trends, legislation, and best practices in product technology and compliance.
- Create and maintain Dunelm product specifications and technical documentation for your area.
- Implement and drive sustainability initiatives.
- Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturers to maintain and improve product quality and performance.
- Work closely with design, buying and merchandising commercial team to maintain critical path deadlines, with clear communication throughout.
Problem-Solving & Continuous Improvement
- Monitor category performance against objectives and targets, including returns and customer reviews, to improve and develop product ranges. Work with suppliers to raise CAPs.
- Quickly address product issues to minimize risk and impact to the customer within appropriate time frames.
- Support process improvements across the supply chain to enhance efficiency and optimise product performance.
Management
- Line manage a small team, taking pride in coaching, training, and development.
- Manage small projects within the quality team, ensuring a successful implementation through the business.
What we\’ll look for in you:
- Proven experience as a Product Technologist or Senior Product Technologist in a retail.
- Management experience within a quality team. Desire to be a good role model and take pride in training, developing and supporting others.
- Strong technical knowledge of product standards, regulatory compliance and manufacturing processes.
- Ability to manage projects within the quality team and keep to a deadline for implementation.
- Experience working with UK and global suppliers.
- Understanding of sustainability initiatives as well as ethical audit requirements.
- Ability to analyse technical data and implement corrective actions effectively and efficiently.
- Strong problem-solving abilities with a focus on continuous improvement.
- Excellent communication, analytical and time management skills.
- Ability to prioritise and succeed in a fast-paced environment.
This role is a hybrid opportunity based in our Syston Store Support Office in Leicester.
Seniority level
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Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
-
Employment type
Contract
Job function
-
Job function
Quality Assurance and Administrative
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Industries
Retail
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Senior Technologist-12 Months FTC employer: Dunelm
Contact Detail:
Dunelm Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Technologist-12 Months FTC
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Dunelm's product quality standards and sustainability initiatives. Understanding their Good & Circular strategy will help you align your expertise with their goals, making you a more attractive candidate.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Dunelm, especially those in the Product Quality team. They can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations, which can help you tailor your approach during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on the latest trends in product technology and compliance within the retail sector. Being knowledgeable about industry changes will demonstrate your commitment to continuous improvement and innovation, key aspects of the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully managed projects and led teams in previous roles. Highlighting your management experience and problem-solving skills will show that you're ready to take on the responsibilities of this position.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Technologist-12 Months FTC
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in product development and quality assurance. Emphasise any management roles you've held, especially in a retail context, and showcase your technical knowledge of product standards.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for sustainability and how it aligns with Dunelm's Good & Circular strategy. Mention specific examples of how you've implemented quality assurance processes or managed teams effectively.
Showcase Problem-Solving Skills: Provide examples in your application that demonstrate your strong problem-solving abilities. Discuss situations where you addressed product issues or improved processes within a team, highlighting your analytical skills.
Highlight Communication Skills: Since the role requires collaboration with various teams, emphasise your communication skills in both your CV and cover letter. Mention experiences where you successfully communicated technical information to non-technical stakeholders.
How to prepare for a job interview at Dunelm
✨Understand Dunelm's Values
Before your interview, take some time to research Dunelm's mission and values. Understanding their commitment to sustainability and customer satisfaction will help you align your answers with what they stand for.
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
As a Senior Technologist, you'll need to demonstrate your knowledge of product standards and compliance. Be prepared to discuss specific examples from your past experience that highlight your technical skills and how you've ensured product quality.
✨Prepare for Management Questions
Since this role involves line management, expect questions about your leadership style and how you support team development. Think of examples where you've successfully coached or mentored others in your previous roles.
✨Highlight Problem-Solving Skills
Dunelm values continuous improvement, so be ready to discuss challenges you've faced in product development or quality assurance. Share how you identified issues, implemented corrective actions, and improved processes to enhance product performance.
