Lead Technical Manager

At Booker, along with being a great place to work and giving you an opportunity to get on in your career, we also offer the following fantastic package of benefits:

• A Booker colleague card with 10% off purchases at Booker and double discount events up to three times a year.
• After 3 months service, a Tesco colleague discount card with 10% increasing to 15% off most purchases at Tesco for a 4 day period after every four-weekly pay day, ie. thirteen times a year. In addition to 10% off at Tesco Cafe and 20% off all F&F purchases.
• 10% off pay monthly & SIM only deals with Tesco Mobile for yourself, along with further great deals throughout the year.
• Up to 30% off car, pet and home insurance at Tesco bank. Terms and conditions apply.
• Free eye test when you spend £50 or more. You can also save 30% when you spend £50 or more on glasses, prescription sunglasses and contact lenses.
• 50% off health checks at Tesco Pharmacy.
• Exclusive access to discounted RAC breakdown cover rates.
• An exclusive deals and discounts website saving you money on everyday purchases including a cycle to work scheme.
• After 3 months service, you can join our annual Save As You Earn share scheme which allows you to buy Tesco shares in the future at a discount.
• Retirement savings plan (pension) - save up to 5% and Booker will match your contribution.
• Life Assurance - You are covered for death in service life cover of up to three times annual pay.
• Health and Wellbeing support and resources including our 24/7, confidential Employee Assistance Programme and Virtual GP for you and your family.
• A great holiday package.

About the role

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.

You will be responsible for:

• 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.

You will need:

• 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.

About The Company

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 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.