Garment Technical Manager – 18-month FTC
At Sosandar, we’re passionate about creating beautifully designed womenswear that delivers exceptional fit, quality and style. This role is an 18 month maternity cover.
The Garment Technical Manager is 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 Sosandar 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 these categories, Leather, Faux Leather (all departments) Outerwear, Footwear.
The garment Technical managers role encompasses working closely with the warehouse operations team to ensure QC issues are picked up and resolved effectively whilst working closely with our H/O finance team.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership
- Provide the primary point of contact and technical expertise for all garment technical matters within the business.
- Represent Sosandar internally and externally from a technical and product quality perspective.
- Lead, motivate and develop the technical team, ensuring they have the tools, training and support required to meet business objectives.
- Manage performance standards and create training and development plans for the team.
- Conduct regular 1-1 meetings with team members to support development and manage workload. Be able to Problem solve by finding effective solutions to workload bottle necks, supplier challenges and team needs.
Fit & Product Development
- 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 our standards are being met at all times
- Attend fit sessions for your category/s action comments inline with our critical path deadlines working effectively with the buyer and designer on that area.
Product Quality & Returns Reduction
- Contribute to business success by reducing return rates and improving lead times through improved technical processes, accurate sample fitting and effective testing procedures. – Flag any risks to returns rates due to supplier performance or fabric challenges.
- 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.
Supplier & Factory Relationships
- 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.
Quality Control
- 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.
- Work on QC solutions within the warehouse and at source to protect product quality.
Compliance & Technical Standards
- 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.
Data, Reporting & Business Insight
- 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.
Skills & Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience in garment technology within womenswear fashion.
- Strong leadership experience managing and developing technical teams.
- Multi product experience; outerwear, tailoring, jersey, leather, swim, footwear & accessories.
- Excellent knowledge of:
- Garment construction
- Pattern cutting, fitting and grading
- Fabric performance
- Product compliance, quality control and testing standards
- Experience working closely with suppliers and factories internationally.
- Proven ability to reduce returns and improve product quality through technical processes.
Personal Attributes
- Strong leadership and mentoring skills.
- Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
- Commercially aware with a strong focus on customer product satisfaction.
- Excellent communication.
- Strategic thinker with a proactive, solution-focused approach.
What’s in it for you?
- 25 days paid holiday, plus bank holidays, plus your birthday off!
- Holiday buy scheme
- Cycle to Work scheme
- 40% employee discount
- 4% employer pension via salary sacrifice
- Employee Assistance Programme (private GP consultations, prescriptions, physiotherapy, counselling, shopping discounts) for you, your partner and kids
- Informal hybrid working policy dependent on role
- Life Assurance 4x your salary
Weekly hours: 35 per week
As an equal opportunities’ employer, we celebrate our differences and know that as a team we thrive in a diverse and inclusive environment. Sosandar, therefore, very much welcomes applications from all individuals.
