Alterations Lead

Chanel, Inc.; Toronto; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness

Pension plan

Vacation & leave

Parental leave

Employee Assistance Program

Career development

Job summary

CHANEL Toronto Flagship Boutique is seeking an Alterations Lead to safeguard CHANEL Perfect Fit and elevate the client fitting experience. You will partner with Boutique Management, Fashion Advisors, Tailors, and CHANEL&moi teams to transmit savoir-faire across the Atelier.

You will lead a skilled tailoring team, manage workload, and ensure high standards of quality and service, including home/hotel fittings when needed.

Qualifications

• Degree or strong background in sewing, tailoring, or alterations.
• 6-7 years proven experience in tailoring, ideally in luxury or high-end fashion.
• Strong knowledge of garment construction, fabrics, and finishing.
• Experience leading, coaching, or developing a team.
• Excellent client communication and refined luxury posture.
• Strong organization, rigor, sense of priorities, and accountability.
• Comfortable using digital tools and reporting systems.
• Fluent English, an additional language is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Lead, support, and motivate the tailoring team in a collaborative Atelier environment.
• Organize daily priorities and allocate work according to Tailor’s skills and deadlines.
• Collaborate with Operations Manager on development conversations and coaching.
• Monitor Atelier workload and ensure deadlines, quality, and client commitments.
• Transmit CHANEL techniques to Tailors and train on fittings and collection knowledge.
• Provide feedback and drive continuous improvement in craft and service.

Skills

Degree background in sewing

Tailoring experience 6-7 years

Garment construction knowledge

Team leadership experience

Excellent client communication

Strong organization

Digital tools familiarity

Fluent English

Education

Degree or strong background in sewing, tailoring, or alterations

Job description

Location: CHANEL Flagship Toronto Boutique (in Yorkville) Reports to: Operations Manager Contract: Full-time and permanent

Your Role @ CHANEL

The Alterations Lead is the guardian of CHANEL Perfect Fit and a key ambassador of the CHANEL&moi promise within the Fashion Boutique. This role ensures high-quality alterations, an elevated client fitting experience, and the transmission of CHANEL tailoring savoir-faire to the Atelier team. The Alterations Lead reports to the Operations Manager and works closely with Boutique Management, Fashion Advisors, Tailors, CHANEL&moi teams, and the Head of Alterations Training.

Key Partners Boutique Director, Boutique Managers, Operations Manager, Fashion Advisors, Alterations Team, CHANEL & Moi Teams, and Global Savoir-Faire de la Retouche Community.

What impact you can create at CHANEL

Perfect Fit & Client Experience

Act as the guardian of CHANEL Perfect Fit, ensuring every alteration respects the original style, proportions, and creative intent of the garment. Conduct client fittings, including VIC fittings and exceptional contexts such as home, hotel, or remote sessions when needed. Handle delicate client situations with tact, diplomacy, and professionalism. Partner with Fashion Advisors to create a seamless, elevated, and memorable fitting experience. Strengthen client loyalty through excellence in service, care, and technical expertise.

Technical Expertise & Savoir-Faire

Demonstrate strong tailoring expertise across standard and complex alterations, including tailored, high-end, and one-of-a-kind pieces. Understand garment construction, fabrics, balance, proportions, and asymmetries to recommend the best alteration solutions. Validate alteration decisions and finished work to ensure precision, quality, and consistency. Transmit CHANEL techniques, gestures, and standards to the Tailors. Train and coach the team on fittings, alterations, collection knowledge, and professional client posture.

Atelier Team Management & Development

Lead, support, and motivate the tailoring team in a collaborative and high-performing Atelier environment. Organize daily priorities and allocate work according to each Tailor’s skills, capacity, and deadlines. Partner with the Operations Manager on quarterly, mid-year, and annual development conversations. Identify training needs and support individual development plans for each Tailor. Provide regular feedback to encourage continuous improvement, technical excellence, and professional growth.

Atelier Operations & Workload Management

Coordinate all Atelier activities and ensure deadlines, quality standards, and client commitments are respected. Manage the Atelier agenda, workload, and priorities during peak periods, launches, markdowns, and high-volume activity. Monitor ACET dashboards, lead times, and alteration follow-ups to ensure accuracy and timely completion. Ensure all team members are properly performing ACET steps. Use digital alteration tools to support performance, data accuracy, and team alignment. Proactively identify capacity risks, workload challenges, and opportunities to improve the Atelier organization.

Quality, Procedures & Workshop Standards

Ensure all alterations follow CHANEL techniques, guidelines, procedures, and boutique standards. Monitor RTW garment quality and elevate any non-compliant pieces, finishing issues, or recurring quality concerns. Maintain a clean, organized, and secure alterations room in line with operational and asset protection standards. Manage supplies, inventory, equipment maintenance, and repair needs for the Atelier. Review and approve supply requests while ensuring alignment with Global guidelines.

Performance & Boutique Collaboration

Monitor Atelier performance through volume, lead time, quality, client experience, and workload balance. Share relevant updates and performance insights with the Operations Manager and boutique leadership. Collaborate with Boutique Managers and Fashion Advisors to support RTW sales, client loyalty, and exceptional service. Lead or participate in alteration meetings, collection briefings, and boutique discussions ongoing. Transmit and communicate Global Alteration guidelines in advance to the sales team. Propose ideas to elevate the CHANEL tailoring experience and strengthen the CHANEL&moi client journey. Although comprehensive, the job description is not exhaustive, and additional duties may be added according to the needs of the business.

What you will bring to the role

• Degree or strong background in sewing, tailoring, or alterations.
• 6-7 years proven experience in tailoring, ideally in luxury or high-end fashion.
• Strong knowledge of garment construction, fabrics, and finishing.
• Experience leading, coaching, or developing a team.
• Excellent client communication and refined luxury posture.
• Strong organization, rigor, sense of priorities, and accountability.
• Comfortable using digital tools and reporting systems.
• Fluent English, an additional language is an asset.

What you will gain from this experience

An opportunity to refine and showcase your tailoring expertise within a globally recognized luxury brand. The chance to contribute to the impeccable standards and timeless elegance that define CHANEL. A collaborative and inclusive work environment where your craft is valued and celebrated. Ongoing opportunities for personal and professional development in the luxury fashion industry.

Competitive base salary: $80,000-85,000CAD annually + bonus

Benefits at CHANEL

• Health & Wellness – Private medical and dental insurance, long-term disability coverage, life insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance. Plus, the option to add family members.
• Financial Security – A strong company pension plan and bonus program to help you plan for the future.
• Time to Recharge – Enjoy generous vacation days, sick leave, CSR (volunteering) days, and even a day off for your birthday!
• Parental Support – A robust global parental leave policy to support you during life’s important moments.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – 24/7 access to resources, including counselling, legal support, wellness services, and financial guidance.
• Professional Growth & Development – We are committed to your success. From mentorship programs and learning opportunities to career advancement within the company, we provide the tools and resources to help you grow *Benefits are eligibility dependent and subject to change at any time.

We are committed to fair and accessible employment practices. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.

Chanel is a world leader in creating, manufacturing and distributing luxury products, including Ready-to-Wear, Accessories, Fragrances, Makeup, Skincare, Jewellery and Watches. Founded by Gabrielle Chanel in 1910, the House remains dedicated to quality craftsmanship and offering high-end creations. At present, Chanel employs more than 32,000 people worldwide. As an independent company, its core values are grounded in: Exceptional creation and client experience Nurturing human potential Having a positive impact – on people, the environment and communities around the world. As part of this, the House promotes arts, culture and creativity, while investing significantly in key areas including research & development, sustainability, and innovation. Chanel is dedicated to creating the conditions for people to perform at their best, building on their strengths and enabling them to benefit from new opportunities. It offers a unique working environment where people are given time to understand the brand, the business, and develop their personal motivations. This means everyone can grow, continue to be inspired and feel included, now and in the future. The company fosters true collaboration and respect for all, grounded in the belief that diversity is essential to the success of the organisation and its people. Chanel remains committed to rewarding people competitively, as well as offering initiatives such as wellbeing programmes, learning and development opportunities, and parental leave for all parents globally.