Senior Footwear Technologist

This is an exciting opportunity for a Senior Footwear Technologist to join the Garment Tech Team of a leading Brand. This is a 12 month FTC starting September 2024

Your responsibilities will include:

Product Approval Process

• Managing the fit sessions by working with Buying and Design teams to ensure excellent and consistent fit of product together with the best construction methods

• Risk assessing all products from the earliest point of development, raising and resolving any identified issues

• Ensuring that all fit and make comments are communicated clearly to suppliers

• Standardising key blocks with the support of the Buying & Design teams to increase speed & accuracy when fitting and to potentialise product performance

• Approving all test reports for base and bulk materials in line with company expectations

• Approving all wash-care instructions for the business, ensuring suitability for product type

• Making informed, commercial decisions on failed test reports in collaboration with the Buyer and escalating, where necessary, to the Technical Manager

• Maintaining the PLM system with accurate and approved fibre composition, wash care and measurement details

• Travelling to factories to review manufacturing quality and ability alongside assisting with development at source Quality Assurance

• Liaising with the QC team at the DC on a daily basis to understand and respond to quality issues they have identified, and to advise on action for future deliveries with potential issues and conducting regular visits and reviews with the Warehouse team to ensure best practice

• Liaising between the DC, Buying, Merchandising and Supplier when AQL check has failed: proposing appropriate action in line with critical path, advising the DC on the required action, ensuring all relevant information is recorded/communicated and that sort costs are accepted by the supplier

• Liaising with Customer Care department regarding customer feedback and returns

• Strategically assessing the quality of products through all available data and feedback, for example, from stores, Customer Care and competitor shopping to drive continual improvement of fit and quality

• Holding regular brainstorm sessions with the technical team, buying and design teams, to generate new ideas, improve product performance and standardise technical requirements

• Assessing suitability of product for the Client’s international market’s presence

Supplier Management

• Developing strong links with the supply base ensuring a comprehensive knowledge of abilities and limitations with regard to technology and quality

• Working closely with suppliers giving them both positive and negative feedback throughout the product approval process, advising them on adherence to the Supplier Handbook and compliance with processes and standards within the Testing Requirements

• Completing supplier reviews on a regular basis, setting clear objectives and suggesting ways to improve performance, including product and customer feedback Sustainable Sourcing

• Supporting on sustainable sourcing for your product area(s), in partnership with CSR, the Buyer and the Designer

• Partnering with the Buying team on fabric and production methods to ensure we are always compliant and exceeding our sustainable goals

• Liaising effectively with the CSR Team to ensure you are always up to speed with sustainability best practice, and ensuring that that our factories are compliant and adhering to our code of conduct

• Collating and approving sustainable certification in line with the critical path Leadership & Management

• Ensuring your team is always clear about the work to be done (delegating tasks with clear targets & timescales) and how their work fits into the bigger picture

• Leading an Assistant Technologist with the right balance of support and direction in order to ensure you deliver great results

• Focusing on driving high performance, through setting SMART objectives and supporting ongoing training and development, including 1:1 coaching on the job and encouraging an ongoing transfer of knowledge & skills

• Conducting regular performance reviews, sharing constructive feedback, celebrating successes and managing any performance issues promptly

• Creating a positive, collaborative and can-do culture where teamwork and adaptability thrive

• Deputising for Technical Manager, when required

What we're looking for :

• Proven experience in a Technologist/Senior Technologist role specialising in Footwear

• The ability to think both creatively and logically, processing information from a range of sources while keeping an eye on the bigger picture

• Someone brilliantly organised with the ability to prioritise your workload and that of your direct report, in order to get the job done to the highest standards

• A collaborative approach – focused on strong relationship-building and great communication

• Someone resilient to change

• Openness to constructive feedback and someone who readily offers the same to others

• Courage in backing your decisions and the ability to skilfully influence others when needed

• A strong focus on solutions not problems

• Great commercial awareness - a level of financial understanding and numeracy as well as affinity with product

• PLM systems experience would be an advantage

You'll be rewarded with:

• Competitive starting salary and great career prospects in a fast paced and growing business

• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays and a day off on your birthday

• Company-funded private health insurance and access to Smart Health

• Life assurance

• Discretionary bonus scheme

• 50% staff discount

• Interest-free season ticket loan

• Summer hours - 3pm finishes every Friday throughout June, July & August

• Bespoke induction support and ongoing development to help you thrive in your new role

• A welcoming and inspiring work-environment - take advantage of Yoga classes, social activities, an early finish on pay day and more!