Fabric Development Manager

Oroton; City of Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangements

4 Recharge Days per year, in addition

Birthday leave

Learning and development opportunities

Generous product discounts and livel

12 weeks Paid Parental Leave

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Oroton, established in 1938, seeks a senior Fabric Development Manager to lead apparel fabric development strategy across Womenswear and Menswear from our Melbourne Design Studio. You will link Design, Merchandising and Production to ensure fabrics are developed, sourced and nominated in line with quality, compliance and critical-path needs.

You will drive fabric strategy, manage approvals and development through to bulk handover, maintain data documentation, and collaborate with ESG teams to

Qualifications

• Proven experience in fabric development, sourcing and apparel product development.
• Strong technical knowledge of fabric construction, testing, compliance and responsible sourcing.
• Demonstrated experience managing critical paths, supplier relationships and timelines.
• Commercial acumen balancing quality, cost, lead time and sourcing needs.
• Strong project management skills and highly organised approach.
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration.
• A collaborative leadership style with capability building.
• Passion for product, innovation and fast-paced retail environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead fabric sourcing, development and nomination across Womenswear and Menswear.
• Drive fabric strategy, sourcing efficiencies and product outcomes.
• Manage fabric approvals, testing and development through to bulk handover.
• Maintain fabric data, coding and documentation for governance.
• Partner with Design, Merchandising, Production and ESG to meet requirements.
• Drive critical-path management and process improvements.
• Lead and develop the Pattern Maker and promote collaboration.

Skills

Fabric development

Sourcing

Apparel dev

Fabric testing

Stakeholder mgmt

Project mgmt

Tools

Technical knowledge

Job description

Established in 1938, Oroton has evolved into a modern lifestyle brand, synonymous with craftsmanship, accessible luxury and a uniquely Australian sense of beauty. Guided by our purpose of creating accessible modern luxury for real life, we are proud to be celebrating 88 years of heritage while continuing an exciting chapter of growth and reinvention.

About the role:

We are seeking an experienced Fabric Development Manager to lead Oroton's apparel fabric development strategy across Womenswear and Menswear. This role will be based in our Melbourne Design Studio, reporting in to the Senior Designer - Apparel and working as a key collaborator across the Design function. This role acts as the critical link between Design, Merchandising and Production, ensuring fabrics are developed, sourced and nominated in line with quality, compliance, commercial and critical path requirements. Bringing deep technical expertise and strong commercial judgement, you'll play a key role in delivering innovative, high-quality products while driving consistency, efficiency and continuous improvement across the development process.

Responsibilities:

• Lead fabric sourcing, development and nomination across Womenswear and Menswear, balancing quality, compliance and commercial outcomes.
• Execute Oroton's fabric strategy, driving sourcing efficiencies, fabric consolidation and strong product outcomes.
• Manage fabric approvals, testing and development activities through to bulk handover.
• Maintain accurate fabric data, coding and documentation to support visibility and governance across the development lifecycle.
• Partner closely with Design, Merchandising, Production and ESG teams to deliver fabrics that meet creative, commercial and compliance requirements.
• Drive critical path management, process improvement and the implementation of systems and tools that enhance development efficiency.
• Lead and develop the Pattern Maker while fostering collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement across the Design Room.

What we're looking for:

• Proven experience in fabric development, sourcing and apparel product development.
• Strong technical knowledge of fabric construction, testing, compliance, certifications and responsible sourcing practices.
• Demonstrated experience managing critical paths, supplier relationships and development timelines.
• Commercial acumen with the ability to balance quality, cost, lead time and sourcing requirements.
• Strong project management skills, attention to detail and a highly organised approach.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence across Design, Merchandising and Production teams.
• A collaborative leadership style with experience building capability and driving accountability.
• A passion for product, innovation and delivering exceptional outcomes in a fast-paced retail environment.

Benefits and Culture

In joining Oroton, you'll become part of a talented and collaborative team committed to the ongoing success of one of Australia's most iconic lifestyle brands. You will also enjoy:

• Hybrid working arrangements
• 4 Recharge Days per year, in addition to annual leave
• Birthday leave
• Learning and development opportunities
• Generous product discounts and lifestyle benefits
• 12 weeks Paid Parental Leave for eligible team members
• Access to wellbeing initiatives and our Employee Assistance Program

If you're passionate about apparel development, fabric innovation and building best-practice processes that bring exceptional products to life, we'd love to hear from you.

Please note: Only applicants with full Australian working rights will be considered.