Fabric Developer - The Set in Market Harborough

Working Pattern: Typically 5 days in the office, with core hours flexible between 8am-6pm.

What is THE SET? THE SET is Next’s own groundbreaking brand, built on effortless style and modern versatility. We create sophisticated, timeless, and affordable pieces designed to work harder for the customer — from perfectly considered multipacks to standalone essentials that mix and match seamlessly, unlocking endless outfit possibilities. We believe great design should be accessible to everyone. Our ambition is simple: to become the go-to destination for modern, wearable style. Affordable Style. Timeless Essentials. Effortless Trends. We move fast, think big, and are building momentum every day — and we’re looking for ambitious people who want to do the same. Here, you’ll own your work, trust your judgement, and have the freedom to make an impact. If you’re ready to lead, innovate, and push product forward, THE SET is where you belong.

What You’ll Take On

• Working closely with product teams, you’ll play a key role in shaping fabric development across all genders — ensuring every fabric is commercially sound and fit for purpose.
• Source and develop jersey and/or woven fabrics across all genders that deliver a premium look and feel while offering value to our customers.
• Identify and develop fabric solutions that balance quality, performance and cost to maximise customer value.
• Work closely with design and buying teams to elevate product offering while supporting competitive pricing strategies.
• Develop and maintain technical fabric standards, working within Next’s established requirements while actively looking for smarter, more efficient, and innovative ways of working.
• Manage and build supplier relationships, working collaboratively to improve consistency, capability, and value.
• Problem solve at an early stage of development, identifying risks quickly and working with partners to find practical, cost-effective solutions.
• Support continuous improvement, challenging existing processes where appropriate and contributing ideas to improve speed, efficiency, and product outcome.

This is a hands-on role where strong technical judgement, commercial awareness, and collaborative working come together to deliver great value products without compromising quality or performance, striving towards a premium look.

What You’ll Bring

• Extensive Fabric Knowledge: A relevant qualification in Textile Technology (or a related field) and a proven track record of managing the technical lifecycle of fabrics.
• A Critical Eye: An exceptional eye for technical detail, allowing you to spot potential performance issues before they reach production.
• Performance Insight: A deep understanding of how fabrics behave.
• Clear Communication: The ability to translate complex technical data into 'plain English' for Designers, Buyers, and suppliers.
• Organisation in Motion: The ability to stay grounded and organised during busy periods, managing multiple developments and deadlines simultaneously.
• Solutions-Oriented Mindset: When a fabric fails a test, you use your experience to find a practical, safe, and cost-effective solution.
• Collaborative Spirit: You thrive in a multi-functional team but are equally comfortable working on your own initiative as a senior technical authority.
• Clear understanding of the brand and values.

Your Team

The Garment and Fabric Technology team at NEXT has a wealth of knowledge and experience across territories. This is an ideal opportunity to show us what you can do and to also soak up all the knowledge of those around you.

Sponsorship

Candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship for this role will be required to meet the Home Office sponsorship requirements. We encourage early applications for our roles, as our recruitment process begins as soon as the role is advertised. If we successfully fill the position, this advert may close earlier than planned.

At NEXT, we believe the best work happens when there are no barriers to collaboration. That’s why we are a Google-powered workspace. From your very first day, you’ll be using the full Google Workspace suite; Docs, Drive, and Meet, to stay connected and move fast. If your previous experience is rooted in other software suites, don’t worry! We’ll point you to a digital Google toolkit the moment you join, packed with handy guides and insider tips to help you transition smoothly and hit the ground running.