Garment Technologist

As a Senior Garment Technologist at OB you will be an experienced and accomplished technologist with a proven track record in own label development. You will provide expertise for the Buying and Design teams from initial sample through to production - including garment fitting, product construction and component/fabric innovation.

In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring that all current product and developed ranges are legally compliant to the most up to date, relevant standards and consistently meet Oliver Bonas quality expectations.

Leading the Garment Technology team, working collaboratively with the Senior Technologist on hard accessories, Buying, Merchandising and the Design teams to deliver the very best product ranges that are on brand and commercial.

Our Support Office is based in Tolworth, near Chessington, only a 30-minute journey from London Waterloo. We offer hybrid working with 3 days office working, and 2 at home each week, and are open to having conversations about working flexibly.

A bit about us …

At Oliver Bonas (OB), our values of Work Hard, Play Hard & Be Kind are integral to everything we do. Collaboration, imagination, curiosity, and teamwork are key to our success, and everyone has their part to play in making OB a special place to work.

Having fun is key, and a playful and positive approach creates an optimistic environment. We don't take ourselves too seriously, but we are serious about what we do.

Our team knows their stuff. They're confident and creative and unafraid to challenge convention to find solutions, taking accountability for their actions, but always with kindness and humility.

More about the role …

An OB Senior Garment Technologist will:

• Manage the end to end quality process from supplier to end customer


• Benchmark competitor quality standards across core product areas and key ranges


• Identify and implement best practice standards within the clothing and soft accessories QA department


• Develop effective methods to communicate testing requirements and product quality standards, ensuring that all products meet legal requirements, adhere to OB quality standards, are fit for purpose and exceed customer expectations


• Scope and implement testing and quality requirements for international and/or wholesale markets


• Track any trends in product returns to reduce return levels, using this information to improve production standards


• Ensure effective communication with the Buying, Merchandising, Quality Control, Warehouse, Retail Operations and Stores teams


• Review product design briefs, to support efficient sampling


• Communicate the quality standard expectations to our suppliers effectively, ensuring that responses are received, quantified and recorded throughout the development process


• Identify and articulate key quality performance indicators to suppliers in order to build relationships, improve sampling performance and production quality


• Ensure QA sections within Oliver Bonas supplier manual are clear, succinct and in line with OB brand guidelines


• Work collaboratively with Head of Ethical and Sustainability, Buying and Design to continue to drive the use of sustainable alternatives and certification.


• Collaborate with external packaging consultants to ensure labelling and international requirements (where applicable) are met, are fit for purpose and cost effective


• Work with the Head of Buying to set clear and achievable action plans in line with department strategies, highlighting areas of risk and opportunity


• Work collaboratively to deliver commercial collections that are developed, sourced, tested and delivered on time whilst achieving margin


• Attend fit meetings and write accurate and detailed fit comments that are clearly communicated to the manufacturers


• Create and maintain technical packs for factories as appropriate


• Take responsibility for the fit and comfort of all own brand garments from all product areas


• Issue and approve graded specifications in a timely manner


• Create, standardise, maintain and issue workbook templates for suppliers to use when required


• Approve bulk components, test reports, care instructions and packaging for production


• Co-ordinate the testing of fabrics and garments across all products to ensure that products meet all company quality standards


• Have regular catch ups with the Head of Buying regarding new product developments, quality issues, suppliers, strategy and recent developments on the department and feedback to the team when necessary.


• Work with the QC team to receive and analyse returns feedback and plan/advise how suppliers can make improvements


• Train, coach and develop team members with regular feedback, progress chats and appraisals to ensure all team members have clear and stretching development goals and are delivering their best work
  
  Sound knowledge of garment construction and grading


• Extensive experience as a product technologist, or similar, with own label development Knowledge of patternmaking and manufacturing would be an advantage


• Have an understanding of the manufacturing processes and sound knowledge of fabric properties testing and usage as well as garment construction


• Good general knowledge about machinery and construction finishes used to produce clothing


• Knowledge and experience across in knitwear, soft tailoring, jersey and Denim and casual wear, and how they differ in construction and how they behave


• Experience of working with international factories and travel globally


• Good planning, organising and communication skills


• Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines - strong time management skills


• Excellent attention to detail


• People management skills


• Self-motivated, approachable and adaptable to change


• Creative yet commercial eye
  
  At Oliver Bonas, our promise is to do our bit to make living a joyful experience and give cause for optimism. This promise is central to our work in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). To bring joy to others, we must first ensure everyone at OB feels valued, included and most importantly, can be themselves at work.


It is important to us that our brand reflects wider society and the communities in which we operate. As a result, we welcome all eligible applicants for this role however we are particularly interested in speaking to eligible candidates from the Black, Asian & Mixed Heritage communities.

Oliver Bonas is a Disability Confident Committed employer under the Disability Confident employer scheme.

To read more about our ED&I commitments, head over to the EDI page on our website: https://www.oliverbonas.com/meet-the-team/diversity

Chessington
• Competitive salary plus benefitsFull time, Bonas Benefits:


• Generous employee discount up to 50% off all OB products


• Free access to our 24 hour employee assistance programme with Care First - offering financial, emotional and vocational support


• Flexible holiday - 33 days (including bank holidays) - increasing to 35 days with length of service


• Annual discretionary profit related bonus scheme


• Free membership for our Westfield Health Cash Plan or Private Medical


• Auto-enrolment into our pension plan


• Free access to our onsite gym


• Cycle to work scheme


• Refer a Friend incentive


• Quarterly free lunch


• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave


• Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Voice network and EDI team


• Mental Health First Aider support


• Education and support throughout Looop eLearning platform