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- Tasks: Collaborate with designers and suppliers to develop stylish clothing collections.
- Company: Join Margaret Howell, a renowned British clothing designer with a global presence.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, 5 weeks holiday, and flexible working options.
- Why this job: Be part of a creative team shaping the future of fashion with sustainability in mind.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in Product Development with strong garment knowledge and communication skills.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth in a supportive environment.
The predicted salary is between 38000 - 53200 £ per year.
Margaret Howell is a contemporary British clothing designer who has worked successfully in men’s and women’s clothing for over five decades. Today, Margaret Howell clothes are sold worldwide with 12 own shops in Europe, over 70 outlets in Japan and an established online business.
Location: Head office, W1/Remote
Hours: Full-time - 35 hours, Monday - Friday
Key Responsibilities:
- Liaise between designers and suppliers to develop the collection in line with the Critical Path.
- Advise on cost, MOQ and supplier capability, to ensure final product appropriateness for buy.
- Main point of contact for all woven and accessories suppliers (based in Italy, UK, Portugal and Japan), cultivating strong relationships.
- Accountable for the delivery of all samples in line with the season’s critical path, including design packs and BOM, and providing relevant data on product clarity to other departments.
- Liaison with Company’s own Shirtline manufacturing unit for PD, working directly with Senior Pattern Cutter to produce range of Mainline shirts.
- Undertake all garment fitting sessions for the product, ensuring garments are measured, providing technical fitting notes, and providing clear communication to suppliers.
- Attend seasonal review meetings for the range, ensuring all product, pricing and other relevant information is available for review, advising on relevant supplier issues to design & merchandising.
- Assist on sustainability initiatives.
- Manage price negotiations with suppliers, monitoring fabric costs, MOQ and surcharges for sampling, and liaising with merchandising on style adaptations, to achieve the target cost price. Monitoring and clearly communicating changes to cost prices.
- Ensure accurate records are maintained on ERP and PLM for all product information and sample orders.
- Organise and undertake trips to suppliers for design fitting purposes.
- Provide full and accurate hand over to production team.
- Assist with other tasks as required by Product Development Manager.
Role Requirements:
- Minimum 3 years’ experience in Product Development, with a background in multi-category product.
- Strong technical knowledge: understanding garment fitting and construction, especially relating to finishing and technical construction of tailoring and premium garments.
- Confident in building relationships with suppliers, with excellent communication skills. Ability to source, negotiate and manage relationships.
- Proficiency using different systems including Microsoft Office, PLM and ERP.
- Understanding sustainability and ethical compliance, and driven to meet targets.
- Accomplished at pricing negotiation, understanding costings and working within a budget.
- Excellent attention to detail, time management and organisation skills.
- Can work under pressure and manage multiple priorities quickly and accurately.
- Good verbal and written knowledge of Italian preferred but not mandatory.
Rewards: a competitive salary (from £38,000), 5 weeks holiday plus.
Product Development Specialist in London employer: Margaret Howell Limited
Contact Detail:
Margaret Howell Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Development Specialist in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand their design philosophy and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs. Show them you’re not just another candidate, but someone who truly gets their brand.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. Mention something specific from your conversation to remind them why you’re a great fit.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities that might be perfect for you. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team at StudySmarter.
We think you need these skills to ace Product Development Specialist in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Product Development Specialist role. Highlight your experience in product development, especially with multi-category products, and showcase your technical knowledge of garment fitting and construction.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've built relationships with suppliers and managed negotiations, as well as your passion for sustainability in fashion.
Show Off Your Skills: Don’t forget to mention your proficiency with systems like Microsoft Office, PLM, and ERP. We want to see that you can handle the technical side of things while keeping everything organised and on track.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Margaret Howell Limited
✨Know Your Product Development Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your product development knowledge, especially around garment fitting and construction. Be ready to discuss your experience with multi-category products and how you've successfully managed relationships with suppliers in the past.
✨Show Off Your Communication Skills
Since this role involves liaising between designers and suppliers, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated technical details or resolved issues with suppliers to demonstrate your strong communication skills.
✨Be Ready for Negotiation Scenarios
Expect questions about pricing negotiations and managing costs. Think of specific instances where you negotiated successfully, and be prepared to explain your approach to achieving target cost prices while maintaining quality.
✨Highlight Your Organisational Skills
This role requires excellent time management and organisation. Prepare to discuss how you keep track of multiple priorities and ensure accurate records. You might even want to bring a sample of your organisational tools or methods to show how you stay on top of things.
