Retail Product Technologist

This position is located within the V&A Retail Buying team, working closely with Buyers and Merchandisers to oversee product testing and compliance documentation across all merchandise sold within the V&A shops and online. Reporting to the Head of Retail, the role is key to the V&A’s commitment to the highest standards of design, ensuring all products meet regulatory and certification standards, across a wide range of categories that includes toys, food, toiletries, homeware and fashion. Responsibilities include: To manage product testing, compliance and certification processes for V&A merchandise, in line with wider departmental strategy and critical path. To work collaboratively with Buying, Merchandising and Design teams to ensure compliance across V&A Retail for both bought-in and own-brand products To own the compliance strategy and processes from start to finish, developing as needed and working with internal and external partners to implement To act as a first point of contact for internal and external parties for technical and compliance queries relating to retail product To be appraised of all relevant legislation and its communication to wider teams as needed To set out and communicate the compliance requirements for all categories and territories into which V&A Shops sell To work closely with suppliers to ensure standards are met, investigate irregularities, report findings, and help implement corrective actions To gather, review and approve third-party test documentation. To maintain records and data related to compliance. To review product labelling, warnings and back-of-pack information to ensure regulatory compliance To perform risk assessments and create/update policies and processes where necessary To support GPSR processes by maintaining and providing relevant product and packaging specifications To develop and implement a product recall strategy for in-store and online To work closely with internal teams such as Warehouse, Front of House, Merchandising and Web to conduct training and co-ordinate process improvements To ensure V&A Retail sustainability targets are monitored, updated and recorded across retail activity including GOTS, FSC etc.