Technical Manager

Technical Manager

Full Time role – Monday to Friday

Remote based role

Role Purpose:

To effectively support the installations department to ensure all installations comply with Wickes processes and procedures, manufacturer’s instructions, British Standards, Legal and Health & safety requirements.   

Key Accountabilities:

• Ensure that products within the assigned product categories comply with the Wickes quality, safety and environmental requirements.
• Ensure that UK/European legislation, product information and communication is technically correct and complies with legal requirements.
• Support the Wickes DIFM strategy to ensure we have the right products that are fit for purpose for our customers, including new product development.
• Work with and manage stakeholders across different operations to ensure best practice and ways of working are consistent where products or suppliers are shared.
• Ensure all Wickes policies relating to products are upheld.
• Minimise any risks associated with product throughout the installations life cycle.
• Provide technical support on product development and customer complaint resolution to Wickes installation teams.
• Support the Wickes Stay Safe team to ensure we have the right Heal & Safety policies in place across the department that underpin a comprehensive Risk Register.
• Maintain the installations Safety Framework – supporting the Wickes Safety Culture Pillars

Responsibilities will include but will not be restricted to:

• Responsible for the product evaluation and approval within assigned categories, including risk assessment and benchmarking processes to ensure that only compliant products (Safe, legal Reliable and Fit-For-Purpose) are used within installations.
• Support the DIFM team through responsible sourcing practices ensuring risks associated with ethical and social responsibility are identified and activity is implemented to eliminate such risks.
• Ensure all non-compliance issues are effectively dealt with and appropriate remedial action taken through direct contact with the Wickes Technical department.
• Ensure that the necessary improvements are identified and followed through ensuring all key stakeholders are informed.
• Investigate and report on technical queries and quality concerns in relation to product returns, critical product failures and customer complaints identifying remedial actions, product changes and associated cost implications.
• Ensure any resulting actions are completed to a satisfactory level within agreed timescales.
• Ensure that the team and business is kept fully informed and up to date on all product related legislation requirements and that this information is readily available, understandable and forms part of the product evaluation approval process.

Difficulties and Demands of the role:

• Plan product evaluations, samples and technical files to meet delivery deadlines.
• Demonstrate a commercial awareness by maximising profitability through the selection of appropriate quality products, whilst at the same time meeting the quality policies of Wickes.
• Interpretation and advise in relation to product legislation, safety and technical standards and environmental impact to specific product categories.
• Recommendations for rejection or technical specification improvement based on technical knowledge and expertise.
• Maintaining activities within the assigned categories to ensure that company objectives and targets are met.
• Getting it wrong can have a major impact on customer safety, product reliability and compliance to legislation, exposing the business to potential prosecution and negative publicity.

Typical Decisions Made by the Jobholder:

• Freedom to work within scope of product technical parameters with minimal supervision.
• Authority to refuse product approval and supply of products into the business.
• Authority to stop non-compliant products entering the company.
• Supply management with suitable evidence for the recommendation of supplier termination where consistently exposing the company to unsatisfactory risk.

Desired Skillset or Background:

• Experience working within the services sector, specifically Kitchen and Bathroom market within the last 12 months or within a similar technical role.
• Exposure to working with digitalised platforms, apps and other technology in a similar role.
• Experience of working with different teams and understanding a variety of roles and responsibilities within a business.
• Being able to build strong rapports and working relationships.
• Experience of project managing and taking ownership of own streams whilst demonstrating flexibility and being adaptable.
• Good numeracy skills and commercial awareness.
• Ability to assess and mitigate risk for the business.