Job Description

Assistant Technologist

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Salary:

Competitive Plus Benefits

Location:

Coventry Store Support Centre - Ansty Park and Home, Coventry, CV7 9RD

Contract type:

Permanent

Business area:

Non Food

Closing date:

09 October 2025

Requisition ID:

400022534

Joining the team at Argos, you'll find yourself at the forefront of UK retail, in a brand that is loved by millions of customers across the country. Argos is a market leader in the general merchandise sector, with the third most visited retail website and a market leading same day delivery and click&collect service. Whether it's working across our amazing owned-brands of Habitat, Chad Valley and Bush, or working with the biggest global consumer brands like Apple, Lego, Xbox or Samsung, we have a breadth of opportunity to nurture your career. With roles across Buying, Merchandising, Design, Technical, or Commercial Planning or Operations, we have teams that always strive to make amazing product to delight our customers. The Argos Commercial teams work closely with many other functions across the business like Digital, Marketing, Retail and Logistics to deliver for our customers, allowing you to develop connections and learn from teams across the business. Development is important to us and you'll have the full support of your line manager in developing and growing your skill set and aiding your career aspirations.
Role Profile



UK Assistant Technologist (C3)





Division/Department:



Technical & Ethical





Location:



Ansty / Holborn store support centre & Home





Reporting to:



Technical manager / C4 Lead / C4 Technologist





In a nutshell



UK Assistant Technologists support product development and delivery of Sainsbury's Argos General Merchandise & Clothing product plans, ensuring quality, safety, and legality. They collaborate with their Asia Technical peers & Sourcing teams, Suppliers, Designers, Buyer's, Merchandisers, supply chain/DC, and retail teams to consistently produce high-quality products that meet standards and policies in line with our customers' expectations, ensuring they meet our cost of goods challenge. Responsible for regularly reviewing customer returns, star rating performance and responding to customer complaints, ensuring all learnings are built into future product specifications to reduce returns and improve customer experience.





What I am accountable for:


Supports the delivery of innovative product and new product development, through product evaluation, competitor benchmarking, customer/store feedback management, range reviews, and post-sales customer feedback.

Under the oversight of C4 technologists, ensures that Sainsbury's Argos GM and Clothing products comply with safety, legal, and quality risk assessments, thereby maintaining brand reputation and fulfilling due diligence requirements.

Management of small / low risk product areas.

Ensures technical approvals and timelines adhere to the critical path, coordinating with suppliers and global stakeholders, including product specifications and artwork approvals.

Supports the execution of their category technical & sourcing strategy by collaborating with key stakeholders across the business such as Buying, Sourcing, Sustainability and Design.

Takes responsibility for promptly resolving issues and managing held stock in the UK, maintaining relevant trackers and incident report forms.

Delivery of department KPI's and goals

With C4 Technologists guidance, manages the creation, maintenance and updates of technical records (e.g., appraisal documents, workbooks, policies, product standards, testing reports, performance trackers) following company procedures and legal guidelines.

Supports implementation of corporate sustainability plans

Investigates and resolves issues promptly, seeks opportunities to reduce returns by analysing customer feedback, returns data. Aims for continuous improvement of product quality and supply base technical capability.

Embraces change and proactively supports new working methods in GM, exemplifying Sainsbury's values.




What I need to know:



Essential


Attention to detail in all tasks

Commercial awareness

Able to deliver results under pressure in a fast-paced retail environment, both individually and as part of a team

Good self-awareness and communication

Effective planning and prioritisation

Computer literate




Desirable


Manufacturing or retailer experience in a technical environment.

Experience in a technical role either in the supply base or at a retailer

Ideally a degree or equivalent in relevant subject.




What I need to show:



Own it:


Deliver a wide range of tasks, and take ownership for solving problems that you identify

Actively share your thoughts and are prepared to challenge others in a positive way

Use business context and other information sources to make decisions


Regularly review your goals with your line manager



Make it better:


Open minded and try new ways of doing things, making things simpler where possible

Adaptable and respond positively when circumstances change

Show curiosity about the business beyond your immediate role

Seek feedback from those you work with and understand your strengths and development areas

Provide regular fair and accurate feedback to others


Be human:


Ask questions to understand where others are coming from. Show care and respect for how others are feeling and provide support to those around you

Listen and ask questions about the needs and motivations of others to build effective relationships

Regularly gather customer feedback and use this insight to continuously improve the customer experience




Support we will provide:


Sainsbury's, Argos General department support functions

Sainsbury's, Argos training courses detailed on each individual training plan on the training matrix

Link discussions, objectives and personal development plan

My Sainsbury's Learning- Sainsbury's Non-Food Technical Training Courses and Store Support Centre behavioural personal development courses.

Corporate policies, technical documents.

Supplier or service provider support



We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer, so you'll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there's always the chance to try something new - whether that's as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working. When you join our team, we'll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Here are some of them:



Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to get 10% off at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks. This increases to 15% off at Sainsbury's every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day. We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover. You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance-related bonus of up to 5% of salary, depending on how we perform.



Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy additional holiday. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, pay advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers. And if you ever need it there is also an employee assistance programme.



Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks' pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks' pay for paternity leave.



Please see www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).





Please note, due to the volume of applications we receive, our roles may close early.