Technologist (Footwear & Accessories)

By living our values - we play to win, customer obsessed, we are one and it starts with me - we deliver That New Look Feeling for our customers and each other. 

The Role:

Responsible for managing multiple departments from first fit through to delivery. Develop and manage a range that meets customer requirements for quality and fit whilst maximising sales and profit opportunities and minimising returns. Negotiate with departmental supplier base to deliver consistent quality, fit and ways of working and facilitate better cost prices and lead times.

WHATS IN IT FOR YOU:

• 40% staff discount plus friends & family discounts throughout the year
• Access to our reward platform for external discount and offers
• Private pension scheme
• Virtual GP access for you and your children – it allows you to speak to a doctor at a time and date that suits you
• All employees are covered by our life assurance policy from day one
• Unlock extra leave with our buy more holiday scheme.
• Celebrate YOU! Enjoy an extra paid day off on your birthday each year
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave, and shared parental leave.
• Spread the cost of your commute with interest-free season ticket loans
• Do your bit for the environment and save money with our Cycle2Work scheme
• We're proud to partner with the Retail Trust and Fashion & Textile Children's Trust

What you’ll be doing:

• Taking responsibility for fitting and sealing of multiple departments.
• Maintaining departmental quality, fit, testing and grading standards to uphold manual compliance.
• Working with buying, design and supply base to develop blocks, basic fit and quality standards to achieve right first time sampling and support customer trends.
• Sharing ideas and developments with other product areas to ensure brand / product consistency. Conducting comprehensive product risk assessments and resolving issues before production.
• Managing the product development process from first fit through to production, liaising with design, buying, merchandising, suppliers, franchise, international, supply chain and E-Commerce as required
• Developing the right product with the right supplier capabilities.
• Understanding product construction and suitability for mass production.
• Understanding how to adapt product to minimise costs.
• Negotiating effectively with external and internal teams to achieve desired quality/ fit objectives for the right price and timescale
• Managing packaging and labelling requirements to ensure consistency of brand and international legal compliance.
• Conducting regular New Look store visits to identify faults and action improvements.
• Monitoring the market, identifying competitor advances in quality/ fit, and the potential to impact on departmental strategy.
• Applying in-depth knowledge of the current competitive market-place and trends.
• Reviewing supplier compliance in a timely commercial manner to resolve quality issues.
• Reading, reviewing test reports through ‘Datalink’ and managing non-compliance and report trends to facilitate improvements.
• Reviewing grade rules to assess accuracy.
• Completing supplier/ factory/ testing laboratory/ distribution centre trips in line with departmental needs.
• Providing advanced reporting on quality and fit returns in order to develop strategy, action improvements and inform decision making.
• Providing quality and fit input to SP packs.
• To be responsible for the motivation and development of direct reports.
• Supporting with the development of fellow colleagues, delivering relevant training and support when required.
• Communicate effectively with all internal and external teams.
• Applying New Look brand and sub-brand strategy to decisions within own area

Who you are:

• Previous experience - Junior Technologist with a major retailer/ supplier/ New Look
• Minimum level of education or qualifications (one of the below)
• Fashion Qualification / Other degree plus four years of technical experience.
• If no fashion qualification at least 5 years of technical experience
• Ability to develop a product range with consistent quality and fit
• Ability to put together a comprehensive and clear design brief including measurements and fabric/ trim specifications
• Thorough understanding of product testing with the ability to review failed results commercially in line with the product.
• Understanding of size grading and how to adapt for styling
• Understanding of fabric and trim specs to ensure suitability for product type • Knowledge of all the elements that make up the cost of a product
• Understanding of supply chain processes to aid right first �me sourcing (Product lead times/ supplier capability/ factory set up to/ etc)
• Understanding of factory processes to identify potential issues and cost saving opportunities (lay planning/ construction conduct a factory audit report, identifying short falls & implementing action plan.
• An in-depth knowledge of how to review returns data to determine department strategy
• Developing and implementing departmental and business strategy
• Understanding of packaging and presentation of a product and the legalities
• Understanding of New Look brand and sub-brand strategy
• An in-depth knowledge of the current competitive market-place (comparative shopping)