Technical Account Manager

About Company:

Our client is a leading supplier of fresh produce, dedicated to delivering the highest quality products from seed to fork. Company is committed to exceeding customer expectations through their technical expertise, innovative solutions, and unwavering dedication to quality and safety standards.

Job Purpose:

As a Technical Retail Account Manager, you will work with top retailers and will proactively meet and exceed customer expectations through extensive technical and product knowledge, industry developments, and quality delivery. You will become the go-to product expert for company's product ranges, ensuring the safety, legality, and quality of products while providing insights and updates on company's competitive position in the market.

Key Responsibilities

Customer Engagement:

- Act as the first point of contact for technical queries, customer complaints, product rejections, and crisis situations, ensuring company's brand reputation is maintained.

- Lead and participate in customer conferences, meetings, visits, audits, workshops, and briefings, sharing key information and implementing agreed action plans.

- Create and communicate KPI trackers, technical reports, and improvement plans, driving year-on-year improvements and delivering technical plans in full.

- Provide regular updates on industry and legislation developments, sourcing options, and seasonal changes, collaborating closely with the procurement team.

Product Management:

- Ensure quality standards and product specifications are up to date, aligning with company targets and seasonal variations.

- Engage in new and existing product development, supporting technical critical path activities such as product launch paperwork, shelf-life trials, and packaging signoffs.

- Understand market trends and consumer behaviour within the produce category, providing clear insights to support directional changes.

- Recognise company's unique selling points (USPs) and capabilities compared to competitors, ensuring continuous improvement and business protection.

Internal Collaboration:

- Participate in key meetings, ensuring requirements are documented and actioned within agreed timelines.

- Support due diligence and supplier management processes, satisfying risk and compliance team requirements.

- Maintain up-to-date technical documentation, including specifications, contact reports, and audit/visit reports.

- Analyse the end-to-end supply chain, costing models, and key commercial reports to support commercial, procurement, and supply chain teams.

- Proactively monitor and review finished product quality against customer specifications through production and store visits.

- Manage supplier visits and audits within the UK and overseas, attending customer audits/visits as required.

- Engage with regulatory bodies and industry-specific working groups to support company's global business in the fresh food sector.

- Develop cross-functional support capabilities within the technical division.

Required Qualification and Experience

Qualifications:

- Educated to QCF level 5-6 in a relevant discipline.

Experience:

- 3-5 years of direct head office retail customer experience within a technical/commercial or procurement function in a short shelf-life food supplier, ideally fresh produce.

- Proven success operating within complex, commercially driven supply chains.

- Regular face-to-face customer contact at head office level.

- Advanced skills in Microsoft Office and electronic data management systems.

- Strong communication skills with a demanding customer base.

- Ability to multitask, organise, and prioritise effectively.

Languages:

- Fluent in English (written and verbal).

- Additional languages are advantageous.

Mobility:

- Willingness to travel routinely to UK sites and overseas farming operations.

- A clean, full UK driving license is essential.

What is on offer:

- Pay, depends on experience: £45k-£60k + bonus

- 25 Holidays + bank holiday

- Competitive Pension Plan

- Company Discounts

- Opportunities for professional development and career progression.

- A dynamic and supportive work environment.

If you are a proactive and dedicated professional with a passion for delivering exceptional technical solutions and customer satisfaction, we would love to hear from you. Apply and be part of a team that values innovation, quality, and excellence in fresh produce!