Childrenswear Technologist

We have an opportunity for an experienced Childrenswear Technologist to join a leading high street Retailer for a 12 month FTC

The Garment / Product Technical department supports the Buying and Design teams to ensure that the product fit and quality is in line with the brand strategy and values and is compliant in all markets/ channels in which they trade.

This is achieved through strong Buying team, Design team and Supplier relations. A strong commercial awareness and application is essential.

The Technologist is recognised by peers, buying and design teams and suppliers as a knowledgeable technical resource who leads the achievement of established standards of fit, quality and performance for the department/s, in line with the critical path and brand priorities; is responsible for ensuring the product is fit for purpose and aligned with brand objectives.

Key Accountabilities:

• May be required to manage a junior member of the team – e.g. junior technologist / student. Includes mentoring, setting objectives to be achieved and ensure they are being worked towards; providing timely feedback and support to enable that person to work to the best of their ability.

• Leads the technical approval process on their department/s - and is the ‘go to’ person for all technical matters

• Identifies opportunities or risk which may lead to cross functional collaboration/ initiatives.

• Works with suppliers and buying teams to establish opportunities for improvements.

• Leads the product development and approval process of the department to ensure delivery is compliant to all of the Client’s standards (fit, quality, performance and compliance) including those of wholesale partners and all markets in which our client has a presence.

• Responsible for ensuring ways of working are followed by buyers, designers and suppliers for all technical processes, in order to achieve KPI’s of efficiency, consistency and ‘right first time’

• Responsible for risk assessment of both production and safety (prior to production) and collaborates with supplier and buyer to minimise risk and ensure compliance.

• Responsible for approval of test reports and Certificates of Compliance in line with our standards and requirements; manages failures in line with commercial limits and standards.

• Develops blocks and key shapes in collaboration with Buyer / Designer relevant to department and season; ensures distribution to and understanding of all relevant stakeholders (including Designers, Suppliers and Home Production)

• Contributes to the development and maintenance of the relevant grading tables for the department.

• Regularly reviews quality and fit of delivered product through store visits, wearer trials; ‘Fit squads’, benchmarking exercises and ongoing analysis of customer returns information; feedback/ challenge suppliers where necessary to ensure standards are maintained or exceeded and fit remains consistent and relevant. Recommends appropriate actions to buying team where relevant.

• Maintain a knowledge of current and changing global legislation – and ensure compliance at product level.

• Regular communication with suppliers to encourage understanding of and commitment to ways of working as well as achievement of fit and quality standards.

• Conduct regular reviews of supplier performance according to agreed KPI’s and support suppliers to improve.

• Feeds into the dept supplier strategy – highlighting technical strengths and risks of key suppliers

• Develop and empower suppliers to take accountability for management of processes

• Sustainability – support the Sustainability team in achieving their objectives

• Ethical - Support the ethical team in achieving their objectives

Key experience required:

• Previous experience as a Technologist in a Retail or Manufacturing Technical environment is required.

• Good understanding of sizing, pattern making and grading

• Good relevant knowledge of fabric/materials/ components

• Previous experience demonstrating a good knowledge and understanding (relevant to product area) of fit, manufacture, testing, compliance/ legislation and other technical aspects relevant to the product area

• Good experience of working across multiple sourcing locations

• Supplier management experience

• Strong interest in product and the brand environment is essential.

Job role competencies:

• Self-starter, highly organised, able to prioritise

• Good verbal and numerical reasoning skills

• Disciplined and conscientious, results oriented

• Excellent communication skills

• Collaborative and builds good relations with peers/ stakeholders

• Agility and ability to absorb change in line with business priorities

• Resilient

• Commercial awareness and application in day-to-day decision making.

• Strong Excel skills essential

• Positive influencing skills