Olivia Hughes Recruitment

Job Description:

Garment Technical Manager - fixed-term contract for 18 months to cover maternity leave.
Hybrid Working

This is a fantastic opportunity to join one of the UKs fastest growing womenswear fashion brands as the Garment Technical Manager. If you have a passion for women’s fashion as well as delivering exceptional, high-quality products, then this could be the right opportunity for you.

As the Garment Technical Manager, you will be responsible for leading the Technical team and ensuring the highest standards of fit, quality, compliance and product performance across all product categories.

This role acts as the central point of contact for all technical matters, providing leadership, technical expertise and strategic direction to support the continued growth of the brand. The role will focus on improving product quality, reducing returns, strengthening supplier relationships and ensuring the business remains compliant with all current and upcoming product regulations.

There will also be a requirement to hands on manage a category – the ideal candidate with have hands on experience of working on one or more of the following categories: leather, faux leather (all departments), jersey, tailoring, swim, outerwear, footwear & accessories.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, motivate and develop the technical team.
• Be the primary point of contact and technical expertise for all garment technical matters.
• Oversee garment fitting across all product categories, ensuring consistency of fit and brand standards.
• Provide guidance and technical support to the technical team during fit sessions and product development.
• Ensure fittings are aligned with market and competitor standards to maintain a strong commercial fit for the brand. Ensure standards are being met at all times.
• Attend fit sessions for your category/s action comments in line with our critical path deadlines working effectively with the Buyer and Designer on that area.
• Contribute to business success by reducing return rates and improving lead times through improved technical processes, accurate sample fitting and effective testing procedures.
• Oversee the returns process, identifying key issues and implementing solutions to improve product performance.
• Ensuring internal teams and suppliers are working collaboratively to continually improve garment quality and fit.
• Work with the technical team to build strong relationships with suppliers and factories, ensuring consistent product standards.
• Support suppliers in achieving high quality manufacturing standards and technical compliance.
• Manage the QC process, identifying issues early and implementing corrective actions.
• Work cross-functionally with Finance on QC claims and stock removal where significant issues arise.
• Develop solutions with the warehouse team to resolve product handling issues.
• Ensure all technical manuals and product standards are regularly reviewed and kept up to date.
• Review and update testing manuals and requirements where necessary.
• Ensure the company remains compliant with current product regulations and implement measures to prepare for upcoming regulatory changes.
• Identify and raise technical challenges or risks and present solutions to the senior leadership team.
• Analyse returns data, QC issues and customer feedback to drive continuous product improvement.
• Support initiatives such as customer surveys and focus groups to better understand product performance and customer expectations.

What we’re looking for:
• Strong experience in a Garment Technologist role within womenswear fashion, as well as experience managing and developing technical teams.
• Ideally, you’ll have experience of working with one or more of the following product categories: jersey, outerwear, tailoring, leather, swim, footwear & accessories.
• Excellent technical knowledge of garment construction, pattern cutting, fitting and grading, fabric performance as well as product compliance, quality control and testing standards.
• You’ll have a proven ability to reduce returns and improve product quality through technical processes.
• A passion for product quality and great fit.
• Commercially aware with a strong focus on customer product satisfaction.
• You will be enthusiastic about product and constantly seeking to make improvements for the brand and customer.