Job description (critical purpose) As a Factory & Compliance Specialist, you are responsible for coordinating suppliers & factories, verifying quality standards in accordance with the requirements of the Partnership. You will support the sourcing office in performing new factory onboarding, in-house supplier audits, pre-production & during production reviews and pre-shipment inspections to ensure compliance with John Lewis & Waitrose standards, as well as actively participating in continuous improvement projects on key suppliers and factories in accordance with the sourcing office strategic plans. You will be the key ground support, suggesting structural quality and process improvements while validating corrective actions with suppliers. Primary Outcomes & Accountabilities Act in accordance with the Partnership’s purpose and democratic principles, constructively participating in co-ownership, and demonstrating to customers and each other that it is a better way of doing business. Share your knowledge, experiences, ideas and opinion to improve the Partnership, speaking honestly and frequently. Invest in your personal and professional development to achieve your potential, by doing more, doing better, or doing different. Continuously engage with and actively contribute to your Profession Take responsibility for actively engaging with change. Create the conditions for all Partners to thrive, make their best contribution and achieve their potential. Appreciate what different life experiences bring to the Partnership and the value this adds to unbiased and smarter decision making. Set the tone, context and outcomes for the team with the voice of the customer at the heart. Enable the conditions for Partner opinion to be heard and acted upon. Key Accountabilities & Activities ● Support Product Development & Merchandising Sourcing teams in conducting capability assessments and verifying factory qualifications. ● Support Product Development teams on key supplier continuous improvement projects and the sourcing office on pre-buying trip reviews. ● Perform individually or with support from Product Development Technologists for on-site factory monitoring and improvement activities such as new factory on-boarding, pre-production & during production reviews, pre-shipment inspections and in-house audits. ● Champion for QMS. ● Champion & contact point for 3rd party service providers for coordination on pre-shipment inspection templates, scoring and procedures, etc. ● Responsible for performance of 3rd party service providers. Managing complaints, escalations and resolutions. ● Monitor and track validity of all factory technical audit compliance. (HKSO) ● Monitor and track performance for all 3rd party pre-shipment inspections and supplier self-inspections. ● Working closely with Victoria Factory Compliance Manager on the factory compliance program. ● Working closely with Category Technical Managers on establishing schedules for on-site technical support. ● Working closely with respective Product Development Technologists on factory related QMS escalations. ● Working closely with Global Technical & Compliance Data Specialist on monthly, quarterly and annual reporting. ● Maintain oversight of all auditing and pre-shipment inspection scheduling. ● Providing support in training of suppliers in process controls and inspection requirements. ● Horizon scanning of regulations, standards and benchmarking & calibrating of auditing requirements. ● Assess and screen new factory to ensure that they can meet John Lewis and Waitrose brand standards. ● Manage a portfolio of factories to ensure the delivery of consistent product quality and drive continuous improvement with supply base. (ISO) ● Plan & drive continuous improvement projects with suppliers with the help of quality metric data (Return rates, ADC reports, Star ratings, etc.). (ISO) ● Review and check accuracy of information for packaging (Home), assembly/user instructions and care labels contents from suppliers. (ISO) ● Working in tandem with Product Compliance Specialists in ensuring all product test certificates/technical folders are updated during product lifecycle and archived in the respective technical repository. (ISO) ● As and when required, ensure during production checks are conducted, and all pre-shipment inspections are completed at supplier/ factory locations either through 3rd party service providers, or conducting them in person. (ISO)
