Senior Product Technologist - Fashion, Clothing

Senior Product Technologist – Fashion, Clothing

Location: London (hybrid working). Contract: 6 months. Pay: £250 – £295 per day (inside IR35).

Role Purpose

Technically develop market leading product. Manage delivery of specification, innovation, fit, safety, compliance and ethics that differentiate the business from competitors.

Key Accountabilities, Responsibilities, and Measures

• Technically accountable for department/departments and representing business technology externally and across the business.
• Develop great quality product in collaboration with buying and design teams. Developing junior members of the technical team.
• Deliver clear specifications on Design Tech packs & relevant tenders, to include fit, materials, blocks, size chart, construction, components and performance standards.
• Work with the Fit Development Studio, fit specialists, buying and design to deliver relevant blocks and seasonal trends incorporating customer feedback in the development. Including Sourcing Offices and suppliers where relevant.
• Critical path – ensure all technical deadlines are met in line with BU critical path and continually working to optimise Leadtime whilst maintaining product technical standards.
• Approve all development samples in line with agreed process.
• Carry out ongoing cost engineering to ensure all products are optimised commercially whilst still meeting business standards.
• Working closely with raw material suppliers and where relevant with the Central fabric technology team, to ensure quality feedback and innovation is embedded into the material strategy and seasonal material workshops.
• Risk assess new materials are appropriate for end use.
• Maintain the business raw material sourcing strategy within the department.
• Benchmark product against competitors to ensure market leading position & feed into Product development strategy.
• Deliver innovation, driving commercial customer focused benefit in line with Design, Product & innovation strategy.
• Drive & Deliver business Plan A requirements with buying and design, in line with business strategy.
• Keep abreast of the latest technology trends in raw materials, fabric, fibre, manufacturing techniques and relevant packaging. Feeding into the product development process.
• Drive the development of the business digital development strategy working with UK and SO teams & suppliers.
• Manage adherence to product safety, compliance and ethical standards in line with legislation and corporate policy.
• Assist and coordinate with customer services on customer contracts relating to product failures.
• Monitor the voice of our customer around Quality, fit & performance and build into ongoing product development strategy.
• In the event of Quality failure highlight and work alongside supply Base and Sourcing Office colleagues to resolve.
• Act as a business ambassador internally and externally protecting Plan A, safety, ethical and environmental requirements.
• Build strong relationships across UK and global teams.
• Adhere to agreed ways of working and helping to develop global best practice.
• Provide technical knowledge to assist stores, departments, marketing & digital selling.
• Ensure all PLM data is accurate at tech pack stage to include material details and components added to BOM, blocks, measurements, colour coding, innovation and Plan A.

Key Skills and Experience

• Expert in the field of technology including patternmaking / fit and manufacturing of fabric / raw materials and promotional claims.
• Excellent communication skills within Technical Function, Design and Buying, Supply Base and Global Sourcing Offices.
• Able to manage Blue Sky thinking for newness and project delivery of innovation.
• Multi-tasked orientated working to tight deadlines while maintaining entrepreneurialism.
• Capable of interpreting customer data to shape future product development strategy.
• Experience of briefing and specifying direct design sourced product, working with Buying and Design teams to create Tech Packs.
• Ability to manage departmental data and leverage systems to enable strategic reporting.
• Ability to work across multiple sourcing models (in-house designed, Supplier designed).
• Ability to embrace change and strive to embed new process and ways of working.