Assistant Product Developer

smashtess; Richmond; On-site; CAD 25,000 - 41,000; Part time

Job summary

Smash + Tess is seeking an Assistant Product Developer (Contract, Richmond, BC) to support the designer through the full lifecycle from concept to production. You will help maintain fit integrity, drive seasonal development, and ensure specification packages are accurate and ready for production.

With 2+ years in garment product development, you will collaborate across teams, translate design intent into technical specs, and use Illustrator/Photoshop to communicate construction details.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of garment product development experience.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent industry training, certification, or related business experience.
• Located within driving distance of Richmond, BC with access to reliable transportation and able to work at the office workspace and travel to the distribution centre.
• Strong understanding of the product lifecycle from concept to consumer.
• Extensive understanding of design intent, construction, production and fit.
• Strong knowledge of raw materials, technical construction, and sourcing.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office and Adobe programs (Illustrator, Photoshop).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, professional demeanour.
• Flexibility, patience and strong problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to juggle multiple projects with attention to detail.
• Ability to take initiative and collaborate cross-functionally.

Responsibilities

• Assist the fit sessions with the Designer.
• Collaborate with the design team for seasonal product development.
• Continuously develop, maintain and elevate fit standards.
• Work with Designer from proto fitting stages to establish look and fit on the fit model.
• Maintain concept through all stages of pre-production and production samples.
• Use Adobe Illustrator to show construction details and changes.
• Develop initial spec packages and detailed sketches.
• Issue the tech pack with all specifications for production: sketch, measurements, size grading, finishing, yarn and fabric details, care instructions, pack method and labelling.
• Maintain cohesive style history and high production quality.
• Measure fit samples and ensure consistency with the tech pack.
• Present solutions to Designer for yarn, fabric quality or sample issues.
• Problem solve fit and fabric issues as they arise.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Skills

Garment development

Proto fitting

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Undergraduate degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Job description

THE ROLE:

Assistant Product Developer- Contract (3-month)

LOCATION:

Richmond, BC

THE BRAND:

We are Vancouver-designed, North American made, and globally inspired. Our belief in slowing down the fashion cycle led us to make clothing on demand and with a clear purpose – to delight our #smashtessfam. Our best-selling Romper fabric is a sustainable rayon from bamboo and cotton blend, and although it costs more for us to use it, it’s proven to stand the test of time and retain its shape and softness when treated well. We produce in our own backyard under our watchful eyes to ensure that our clothing is made in the very best working conditions by skilled and talented seamsters.

Smash + Tess was founded by a mother-daughter-bestie trio, dedicated to creating “everywear” to take you from the sheets to the streets… and beyond! Disrupting the fashion industry with chic and cozy clothing, Smash + Tess has a cult-like following from celebrities, influencers, and everyday women, because aside from our seriously cute designs, we’ve created a community that celebrates comfortability and style! We exist to make our customers lives easy-because life can be complicated, and life can be hard… but deciding what to wear doesn’t need to be!

WORKING AT SMASH + TESS:

• We are a team of collaborative, creative, authentic, and highly effective people. Together we are launching the #romperrevolution!
• We get big things done at an extraordinary pace, while making space for joy, friendship, and fun.
• The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and kicking at Smash + Tess -- we move forward boldly. We believe in giving people a big job that they love and empowering them to lead and own the area they’re responsible for.
• We thrive in a working culture where collaboration is queen. It’s important to us that each team member’s voice is heard and valued. We solve problems creatively as a team, and celebrate each other’s impact.

ROLE OVERVIEW:

The Assistant Product Developer is responsible for assisting the designer with developing new and existing styles, taking them through the process from design (concept) through to production and commercialization. With an impeccable eye for detail, and passion for innovation, this role will be accountable for the integrity of design intent, quality, construction, and fit of Smash + Tess products.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist the fit sessions with the Designer
• Work with the design team for seasonal product development
• Continuously develop, maintain and elevate fit standards
• Work closely with Designer from first proto fitting stage to establish the desired look and fit of the garment on the fit model.
• Keep design concept in mind throughout the fitting process from the first proto through all stages of pre-production samples, to the final size sets and top of production samples
• Use Adobe Illustrator to show construction details and changes
• Develop initial spec packages and detailed sketches
• Issue the tech pack which includes all the technical specifications of the garment necessary for production: sketch, measurements, size grading, finishing details, yarn and fabric quality details, initial care instructions, pack method and labelling details
• Maintain a cohesive history of the style as well as a high standard of quality for production
• Measure fit samples, review samples prior to fittings to ensure the samples match the tech pack and was constructed as instructed
• Present solutions to Designer to resolve problems with yarn, fabric quality or poorly made samples
• Problem solve fit and fabric issues as they arise
• Additional duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2+ years’ experience in garment product development
• A related undergraduate degree OR equivalent industry training, certification, or related business experience
• Located within driving distance of our headquarters in Richmond, BC, with access to reliable transportation. To successfully perform the requirements of this role, it will be necessary to be work at our office workspace, and regularly travel to our Distribution Centre
• Strong understanding of the product lifecycle process, from concept to consumer
• Extensive understanding of design intent, construction, production and fit
• Strong knowledge of raw materials, technical construction, and sourcing
• High proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint,etc)and Adobe programs (Illustrator, Photoshop etc.)
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, and a professional demeanour
• Flexibility, patience,and strong problem‐solving skills
• Strong organizational skills and ability to juggle multiple projects at once while maintaining exceptional attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and deliver results independently, as well as partner and collaborate cross-functionally

COMPETENCIES:

PASSION

• Consistently strive to improve oneself, your team and make impactful contributions to the success of the company.
• Lead and inspire others to maintain a positive attitude.
• Celebrate successes and wins.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

• Be curious about new possibilities and act to explore them.
• Take pride in finding the optimal solution to any challenge.
• Be in constant search for new challenges and learning opportunities.

RESOURCEFULNESS

• Empower and leverage existing resources.
• Work through constraints with resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, and innovation.
• Prioritize and execute with efficiency.

DEDICATION

• Devote yourself to achieving the highest level of success.
• Share a sense of urgency and act before others do.
• Be flexible and act upon the needs of the company.

INTEGRITY

• Be steadfast in upping ethical conduct inside and outside the office.
• Commit to acting with honesty and trust.
• Promote acceptance and freedom of personal expression of all individuals regardless of ethnicity, race, culture, sex, and gender.

SELF-IMPROVEMENT

• Be open to feedback and practice self-awareness of your strengths and weaknesses.
• Make time to learn and develop.
• Strive to master something that challenges you.

ACCOUNTABILITY

• Take full ownership of your areas of responsibility.
• Focus on the important things that contribute to your core area KPIs.
• Understand where your area stands at all times in terms of financial and performance metrics.

Pay transparency is an important topic for us. At this time we’re performing a full total compensation review across our organization. We're prioritizing establishing and communicating a fair and equitable salary structure and review process, so we can speak to all our compensation conversations thoughtfully, both internally and externally. If you are contacted about your application to this role, we commit to having an open and transparent conversation about pay in our first meeting with you.

We gratefully acknowledge that Smash + Tess headquarters - where our team thrives, works, and grows together - is located on the traditional, ancestral lands of the Coast Salish People.