Fabric Technical Manager

Our client is a fast paced and demanding sourcing office with global operations.  They now have a vacancy for the pivotal role of Fabric Technical Manager to join the team in their thriving Bangladesh hub, ensuring that all raw materials meet the required expectations of their customers, whilst mentoring and developing the fabric technology team and managing the onboarding of new suppliers.

Fabric Technical Manager - The Role:

• Work with the relevant Fabric Technologists and Merchandisers to ensure fabric procedures and systems are both understood and strictly adhered to.
• To ensure effective and consistent mill evaluations are carried out in alignment to required standards and all records managed accordingly. Follow-up visits and corrective action plans are executed when required.
• Train the supply base: Mills, Laundries, Printers and Garment vendors in the correct submission procedures, minimum fabric performance standards, RSS requirements and legislative requirements and any changes made to those standards.
• Supplier viability assessment to ascertain whether the fabrics and finishes requested are within the capabilities of machinery, costings and the capabilities of a fabric supplier.
• To oversee base fabric approvals, documenting and recording exceptions accurately with both customer and supplier.
• To oversee bulk fabric performance in terms of handle, colour, continuity, performance standards and chemical compliance. Controlling at source fabric delivered to garment vendors is of a consistent pre-agreed quality standard, in terms of performance, colour fastness, appearance and colour continuity.
• Effective training of the fabric technologists in all aspects of technology required to support the business, effective communication and auditing.
• Train the merchandising team with regard to test report results (pass / fail) and discuss failures with the fabric technologist and advise the appropriate corrective action.
• Oversee management of third party testing laboratories, the testing budget and accreditation planning.
• Effective regular communication with UK retail Fabric Technologists and the suppliers at development and pre-production stages.
• Support the teams to communicate fabric related issues and concerns effectively both internally and to the supply base.
• Have documented pre-production information on all new qualities with the fabric suppliers.
• Six monthly profile and evaluation of Factories / Laundries and periodic auditing of the existing mills.
• Maintenance of fabric suppliers and fabric quality databases, with the systems accessible to merchandising and product development for reference.
• Colour management from lab dip through to bulk.
• Effective management of the Departments Cost Centre and particularly the travel budget.
• Ensure that product safety legislation is met through training, auditing and testing.
• Ensure that the main factories are maintaining and measuring the KPI’s of the main fabric suppliers within a season.
• Responds to product queries, including complaints, from vendors and customers, in a professional and timely manner.
• Schedules Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indian and China annual mill, laundry and print plant evaluations
• Manages care labeling with UK technical teams for garments according to fabric performance / garment performance criteria.

Fabric Technical Manager  - The Candidate:

• A Degree holder in Textile Design/ Textile Technology preferred, creative is flair essential
• Degree level Certificate in Technical Textile Qualification and/or a minimum of 15 years work experience in a similar capacity.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills
• Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy
• Problem solving
• Computer literate (Microsoft Office and Microsoft Outlook)
• Proven experience in mentoring a cross-functional team
• Experience in Quality Compliance & Auditing Processes
• Previous experience in manufacturing & sourcing in the Asia region
• In-depth knowledge of EU legislation and REACH compliance requirements

Fabric Technical Manager - The Package:

• Competitive salary + benefits including accommodation and transport.

Due to the anticipated interest in this role only short listed candidates will be contacted.

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