Our Client a leading British Brand, manufacturing luxury leather goods and accessories have a vacancy for a Technical Product Developer for a 3 month FTC. Reporting to the Head of Supply Chain, Technical and Product Development the Technical Product Developer will support the long-term supplier management and testing strategy for the brand. Working closely with the widening supply base and growing business, it will be your remit to manage the consistent construction, testing and supporting documentation across suppliers ensuring continuity, quality, and helping our suppliers plan longer term material testing in a timely manner.
You will build solid, trusted relationships across supply partners to help deliver the long-term technical strategy in-line with the Brand’s ethical policies.
Key responsibilities include:
• Lead and manage the Technical Team - Technical Assistant, QA Inspector, Technical Sample Coordinator across weekly tasks
• Support Head of Supply Chain, Technical and Product Development in applying ESG and Carbon Zero principles across
• Support Head of Supply Chain, Technical and Product development in implementing recycled, sustainable and carbon reduced materials and processes across the product range including packaging and shipping
• Craftmanship reports –produce and manage reports on each product
• Contract Seal management – Responsible for contract seal management across all product taking responsibility to sign off, approve and feedback overall quality prior to production
• Gold Seal samples –Responsible in overseeing and leading the Technical Sample Co-ordinator through most efficient process to track and sign off ahead of delivery
• At each stage of the product cycle, provide clear and detailed engagement with Product Development and Design leading solutions to construction, price implication, and efficient production solutions
• Partner Supplier engagement – To support Partner management across development and into production,
• Test Reports – Manage the Technical Assistant to track test report submissions and approvals from all suppliers within the product scope and in line with the Critical Path
• Material Specification Sheets (MSS) – Manage Technical assistant to work with suppliers and production timelines maintaining timely submission taking responsibility of approval inline with production critical path
• Wearer trials –Manage the Technical Assistant to issue and compile user reports to add to product databases
• Team meetings – To attend and actively contribute to team meetings, engaging across the product cycle from initial sample to FOB fully in the process
• Lead the technical function across customer specific programmes
• Engage proactively across Design and Product Development teams to problem solve product spec, construction and potential quality issues prior to production
• Working collaboratively with the Quality Inspector to report product faults and communicating back to supply partners with improvement solutions
• General Administration duties to assist Head of Supply Chain, Technical and Product Development including accurate recording of documents
• To lead constructional and production knowledge in support of the Technical Team throughout each and every season
• DC visits – Weekly visits to DC to sign off seal samples
• As with all roles, you may at times be required to carry out additional ad hoc duties. This may include supporting another store or team member, or project work which impacts on the store or the wider business.
Essential skills
• Have a proactive and progressive management style
• Management and team personal development experience
• Knowledge of Accessories and Homeware product
• Knowledge of material and component testing
• Experience working with and visiting factories including India and China
• Excellent Microsoft (Outlook, Excel, Word) and numerical skills
• Knowledge of PLM system an advantage
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to prioritise
• Determined and proactive
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Confident and enthusiastic
• Use resources effectively to meet all deadlines
• Works well under pressure
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Flexible attitude and committed to getting the job done