Junior Product Developer in England

Our purpose in the Product Development team is to bring Finisterre's latest seasonal designs to life by managing the development process from design handover of the 2D CAD to the creation of 3D samples across our menswear, womenswear and accessories ranges. The PD team manages the prototype sampling up to P2/SMS stage, ensures cost margins are met, manages the critical path to ensure deadlines are achieved, builds relationships with our suppliers and guarantees that the fit, materials and quality of our products meet our customer expectations and compliancy commitments.

In the role of Junior Product Developer, you will report into the Head of Product Development, in a highly collaborative role working within the Product Development team and in collaboration with the Materials, Design, Technical and Buying & Sourcing teams. As a Junior Product Developer, you will support the development of assigned product categories, supporting with the product lifecycle throughout development. You will help coordinate sample development, support cost negotiations to achieve target margins, and track timelines to ensure key critical path deadlines are met. Working closely with suppliers and internal teams, you will contribute to sustainable product initiatives and help maintain quality, consistency, and efficiency, while supporting the achievement of KPIs and the company's sustainability goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the Materials, Design, Buying & Sourcing and Technical teams on the development of new products across Finisterre's range, working across men's, women's and accessories.
• Own the critical path up to P2/SMS stage, ensuring that internal and supplier deadlines are adhered to keep development of samples on track.
• Manage costing, generate target costs from RRPs supplied by Buying team, action sketch costings pre-sample development, review open costings from suppliers, negotiate on cost throughout development up to P2/SMS stage and then hand over to the Buying team.
• Support with assigned product categories from design handover through to 2nd proto/SMS stage.
• Work collaboratively with buying & sourcing team on vendor allocation and supplier mapping at sketch review and tech pack handover stages to assess suitable suppliers for each product.
• Lead tech pack handover, building P1 tech packs with size charts, BOMs and comments and sending requests to our suppliers.
• Track samples and ex-factory dates, measure and review costs of P1 samples, lead P1 fit sessions, write P1 comments and P2/SMS tech pack requests.
• Present samples at P1 review to wider product teams and senior leadership.
• Attend P2/SMS fit sessions to oversee any updates to costing, comments and required amendments to BOMs.
• Send SMS BOMs and bulk BOMs, ensuring these are updated with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail through development.
• Confidently communicate via phone, email and video calls with our suppliers.
• Provide support to our Materials Developer with requests and approvals for both components and trims, ensuring consistency across suppliers and that our compliancy standards are upheld.
• Assist with the general upkeep, admin and running of the PD team and workspace and ad hoc requests from the Head of Product Development.

Requirements:

• Relevant degree in fashion design, product development, garment technology, buying, product management or a related field or an applicable background in product development.
• 2-4 years+ experience within a product development role ideally with a performance or lifestyle brand.
• Proven industry experience or formal training in product categories relevant to Finisterre (such as knitwear, outerwear, insulation, swimwear, wovens, jersey, accessories) with the required technical knowledge of materials, construction and quality.
• Aspiration and interest in being part of a multi-channel retail business.
• You will possess a positive approach, resilient attitude, uphold quality standards, work with a high level of accuracy, be agile to change and be driven to elevate product offerings.
• A thorough understanding of garment construction, fabric knowledge, bill of materials, pattern cutting, fit & quality.
• Awareness of sustainability and industry initiatives, follows design principles, works collaboratively with Impact and Compliance teams to ensure materials, wastage, and decision making all factors in our B Corp commitments.
• Able to work both autonomously and within a team, be self-motivated and demonstrate commitment to meeting deadlines.
• Experience using PLM systems and Excel.
• Competent using Adobe Illustrator.
• Excellent communication, networking and interpersonal skills, able to communicate clearly and articulately, both in writing and verbally to colleagues at all levels, suppliers, and collaborators.
• Strong numerical skills.
• Appreciation for accuracy, organisational skills with thoroughness and attention to detail.
• Open to change in a fast-moving environment and able to manage yourself under pressure.
• Confident presenting to product teams and on occasion to wider business.
• Willing to travel within UK and globally when required.
• Able to follow direction, communicate clearly, be assertive, work collaboratively, keep key stakeholders informed and bring together teams cross-functionally.
• Driven to elevate product and meet deadlines, working with curiosity, building and reviewing tech packs with meticulous accuracy, showing initiative to solve problems and maintaining a positive, resilient team morale.

Important: The successful candidate must, by the start of their employment, have permission to work in the UK. Please note that Finisterre are not licensed to sponsor overseas workers.

Benefits:

• We are offering a full-time, permanent contract, based at our Headquarters at Wheal Kitty, St Agnes, Cornwall.
• We’ll invest in you with a competitive salary, depending on your skills and experience.
• 25 days holiday per year, plus up to 8 UK bank holidays (pro rata for part-time employees).
• Additional holidays for length of service.
• Your birthday day off.
• Up to 3 days of paid volunteering.
• A discretionary bonus scheme, based on company performance.
• A pension scheme with Nest.
• 60% product discount for personal and gift use.
• 30% Friends and Family product discount.
• Enhanced Family Leave policies to support you in growing your family.
• Life assurance with access to an online wellbeing platform.
• Access to a range of wellbeing resources, including counselling services, cycle to work, eye tests, and wellbeing activities.
• Regular company and team social events.
• Various discounts from our B Corp community.
• Access our online Learning Library and company-wide training sessions.
• An hour to spend in or by the sea every Tuesday followed by Sea Tuesday companywide meeting.

Finisterre is committed to building diverse and inclusive teams. We celebrate difference and encourage everyone to join us and be themselves at work.