Garment Technologist

Garment Technologist

Department: Garment Tech

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Head Office, Chelsea House

Reporting To: Rebecca Butler

The Garment / Product Tech department at River Island supports the Buying and Design teams to ensure product fit and quality is in line with our brand strategy and values and is compliant in all markets/ channels in which we trade. This is achieved through strong Buying team, Design team and Supplier relations. A strong commercial awareness and application is essential.

• May be required to manage a junior member of the team – eg junior technologist / student. Includes mentoring, setting objectives to be achieved and ensure they are being worked towards; providing timely feedback and support to enable that person to work to the best of their ability.
• Leads the technical approval process on their department/s – and is the ‘go to’ person for all matters relating to 'Technical’.
• Identifies opportunities or risk which may lead to cross functional collaboration/ initiatives.
• Works with suppliers and buying teams to establish opportunities for improvements.
• Leads the product development and approval process of the department to ensure delivery is compliant to all RI standards (fit, quality, performance and compliance) including those of wholesale partners and all markets in which River Island has a presence.
• Responsible for ensuring River Island ways of working are followed by buyers, designers and suppliers for all technical processes, in order to achieve KPI’s of efficiency, consistency and ‘right first time’.
• Responsible for risk assessment of both production and safety (prior to production) and collaborates with supplier and buyer to minimise risk and ensure compliance.
• Responsible for approval of test reports and Certificates of Compliance in line with our standards and requirements; manages failures in line with commercial limits and standards.
• Develops blocks and key shapes in collaboration with Buyer / Designer relevant to department and season; ensures distribution to and understanding of all relevant stakeholders (including Designers, Suppliers and Home Production).
• Contributes to the development and maintenance of the relevant grading tables for the department.
• Regularly reviews quality and fit of delivered product through store visits, wearer trials; ‘Fit squads’, benchmarking exercises and ongoing analysis of customer returns information; feedback/ challenge suppliers where necessary to ensure standards are maintained or exceeded and fit remains consistent and relevant. Recommends appropriate actions to buying team where relevant.
• Maintain a knowledge of current and changing global legislation – and ensure compliance at product level.
• Contribute to setting, reviewing and communicating standards and manuals in collaboration with other River Island Technical/ Compliance.
• Regular communication with suppliers to encourage understanding of and commitment to River Island ways of working as well as achievement of fit and quality standards.
• Conduct regular reviews of supplier performance according to agreed KPI’s and support suppliers to improve.
• Feeds Into the dept supplier strategy – highlighting technical strengths and risks of key suppliers.
• Develop and empower suppliers to take accountability for management of RI processes.
• Sustainability – support the Sustainability team in achieving their objectives.
• Ethical - Support the ethical team in achieving their objectives.

• Previous experience as a Technologist in a Retail or Manufacturing Technical environment is required.
• Good understanding of sizing, pattern making and grading.
• Good relevant knowledge of fabric/material components.
• Previous experience demonstrating a good knowledge and understanding (relevant to product area) of fit, manufacture, testing, compliance/ legislation and other technical aspects relevant to the product area.
• Good experience of working across multiple sourcing locations.
• Supplier management experience.
• Strong interest in product and the River Island brand is essential.

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