Head of Quality, Technical, Compliance and Sourcing

About the role

We are seeking a Head of Quality, Technical, Compliance, and Sourcing. This is a newly created role and a rare opportunity to join our Partnership

This is a key senior leadership position responsible for the end-to-end oversight of Own Brand product delivery, uniting the Sourcing and Quality & Technical functions under a single strategic leader. The primary focus is to ensure the Partnership delivers the right product, at the right price, with the right quality standard, supporting commercial ambitions, margin growth, and brand integrity.

The role will lead teams in the UK and work closely with international sourcing offices in India and Hong Kong. It serves as the initial link between the commercial and sourcing functions, ensuring that category strategies are effectively translated into sourcing execution and supplier capabilities, while maintaining robust quality and compliance standards.

• Salary - £121,000.00 - £181,000.00

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• Contract type - This position is a Permanent contract.

• Working pattern/flexible working - The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home-based, upon your personal needs, whilst balancing the needs of the business. 

• Location -  This role is based at our London Head Office campus in Pimlico. There is also travel for this role to our sourcing offices locations in India and Hong Kong

• Please note the 1st Stage interview will be in person in our London Head Office in Pimlico on Thursday, 13th November.

Key responsibilities

• You'll be leading the UK Sourcing and Quality & Technical teams, making sure they work together.  As the Leader, you will drive all Own Brand products, collaborating with the commercial teams on everything from ideas to quality.

• You will also be fully involved in determining where to source our products, consolidating suppliers, and ensuring we're securing favourable deals while expanding our supply options. Maintain a vigilant eye on product quality from start to finish, ensuring that all our factories and suppliers meet our high standards. You'll also work with other category teams to ensure sourcing and quality help achieve bigger brand and business goals.

• You'll be responsible for key sourcing and product quality decisions, reporting directly to senior leadership and influencing how the entire Partnership makes decisions.

• You will work closely with our regional offices in India and Hong Kong, as well as our UK manufacturing unit. You'll hold your leads, suppliers and factories accountable for all aspects of product delivery and quality. 

• Ensure that all our sourcing is sustainable and ethical, working closely with the Head of Corporate Responsibility to do things the right way. Finally, stay on top of what customers want, market trends, and new tech by using your insights and network.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

Senior Leadership Experience: Proven senior leadership experience in sourcing, quality, and technical management in both Fashion & Home.

Strategic & Commercial Acumen: Strategic thinking with the ability to create and deliver sourcing and product assurance plans aligned with commercial goals. This includes understanding margin, cost levers, and deal-making dynamics. The role requires expert commerciality to drive profit through inspirational and differentiated products. 

Sourcing & Supply Chain Expertise: Deep knowledge of global sourcing models, including nearshore/offshore dynamics and vendor optimisation. Experience managing large groups of partners and an understanding of the supply chain across multiple product types and manufacturing are essential. 

Quality & Technical Knowledge: A sound understanding of product quality, safety, compliance and sustainability standards. 

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong ability to influence both up and down. With close collaboration across matrix functions, particularly Commercial and Design teams and the global supplier base with a proven track record of developing internal and external networks. 

Team Leadership: Inspirational and visible leadership to unite previously separate functions under a shared purpose. The ability to lead through change and empower teams to make decisions and resolve challenges is crucial.

This role is for the UK's largest employee-owned business, so experience in a comparable, large-scale retail company, especially one with both physical and online channels, would be highly beneficial.

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The Partnership

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.  

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.   

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. 

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. 

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.  

Important points to note:  

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.  

We occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications, and therefore, we recommend you apply early. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability which means you may need longer to complete your application please contact us as soon as possible.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview. 

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