Technologist - Footwear & Accessories

We’re the feel-good fashion brand making style accessible and fun for over 55 years, on our website, mobile app and over 300 stores in the UK. By living our values – we play to win, customer obsessed, we are one and it starts with me – we deliver That New Look Feeling for our customers and each other.

The Role

We are looking for a Technologist who has experience within Footwear & Accessories. Quality means consistently meeting customers’ expectations whilst ensuring fitness for purpose and meeting regulatory requirements. Within your department you will drive the quality of the delivered products by driving the implementation of the New Look quality framework. To work with the wider teams to deliver better value, cost price and lead time through product engineering and supplier management. To apply your proven knowledge of quality assurance techniques and processes to drive continuous improvement and to set an example of what good looks like to the wider quality and BMD teams. Deputises in the absence of the Technical Manager. This role requires you to be in the office 4 days a week.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU

• 40% staff discount plus friends & family discounts throughout the year
• Access to our reward platform for external discount and offers
• Virtual GP access for you and your children – it allows you to speak to a doctor at a time and date that suits you
• All employees are covered by our life assurance policy from day one
• Unlock extra leave with our buy more holiday scheme.
• Celebrate YOU! Enjoy an extra paid day off on your birthday each year
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave, and shared parental leave.
• Spread the cost of your commute with interest‑free season ticket loans
• Do your bit for the environment and save money with our Cycle2Work scheme
• We're proud to partner with the Retail Trust and Fashion & Textile Children' Trust

What you’ll be doing

• Strategic Contribution: Understands the business strategy and translates it into actionable quality objectives within the product category, contributing to the wider quality team and representing the team in cross‑business forums.
• Customer & Market Insight: Uses customer insight tools, store and DC visits, and market benchmarking to understand expectations and competitor advances, driving continuous product improvement.
• Quality Management: Owns and embeds the Quality Framework, ensuring robust assurance processes throughout the value chain and compliance with legal and brand standards.
• BMD Collaboration: Works closely with the BMD team to align quality processes with the departmental critical path, support trading activities, and influence decisions to meet customer expectations.
• Product & Manufacturing Expertise: Applies specialist knowledge of materials, construction, pattern technology, grading, and supplier capabilities to deliver products right first time, balancing cost, quality and commercial value.
• Risk Assessment & Continuous Improvement: Acts as the risk assessment ambassador for the category, implementing corrective actions where standards fall short and embedding risk assessment within all quality processes.
• Technical Leadership: Mentors and upskills the wider quality and BMD teams, sharing knowledge to improve decision‑making, purchasing practices and product consistency.
• Innovation & Best Practice: Drives adoption of new technologies, feedback loops and frameworks to deliver consistent, high‑quality products, including overseeing test‑and‑learn initiatives.
• Team Development: Motivates, coaches and develops direct reports, supporting personal growth, skills transfer and deputising for the Technical Manager as required.
• Operational Excellence: Ensures packaging, labelling and transit methods maintain brand consistency and product value, while proactively challenging processes to uphold customer standards.

Who you are

• Technical Knowledge: Specialist in Footwear & Accessories (jewellery, bags, homeware, knitted accessories‑scarf, gloves). Strong knowledge of Footwear construction, materials and product performance, with hands‑on experience of manufacturing environments.
• Confident in leading pre‑production meetings and converting product requirements into clear technical specifications.
• Skilled in interpreting test reports and making solution‑focused, commercially balanced decisions.
• Experienced in risk assessment, regulatory compliance and implementing quality standards across the value chain.
• Able to support Buying through open costing and product engineering to drive quality and margin.
• Proactive in benchmarking product for consistency, innovation and competitor comparison.
• Builds strong relationships across BMD teams and suppliers, using excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Demonstrates leadership capability, analytical strength and a collaborative approach to deliver results aligned to New Look values and strategy.

Knowledge and Experience

• Previous experience as a Technologist in Footwear & Accessories
• Product specialist in chosen category
• Minimum level of education or qualifications: Appropriate Technical Qualification / Other degree