Natalie Rockell
Binfield
Summary
Accomplished Technical Manager with 20 years in food and retail sectors, specialising in supply chain compliance and quality assurance. Led initiatives to optimise operational processes and enhance team collaboration while upholding safety and ethical standards. Navigated regulatory environments and implemented continuous improvement strategies to drive business outcomes.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Technical Manager - Value Added Foods
Waitrose & Partners
Bracknell
02.2025 - Current
- Safeguarded brand integrity by overseeing technical manufacturing standards across defined ranges, ensuring 100% adherence to quality, safety, and legality requirements.
- Created technical improvement initiatives and led high-impact investigations into safety and ethical non-compliance, implementing corrective actions that mitigated long-term risk.
- Managed own label suppliers and supply chains/products to meet Waitrose technical and brand standards, assessing delivery against defined KPIs.
- Managed responses to product incidents for branded and own-label lines, ensuring rapid resolution and conducting post-incident analysis to prevent recurrence.
- Lead and manage implementation of key projects across in store bakery, entertaining and local regional suppliers
- Conducted supplier approval audits and onboarded new suppliers according to Waitrose Technical Standards.
- Subject Matter Expert Member of critical working groups such as Food Policy, Critical Path and Stage Gate Process, Wave Tool implementation, Technical Directors Forum and Incident Management within the Quality and Technical Team as well as on ingredients such as Cocoa, Tea and Coffee
- Championed organisational well-being initiatives as the Health and Wellbeing Lead, fostering a supportive and high-performance culture within the technical team.
Category Technical Manager - BWS and Non Food
Waitrose & Partners
02.2025 - 02.2026
- Optimised BWS and Non-Food supply chains by aligning supplier performance with Waitrose technical benchmarks, resulting in measurable improvements against brand KPIs.
- Executed meticulous technical oversight for complex manufacturing ranges, guaranteeing total compliance with safety, legality, and component quality standards.
- Create technical improvement plans and lead investigations on quality, safety, ethical and additives non-compliance
- Validated and onboarded strategic new suppliers through intensive audit programs, ensuring full integration into the Waitrose technical requirements.
- Cultivated a high-performing team of technologists by leveraging Partnership Values to drive professional development and strategy execution.
- Coordinated critical incident management for multiple categories, ensuring swift corrective actions and protecting brand reputation during product safety events.
- Pioneered the implementation of the Stage and Gate framework, specifically re-engineering Gate 3 processes to enhance technical rigor and project transparency.
- Modernised BWS and non-food audit standards, driving operational efficiency and superior compliance through the introduction of defined technical requirements.
- Influenced corporate food policy and critical path efficiency as a core member of cross-functional working groups within the Quality and Technical team.
- Augmented leadership capabilities by completing the Pilgrims Technical Leadership Programme and high-level Partnership management courses.
- Architected a strategic roadmap for the BWS and Non-Food categories, establishing clear performance measures and team-building initiatives to drive success.
- Facilitated the seamless re-integration of General Merchandise products into Waitrose by defining RACI models and executing complex technical tasks.
Technical Manager
Waitrose & Partners
09.2016 - 02.2025
- Manage own label suppliers and defined supply chains/products to meet the Waitrose technical and brand standards and to assess delivery against standards to defined KPI’s
- Ensured the integrity of diverse product ranges by auditing manufacturing processes for quality, safety, and legislative compliance.
- Led critical investigations into quality and ethical non-compliance, developing and monitoring improvement plans to restore operational standards.
- Conduct supplier approval audits, onboarding new suppliers in line with Waitrose Technical Standards
- Mentored and managed a team of technologists, driving strategic delivery and individual potential through the application of core Partnership Values.
- Directed product incident responses across multiple categories, ensuring effective resolution and brand protection for own-label and branded lines.
- Supervised a team of QT coordinators to achieve critical KPIs across ethical audits, specification compliance, and technical policy standards.
- Transformed specification compliance by integrating Ashbury services into Waitrose, establishing new workflows that secured the critical path and stage gate processes.
- Provided technical leadership in Subject Matter Expert groups, shaping policy for key ingredients and refining the organisation’s incident management response.
- Governed the supplier monitoring audit programme as a member of the Waitrose Technical Audit Committee, ensuring consistent technical oversight.
- Developed a comprehensive Horizon Scanning framework across all product areas, improving organisational compliance and proactivity regarding emerging risks.
- Promoted health and wellbeing standards as a departmental champion, enhancing team engagement and operational resilience.
Corporate Responsibility Manager
Debenhams Retail PLC
04.2015 - 09.2016
- Delivered mission-critical legislative research on chemical, packaging, and environmental regulations, ensuring 100% on-time compliance for global markets.
- Responsible for Management of Debenhams REACH programme Works closely with Senior CR Manager across all areas of compliance and actively contributes to strategic vision, continues improvements and implementations of best practices
- Monitored and synthesized international country legislation to inform business-wide risk assessments and regulatory adherence.
- Orchestrated the REACH programme in collaboration with SGS and internal teams, ensuring seamless technical coordination across departments.
- Launched and managed a business-wide REACH training initiative, enhancing technical competency across UK and international hubs.
- Advocated for sustainable practices by leading projects on SCAP, REACH, PETA, and sustainable timber, significantly raising internal awareness through expert training.
- Optimized regulatory tracking systems for E-commerce and international markets, ensuring a robust audit trail for all product legislations.
- Implemented standardized SOPs for international compliance, ensuring uniform technical requirements across all product categories.
- Facilitated strategic stakeholder engagement between suppliers and internal divisions to resolve complex REACH and international legislative hurdles.
Senior Technologist
Debenhams Retail PLC
04.2013 - 03.2015
- Enforced strict adherence to QA policies and government legislation across the technical team, ensuring total product safety and compliance.
- Collaborated with buying departments to evaluate and develop new products, guaranteeing all launches met business safety requirements.
- Resolved supplier and factory quality issues through targeted intervention, maintaining high standards of production and compliance.
- Streamlined the sealing process and critical path management to ensure 100% on-time product launches through the implementation of new SOPs.
- Directed factory technical audits and partnered with third-party laboratories to validate product compliance with UK/EU and international legislation.
- Devised New Product Review frameworks that enhanced risk assessment accuracy while optimizing profit margins across diverse categories.
- Managed technical file integrity and investigated high-return items and TSO incidents to drive continuous product improvement and safety.
Quality Assurance Technologist
Toys R us Ltd
05.2003 - 04.2013
- Engineered and evaluated new product lines to ensure safety and functionality, including the development of wash care and fabric reporting standards.
- Defined TRU requirement specifications for clothing and bedding, establishing a benchmark for quality and pattern sealing with global suppliers.
- Guided the development of the QA department by leveraging critical path management to control New Product Introduction (NPI) cycles.
- Managed technical data sheets and approved packaging for private label products, ensuring accurate product information and brand consistency.
- Authorized global shipments following rigorous pre-shipment inspections, maintaining high quality control at the source.
- Orchestrated product reworks and conducted vendor technical audits, enforcing strict corrective actions to improve supplier performance.
- Investigated product performance issues and managed Trading Standards incidents, implementing strategies that significantly reduced return levels.
- Maintained a dynamic Product Requirement Matrix, ensuring all categories remained compliant with the latest global legislations.
- Designed and executed training for suppliers and store teams on battery and bike products, reducing customer incidents and store-level returns.
Administrator
Mass Information Systems
03.2001 - 04.2003
- Executed comprehensive administrative support for the Managing Director, driving operational efficiency across the executive office.
- Coordinated software distribution and supplier logistics, ensuring timely delivery of critical business tools.
- Managed complex travel arrangements for senior leadership, optimizing schedules and logistics.
- Exemplified superior customer service on the technical helpdesk, resolving client queries with precision and efficiency.
- Organized high-impact marketing and training events, enhancing brand visibility and team technical knowledge.
Education
A Levels - English, Afrikaanse, Biology, Geography, Home and Business Economics
Benoni High School, South Africa
South Africa11-2000
Stirling Primary School -
Stirling High School, South Africa
South Africa11-1997
BTEC National Certificate - Mechanical Engineering
Reading College of Art and Technology
Reading06-2006
NVQ Level 3 - Business Administration
Bracknell and Wokingham College
Bracknell06-2003
Skills
- Food safety management
- Technical compliance and audit management
- Regulatory compliance
- Supplier management
- Process improvement
- Continuous improvement
- Project and stakeholder management
- Strategic leadership
- Team collaboration
- Communication and negotiation
Certifications
- Reading College of Art and Technology, BTEC National Certificate Mechanical Engineering, Merit Distinction
- Bracknell and Wokingham College, NVQ Level 3 Business Administration
- Benoni High School, South Africa, A Levels: English, Afrikaans, Biology, Geography, Home and Business Economics
- BRC V8 Lead Auditor and BRCGS Professional
- HACCP Level 3
- Allergen and Food Labelling Compliance - Campden BRI
- Leading in the Partnership and Pilgrim Technical Leadership Programme
- STEM Ambassador
- Chair - Minis and Juniors - Bracknell Rugby Club
Timeline
Technical Manager - Value Added Foods
Waitrose & Partners
02.2025 - Current
Category Technical Manager - BWS and Non Food
Waitrose & Partners
02.2025 - 02.2026
Technical Manager
Waitrose & Partners
09.2016 - 02.2025
Corporate Responsibility Manager
Debenhams Retail PLC
04.2015 - 09.2016
Senior Technologist
Debenhams Retail PLC
04.2013 - 03.2015
Quality Assurance Technologist
Toys R us Ltd
05.2003 - 04.2013
Administrator
Mass Information Systems
03.2001 - 04.2003
A Levels - English, Afrikaanse, Biology, Geography, Home and Business Economics
Benoni High School, South Africa
Stirling Primary School -
Stirling High School, South Africa
BTEC National Certificate - Mechanical Engineering
Reading College of Art and Technology
NVQ Level 3 - Business Administration
Bracknell and Wokingham College