Product Developer - Maternity Cover in Lindley

Location: Huddersfield, HD3 4EX

Salary: Competitive, depending on experience

Contract Type: Full-time, Fixed Term Contract Until October 2027

Benefits: 25 days holiday allowance excluding bank holidays, increasing by 1 day per year for every year you are with the company maximum 30 days, Health Cash Plan, Cycle to Work Scheme, Length of Service bonus, Complimentary Breakfasts, Company Events, Staff Discounts, Mental Health Support.

We are Hela Brands, an internationally operating and multi-solution strategic partner for brand owners and businesses. We are on our way to becoming industry leaders in licensing and white label manufacturing across sports, fashion and lifestyle. Hela Brands is fuelled by an outstanding and passionately driven team and supported by some of the industry’s most insightful and future-thinking consultants and creative leaders.

We are looking for an established, highly motivated and passionate Product Developer to join our in-house team at Hela Brands. We are home to multiple brands across men’s, women’s, and children’s apparel and accessories on a Maternity cover. This role gives a fantastic opportunity to the right candidate to work on our own brands such as Ellesse, Nautica, AVX, Reebok and many more.

Team: We are a rapidly growing team of talented individuals with a passion for all things fashion. Our aim is to help create an environment where you can achieve, progress, excel and develop. You will be supported in your journey, and we will celebrate your progression with you. The Product Development Team functions as a part of the larger Product team and we work closely with Design, Sales, Merchandising and Supply chain.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Working to a critical path to ensure that the development process is smooth and that the ex-factory dates are maintained.
• Working on costing, ensuring that all prices are applied to CP to work back from and highlighting any potential issues wider merch and supply chain teams.
• Controlling and managing the development process through the sealing stages and ensuring they are done in adequate timeframe to the CP.
• Conducting fit sessions in-house; making confident commercial decisions along with Design using your ability to understand, recommend and execute commercial construction solutions.
• Responsible for measuring on own brand samples across all categories.
• Analysing technical issues accurately and sending clear, concise and accurate comments to suppliers.
• Sending complete workbooks with accurate specs, correct grade rules, testing and risk assessment according to the category in question.
• Ensuring compliance with regulations, product safety and legislations.
• Testing and analysing product performance, fabric and garment testing and quality control.
• Being a key point of contact throughout the development of the product, recording and reporting any actionable results.
• Confidently participate and feedback in Design Handovers.
• Working with factories in China/Sri Lanka/Turkey/Pakistan and building strong relationships and assisting on branded development and production trip (may include weekends).
• Self-motivated and have good time management with the ability to adapt.
• Supporting Design/Development teams in order to achieve innovative and performance-based products to the highest standard.
• Assisting with bulk QC checks when required.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Minimum of 3 years previous experience working within the Fashion/Sportswear Industry working across Men’s, Ladies, Juniors and accessories.
• Self-motivated.
• Good time management.
• Ability to adapt and work to tight deadlines whilst delivering results within specified time frames.
• Ability to react quickly to changing demands and priorities.