We’re currently recruiting for a Fabric Technologist to join the Fabric & Compliance Team of a leading Brand on a 10-month FTC to cover Maternity Leave. This role is essential to the delivery of our client’s ambitious fabric programme, setting high standards, supporting innovation, and achieving best quality and consistency across the Supply Base.
The role
• Manage Suppliers to deliver best quality fabrics and provide fabric submissions comments in line with the departmental requirements, ensuring they are set up for successful bulk production and on-time delivery
• Encourage a right-first-time approach, challenging suppliers to improve performance, communication and ways of working where necessary
• Actively take ownership of fabric quality and delivery, from photo sample through to shipment
• Engage in product risk assessment meetings, highlighting areas of concern and helping to advise on solutions and improvements, enabling a timely resolution
• Manage test results and product disposition on fabric testing platforms
• Actively manage failures, coordinating with all stakeholders on rejected base fabrics and ensure fabrics are improved and re-submitted without delay
• Ensure Suppliers consistently adhere to testing requirements, providing weekly updates to highlight late and incorrect submissions
• Input all comments and fabric specifications onto our Product Lifecycle Management system (PLM) and ensure all fabric and colour libraries are well managed and up to date. You will also ensure standards are signed off and available to all stakeholders
• Support sourcing initiatives, working with suppliers where fabric developments are required and ensuring client’s high fabric quality standards are met and maintained
• Create relevant technical information, reports and manuals, developing the data in close collaboration with stakeholders to deliver quality and consistency
• Support your line manager with training for the client’s Regional Office Tech Teams and Suppliers
• Oversee the seasonal coding of fabric submissions
• Issue updates to client’s performance protocols
• Work with the Compliance Team to reduce and eliminate the risk of hazardous substances in the manufacturing process in line with the ZDHC strategy
The ideal candidate:
• A textile expert with a relevant industry experience; multi-product men’s and women’s fabric experience preferred
• University educated in a technical textile discipline
• Knowledgeable of all aspects of fabric production and components, across wovens and knits, a wide variety of product categories, print techniques, wash and finishing processes
• Familiar with PLM systems, ideally with practical experience of using them to manage data
• Experienced in the testing of fabrics and components, able to interpret the results and recognise the impact on product
• Able to work at pace, embracing change in a busy environment and coping effectively with the need to manage multiple demands
• Well organised and accustomed to delivering detailed and accurate information in a timely way
• Able to collaborate well with a team of talented Developers and Technologists, working across categories, mentoring and coaching to deliver fabric knowledge
• A flexible team player, with positive attitude and an agile approach within the Quality and Technical department
Excellent perks and some flexible working permitted.