We are looking for a Junior Product Technologist to join Team OB in our Support Office.

As a Junior Product Technologist at OB you will work closely with the Buying, Design and Quality teams to ensure that our Home and Gift products meet safety and quality requirements and are fit for purpose.

You will work across a varied product range including tabletop, home accessories, textiles, cosmetics, bath & body, furniture and lighting, working to multiple critical path deadlines, and supporting the Quality Assurance Manager and Product Technologists to manage the quality process within the H&G department ensuring that the product launches on time.

Our Support Office is based in Tolworth, near Chessington, only a 30-minute journey from London Waterloo. We offer hybrid working with a mix of office and home working and are open to having conversations about working flexibly.

A bit about us …

At Oliver Bonas (OB), our values of Work Hard, Play Hard & Be Kind are integral to everything we do. Collaboration, imagination, curiosity, and teamwork are key to our success, and everyone has their part to play in making OB a special place to work.

Having fun is key, and a playful and positive approach creates an optimistic environment. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we are serious about what we do.

Our team knows their stuff. They’re confident and creative and unafraid to challenge convention to find solutions, taking accountability for their actions, but always with kindness and humility.

More about the role …

An OB Junior Product Technologist will:

Assess product design briefs and risk assess designs for quality and production capability call outs ensuring designs are fit for purpose and meet required legal and safety requirements
Advise Design and Buying teams of potential product specification amends where applicable and with the support of the QA team
Work closely across functions to manage sealing process documentation to ensure all comments are adequately documented
Assist and liaise with the H&G team maintaining the critical path and product developments
Communicate with suppliers and agents on any issue’s, ensuring that samples are produced to required standards
Assist in resolving technical problems, escalating to QA Manager when required
Assist product briefing detailing testing requirements to ensure all products adhere to British testing standards and are fit for purpose
Build strong working relationships with suppliers
Work with Quality Control department to communicate product methods and any pre-approved production variances expected
Follow up with any unforeseen product issues and communicate with suppliers and relevant teams
Visit UK suppliers and test laboratories
Communicate packaging and labelling requirements for H&G products
Monitor the performance of packing together with the Quality Control and Returns teams
Work with suppliers and in-house teams to ensure product packaging is commercial, fit for purpose and not excessive
Help determine and sign off product care instructions where needed
Maintain and update technical files, tech specs, design briefs, test reports, product sealing forms, photographs and any relevant correspondence
Log returns, performance and complaints data to drive technical improvements
Generate returns analysis and feedback internally to the business
Work collaboratively with all internal teams including Buying, Design, Quality Control, Customer Service, Merchandising, Warehouse and Stores
Support seasonal product training sessions
Work in conjunction with the Ethical team to ensure both new and existing suppliers adhere to our Code of Conduct, feeding any quality issues into audit briefing

Bonas Benefits:

Generous employee discount up to 50% off all OB products
Free access to our 24 hour employee assistance programme with Care First – offering financial, emotional and vocational support
Flexible holiday – 30 days (including bank holidays) – increasing to 35 days with length of service
Annual discretionary profit related bonus scheme
Free membership for our Westfield Health Cash Plan or Private Medical
Auto-enrolment into our pension plan
Free access to our onsite gym
Cycle to work scheme
Refer a Friend incentive
Quarterly free lunch
Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave
Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Voice network and EDI team
Mental Health First Aider support
Education and support throughout Looop eLearning platform

What we look for:

Knowledge and proven experience of product technology, risk assessments, safety standards and legal requirements is beneficial
An awareness of own label product development process
Fantastic planning and organisational skills
Great attention to detail and an inquisitive nature
Proven ability to influence others
Able to collaborate, manage, develop and strengthen relationships with key suppliers and third parties
Natural ability to problem solve, multitask and prioritise effectively
Excellent communication skills and computer literacy
An interest in home, gift and furniture products

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at OB

At Oliver Bonas, our promise is to do our bit to make living a joyful experience and give cause for optimism. This promise is central to our work in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). To bring joy to others, we must first ensure everyone at OB feels valued, included and most importantly, can be themselves at work.

It is important to us that our brand reflects wider society and the communities in which we operate. As a result, we welcome all eligible applicants for this role however we are particularly interested in speaking to eligible candidates from the Black, Asian & Mixed Heritage communities.

Oliver Bonas is a Disability Confident Committed employer under the Disability Confident employer scheme.

To read more about our ED&I commitments, head over to the EDI page on our website: https://www.oliverbonas.com/meet-the-team/diversity