Senior Technologist- Textile 9 Months FTC

Overview

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 over 90,000 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. 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.

This role is a hybrid opportunity based in our Syston Store Support Office in Leicester.

What you'll 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.

Supplier & Stakeholder Management

• 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

Key Skills & Experience

• 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.