Senior Apparel Product Developer - Maternity Cover

A growing group of reputable sports and lifestyle brands are looking for an Operations Assistant to join their team in Watford for a 1 year maternity cover to work across streetwear brands.
This role requires a proactive, detail-oriented individual with a passion for apparel development and a proven ability to manage complex projects across global teams.

Main Responsibilities Will Include:

• Participate in creating the seasonal calendar.
• Develop the assigned styles/collections in cooperation with Designers, internal teams, and suppliers of approximately 200 SKUS per season.
• Work on multiple seasons at once across a large collection both men's and women's.
• Source and develop new fabrics seasonally ensuring they are within cost using your knowledge and fabric sheets are completed.
• Day-to-day factory liaison.
• Coordinate and monitor all activities regarding the development, approval, and communication of all fabric, trimming, and accessory suppliers.
• Be responsible for creating measurements charts, measuring garments for UK and Global teams.
• Organise and manage fitting session and provide fitting comments to the suppliers from the proto stage till production orders.
• Contribute to the development process actively by proposing alternative garment execution, to fully optimize garment targets of design, quality, and price.
• Be responsible for Line list creation and management throughout the season.
• Be responsible for preparation, maintenance and follow up of all work documents (e.g. tech pack, workbooks, measurements chart, fabric, and trim selection, fitting and sealing comments, etc.).
• Chase suppliers to submit cost prices and ensure new fabric costing sheets are completed.
• Help ensure FOB prices meet targets and required margins.
• Responsible for managing the critical path from initial prototypes through to bulk production managing the timeline strictly to ensure the samples are delivered on time.
• Send out the PP & shipment samples to the buyers for approval or reference.
• Investigating and resolving QC issues if any arises.
• Sample management, housekeeping of samples and submissions/filing in the office.
• Attend photo shoots for sales and lookbook organising samples at the photo studio.

Person Specifications:

• In-depth knowledge of garment construction techniques with a good understanding
• of pattern cutting.
• Experience in technical fabrics and performance garment constructions
• Experience in dealing with suppliers based in the Far East.
• Extensive background in fit, fabric development, finishes, and construction details.
• Experience working on a wholesale business model.
• Experience in sport accessories development is a plus.
• Qualifications and skills required:
• Minimum 3 years experience in an Apparel Product Development role within the sportswear, activewear, and athleisure industry across both men's and womenswear.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.