We are looking for a Senior Technologist specialising to join the team of a leading High street Retailer. Reporting to the Technical Manager you will drive the quality of the delivered products by implementing the Client's quality standards and work with the wider teams to deliver better value, cost price and lead time.
Accountabilities and Responsibilities:
Knowing customer and market:
• Works with customer insight and tools to understand and exceed customer expectations.
• Conduct regular store visits to stay in touch with delivered quality and store feedback.
• Stays informed with current market trends, identifying competitor advances to drive development.
Working with BMD:
• Ensure all quality processes are aligned and feed into the department critical path.
• Providing technical input into department strategy documents.
• Understand key profit drivers and supports trading activities.
Quality management:
• With a focus on quality assurance implements and maintains robust quality management processes.
• Recognises the global nature of the business and ensures that product meets legal obligations.
• Recognises the importance of feedback mechanisms and uses KPI’s to implement corrective action plans.
• Consult and inform other areas of the business as appropriate to maintain brand consistency.
Manufacturing Knowledge:
• Uses manufacturing knowledge to agree product construction and suitability for mass production.
• Uses comprehensive supply base knowledge to develop the right product with the right capable supplier.
• Is able to engineer product to optimise costs and lead time.
• Go to person in BMD team for all things quality or manufacturing related.
Risk Assessment:
• Able to conduct risk assessments to influence and develop the product.
Knowing product:
• Have developed/ can apply and continuously update detailed product knowledge appropriate to area.
• Able to produce product specifications to deliver standardise quality and improve lead time.
Specify product:
• Apply material knowledge to assure performance.
• Able to deliver consistent standards of fit through knowledge of body shape, pattern technology and
grading.
• Manage packaging and labeling requirements to ensure consistency of brand and compliance.
Team management:
• Responsible for the motivation and development of direct reports.
• Support with the development of colleagues, deliver training and transfer skills.
Skills required:
• Knowledge of customer and expectations.
• Manufacturing knowledge.
• Understand product construction.
• Understand material performance and how to measure.
• Ability to run a fit session (clothing/ footwear)/ pre-production meeting (accessories).
• Understand how to read a test report and interpreting results
• Understand open costing.
• Ability to risk assess.
• Ability to benchmark.
• Understanding of packaging and presentation of a product.
• Understanding of the brand and sub-brand strategy.
• Understand regulatory requirements.
• Understand roles and responsibilities within the BMD team.
• Understanding KPI reports.
• Ability to convert product requirements into technical terms.
• Ability to conduct a technical factory audit.
Experience and Qualifications required:
A degree of relevant qualification in Textiles / Fashion or a related subject
Previous experience working at a similar level and knowledge of Tall, Petite and Maternity products