Product Technologist - GM

Job Title: Product Technologist – General Merchandise (Toys, Motor & Stationary)

Role Summary

We are seeking an experienced Product Technologist to lead Own Label product development and manage branded product safeguarding. You will ensure quality, compliance, and innovation across various General Merchandise categories, driving category strategy and delivering iconic products for our customers.

Key responsibilities include:

• Agree and implement the Quality plans within specific product areas in line with the category/trading strategy.
• Propose individual targets and implement the plans for benchmarking, customer complaint management, and consistency within product area. Develop products and support projects that adhere to Asda’s technical and legislative policies.
• Accountable for ensuring suppliers within product category meet Asda policies and deliver products against the agreed specifications and measuring supplier performance.
• Accountable for ensuring the legal label on product specifications are accurate and maintained on the specification system adhering to the required timings.
• Conduct reviews of the market, comp shops, trends workshops.
• Engage trading/buying teams behind own brand plan delivery and ensure delivery of agreed Iconic heroes for overall product team and own area
• Be the category strategic lead for technical and where applicable – quality in your accountable areas, working cross functionally to support the senior manager to deliver the overall technical strategy.
• Conduct strategic risk assessment reviews of the supply base in conjunction with strategic category plans.
• Ensure all visits and audits are completed and communicated to category as required after following a consistent, robust and documented risk assessment
• Active participation in Horizon Scanning (internal / external) of category area, investigating anomalies, supporting development of policy and processes to mitigate private brand exposure to risk.

What you’ll need:

• Proven experience as a Development Technologist or Product Development Manager within retail or manufacturing Textile NPD required.
• Track record of delivering products from concept to launch.
• Strong project and people management skills with ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• In-depth knowledge of product development, quality standards, and legislative requirements.
• Commercial awareness and passion for innovation and customer-focused product development.

you'll love

To ensure we balance moments where we know we need to collaborate together and the need for flexibility, Asda has a hybrid way of working with a minimum 3 days a week in one of our Home Offices. Over and above this, each area of Asda may have additional requirements which may require spending more days in the office, visiting suppliers, stores or depots.

You will also get an excellent benefits package including:

• Discretionary company bonus

• Company pension up to 7% matched

• 15% colleague discount in store and online

• Free access to wellbeing services such as Stream, 24/7 virtual GP, counselling, health and dental cash plans and a 24/7 employee assistance helpline, alongside discounts across a range of services and activities, from airport parking, enhanced to theme parks and cinemas.

• Asda Allies Inclusion Networks – helping colleagues to make sure everybody is included and that our differences are recognised and celebrated

• Excellent parental leave policies, including maternity & adoption leave, paternity leave, shared parental leave, neonatal care leave, and support for those doing fertility treatments.

We want all colleagues to be able to bring their best and true selves to work, every day. Simply put, we want our colleagues to be Proud to be Asda and proud to be themselves