Technical Manager - Produce

About the Role

We are looking for a knowledgeable and proactive Technical Manager – Produce & Horticulture to join our Corporate Services team at Hilmore House in Bradford. In this key role, you will provide technical support and guidance directly at the heart of our Horticulture and Salad trading teams to ensure Morrisons standards for product quality, safety, statutory compliance, sustainability and integrity are consistently met.

Working across the end-to-end supply chain from field to fork, you will manage category technical processes, oversee supplier performance and drive continuous improvement. You will partner with UK and overseas growers and suppliers, using sound risk assessment and technical expertise to deliver safe, high-quality produce while minimising waste and supporting commercial growth.

What You Will Do

As a Technical Manager – Produce & Horticulture, you will:

● Drive Product Safety & Quality: Ensure customer safety and satisfaction remain central to all decision-making, setting and maintaining category quality specifications and standards.

● Manage Supplier Compliance & Approval: Authorise new suppliers and products via technical selection and risk assessment, ensuring sites comply with standards such as GLOBALG.A.P., BRC, SEDEX, and MMS.

● Partner with source and Trading: Align technical requirements with trading strategies, monitoring supplier KPIs to ensure the business works with the right growers and packing sites.

● Manage Complaints & Incidents: Monitor customer complaints, refund trends and media feedback to resolve issues, supporting product withdrawal or recall processes with robust corrective actions.

● Build Strong Supply Chain Relationships: Foster trusted relationships with UK and international suppliers to secure supply prioritisation and drive continuous improvement.

● Simplify & Innovate: Streamline technical processes by training and developing suppliers to self-manage risk and approve appropriate products.

About You

You will be a passionate, detail-orientated fresh produce professional with strong technical expertise, sound commercial awareness and a customer-first mindset.

You will have:

● A relevant degree or equivalent work experience in fresh produce or horticulture.

● Typically 3- 5 years of experience in the fresh produce or horticultural industry (grower, supplier or retail context).

● Strong knowledge of HACCP, TACCP, GLOBALG.A.P., BRC and ethical/sustainability standards.

● Proven capability in site and supplier auditing, risk assessment and incident management.

● Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to shape commercial decisions impacting quality and safety.

● Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and willingness to travel within the UK and overseas as required.

We value your hard work and commitment, and in return, we provide:

• Private healthcare
• Car Allowance
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• 15% discount in our supermarkets and convenience stores from the day you join us
• Additional 10% discount card for a friend or family member
• Genuine career progression and development opportunities - read more about our Leadership School here
• Subsidised staff canteen
• Free parking
• Competitive pension and life assurance
• Healthcare / Wellbeing benefits including Aviva Digital GP
• 'MyPerks' with discounts at high street shops, cinemas and gyms, and lots more
• Optional payroll charity donations
• A range of family-friendly policies including 26 weeks maternity and adoption leave along with neonatal and fertility leave

More about us

Starting as a Bradford market stall, we are proud to be the Yorkshire retailer now serving over 11 million customers nationwide each week. We’re unique: both foodmakers and shopkeepers, processing our own fresh produce and preparing more food in-store than any other supermarket.

We offer real opportunities to build your career across our stores, sites, and support teams. We’re a down-to-earth team that values hard work, reliability, and great customer service. If you’re friendly, dependable, and ready to get stuck in, there’s always More to Morrisons for you.