At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage product development, ensuring quality, safety, and sustainability throughout the product life cycle.
- Company: Join the UK's largest employee-owned business with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £60k, hybrid working, and a supportive work-life balance.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in product development while working with top brands like John Lewis and Waitrose.
- Qualifications: Experience in product development, testing, and supplier engagement; degree or equivalent training required.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
As a Product Development Technologist, in the Sourcing & Technical Profession, you will expertly manage the safety, legality, quality, product development, sustainability and provenance aspects of the product life cycle. In doing so you will ensure compliance with technical standards & policies across multiple categories. To do this you will utilise your deep specialist & generalist technical knowledge, remaining customer-focused to exceed customers' expectations and create industry-leading products. You will be responsible for managing supplier/factory technical relationships and proactively lead in managing improvements to Product & Process.
Expected salary: Salary up to £60k depending on experience.
Contract type: This position is a fixed term contract/secondment until October 2027 covering maternity leave.
Working pattern/flexible working: The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business. The team meets in the office 3 days a week, Tuesday to Thursday, to connect and on a more ad-hoc basis to attend key meetings.
Location: The normal place of work for this role is our London Central Office in Pimlico.
Key responsibilities:
- Setting, maintaining & clearly communicating product specifications & standards, interpreting designs and briefing new products.
- Developing & implementing the technical strategy into the category strategy, including lessons learnt, compliance - Ethical, Technical, and Sustainability requirements.
- Reviewing & approving product development against an agreed set of standards.
- Testing & certification approval of all legal & performance standards (inc. chemical compliance) maintaining up to date and accurate technical files.
- Supporting the end-to-end product development process from concept to delivery to ensure quality products.
- Using product expertise to assess product suitability including, performance of the complete product, technical suitability of design, quality and safety and functionality ensuring product is fit for purpose.
- Drives continuous improvement by analysing suppliers' technical performance.
- Carrying out Product Insight, horizon scanning, innovation, competitor analysis, benchmarking, upkeep & detailed knowledge of technical/legal requirements.
- Drives continuous product improvement by using and analysing quality performance, returns figures, reviews & customer voice data, escalated complaints and stakeholder feedback.
- Works collaboratively with suppliers, and internal & external stakeholders to ensure product compliance, and reduce faulty returns and customer complaints through failure analysis and root cause investigations.
- Managing key raw material/sustainability data to ensure compliance to the raw material targets.
- Provides quality & technical contributions to product tenders and assortment reviews.
Essential skills/experience you’ll need:
- Experienced in a technical role in retail or manufacturing typically covering:
- Product development
- Product testing & compliance
- Supplier engagement
- Strong fitting and garment construction knowledge.
- 3D fitting knowledge is desirable.
- A degree or equivalent industry 'on the job' training in an appropriate discipline.
About The Partnership: We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us. We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.
As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong, embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.
Important points to note: It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third‑party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.
We occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications, and therefore, we recommend you apply early. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability which means you may need longer to complete your application please contact us as soon as possible.
We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.
Product Development Technologist, Soft Wovens and Outerwear in London employer: John Lewis Partnership
At John Lewis Partnership Cambridge, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values our Partners and their growth. Our supportive work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, providing ample opportunities for professional development through tailored training programmes. With a commitment to flexible, customer-led service, we ensure that every team member can thrive in an environment that prioritises both personal and career advancement.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Development Technologist, Soft Wovens and Outerwear in London
✨Connect with Product Management Communities
Dive into online communities like Product School or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, share your insights, and ask questions. This can help you build relationships and visibility in the product management scene, plus you might hear about temp roles before they even get posted!
✨Attend Industry Meetups and Workshops
Check out local meetups or workshops specifically targeted at product management. These gatherings are prime spots to meet hiring managers and fellow practitioners. Plus, they often lead to connections that can help you land temporary roles.
✨Showcase Your Work with a Portfolio
Even if you're after a temporary gig, having a solid portfolio is key! Include case studies of past projects, highlighting your role and how you drove product success. Use platforms like Behance to display your work visually.
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
When you spot a temp role like Product Development Technologist, Soft Wovens and Outerwear at John Lewis Partnership, go straight to their website to apply. Direct applications often have a better chance of standing out since they show commitment. It's worth the extra effort, trust us!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Development Technologist, Soft Wovens and Outerwear in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Sense:In product management, we want to see your understanding of user needs and business value. When you're crafting your CV and cover letter, highlight specific products you've worked on, the methodologies you used, and how those experiences shaped your product sense. If you have insights into user journey mapping, competitive analysis, or product lifecycle, make sure to feature them!
Highlight Relevant Experience:For a temporary role, employers often look for candidates who can hit the ground running. Make sure your written application showcases not just your past roles, but also specific outcomes you've driven. Don't shy away from using metrics—how did your contributions impact the product or team? We love when you quantify your achievements!
Be Ready to Adapt:Temporary positions can often lead to quick changes in direction. In your cover letter, convey your adaptability and eagerness to learn. Mention any experiences where you’ve had to pivot or adjust your approach to meet project goals. Talk about how you thrive in dynamic environments—it'll really resonate with us at John Lewis Partnership!
Link to Your Portfolio:If you've worked on product roadmaps, user stories, or any visualisations, link to your portfolio in your application. Even a personal project that demonstrates your skills as a product manager can show your proactive approach. It's a great way for us to see your work in action and understand your style. And remember, apply through our website to make it easier for us to find you!
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis Partnership
✨Show Off Your Product Knowledge
Make sure we can discuss the product lifecycle with confidence! Be ready to showcase your understanding of key concepts in product management, such as roadmap planning and user research. We want to hear about any tools you're familiar with, like JIRA or Trello, as they’re popular in this space!
✨Agile Mindset is Key
As a temporary role, they'll want us to hit the ground running. Brush up on Agile methodologies and be prepared for scenario-based questions where you might need to demonstrate how you'd handle shifting priorities or tight deadlines. Show that you can think on your feet and adapt quickly!
✨Bring Your Portfolio of Projects
If you've got any product projects up your sleeve—be it case studies or live examples—bring them along! For a temporary position, they’re going to want to see tangible results from your previous work, so don't hold back on demonstrating how you've made an impact in past roles.
✨Communicate Clearly and Concisely
They’ll be looking to see how you articulate your ideas, so practice your pitch! Make sure we can summarise complex product requirements into clear, understandable language. Being able to express yourself well is vital in product management, especially in a temporary role where quick collaboration is essential!
