Quality Development Lead

Lululemon Athletica; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 96,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company as a Quality Assurance Lead, where your expertise will drive product excellence in a dynamic environment. This role focuses on ensuring the highest quality standards while collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional products. You'll be instrumental in risk assessment, training, and continuous improvement initiatives, all while fostering a culture of innovation and quality. If you're passionate about quality and eager to make a difference, this is the perfect opportunity for you to thrive and grow.

Benefits

Extended Health and Dental Benefits

Paid Time Off

Savings and Retirement Plan Matching

Parenthood Top-Up

Development Course Offerings

Mentorship Programs

Leadership Series

Qualifications

• 10+ years in technical design and quality control in apparel.
• Knowledge of technical fabrics and garment construction is essential.

Responsibilities

• Guide teams on risk assessment & mitigation processes.
• Ensure adherence to quality standards across product categories.

Skills

Problem Solving

Decision Making

Collaboration

Agility

Education

Diploma in Garment Industry

Industrial Engineering (Textile)

Tools

COE Tools & Systems

Flex PLM

Job description

Business Unit: Store Support Centre (SSC)

Time Type: Full-time

Description & Requirements

who we are

lululemon is an innovative performance apparel company for yoga, running, training, and other athletic pursuits. Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional design, we create transformational products and experiences that support people in moving, growing, connecting, and being well. We owe our success to our innovative product, emphasis on stores, commitment to our people, and the incredible connections we make in every community we're in. As a company, we focus on creating positive change to build a healthier, thriving future. In particular, that includes creating an equitable, inclusive and growth-focused environment for our people.

about this team

We are the envoy of change, igniting the culture of quality with reliable & transformative approach to co-create product for manufacturing success. We manage the global quality standards, processes and metrics that ensure a positive guest experience with the performance of our products. We work cross-functionally across the entire product team to ensure our products meet our quality and compliance standards. We then educate our vendors to make quality products a reality.

A fast-paced work environment & responsible for the quality assurance of just about everything. We are socially responsible and work with our lululemon liaison office (llo) global offices.Being the stand for quality, our team also manages our stringent product standards. “good enough” doesn’t hit the floor on our watch. Meeting pinnacle of success by providing e2e support to the product team, empowering internal and external partners to facilitate right decision making, and creating future quality leaders. We ensure that the products performs as intended, and that the hidden features will truly surprise and delight our guests.

a day in the life

• Provide guidance to cross functional teams on risk assessment & risk mitigation processes.
• Governance through COE tools & systems.
• Training & education for cross functional partners
• Continuous improvement through DFM & QBD. (design for manufacturing) & (Quality by Design).
• Documentation & SOP updates & process creation to achieve highest efficiency.
• Reporting to the Sr Manager, Category lead is responsible for proactively pursuing the highest quality standards, on a consistent basis, for all lululemon athletica product. This role willensure the implementation of DFMEA/STRA risk management model from concept to the handover to our LLOs.
• Working closely with all members of the Global Product Team, Category lead will provide guidance to Sr. QDs & QDs on governance & streamline and enroll all cross functional partners for a comprehensive quality outcome without compromising lululemon’s design flare and time to market.
• Research, study and implement special projects guidelines. Educating and collaborating with rest of the team to implement the lululemon standards.
• Maintain a birds eye view on the product category, stay agile & nimble and continue supporting cross functional teams.
• Advance Concept development and Pre-production: Work closely with design and development to provide input during advance concept development and in-season during commercialization process upstream. This includes risk assessment meetings , providing feedback to Production, Design and Manufacturers with foresight into possible production complications and/or eventual quality issues that may result with customer wear.
• Collaborate with Product Development, Design, Sourcing and RM in development of seasonal products that meets our Brand Promise of intentional use.
• Able to foresee/identify risks and provide solutions / mitigate risks from concept stage to final commercialization up until pre-production stage to deliver the right product.
• Teamwork with Product Quality Development Technicians to share & maximize best practices, establish new methods, bring new execution methods and functional expertise to the Quality team.
• Gathering of critical Voice of Process from the SQM team and working with the Sr. QD Manager to provide solve and CAPA.
• Act as owner of projects to create innovative and premium performance products; owner of minimum performance standards and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Standardization of Technical Risk Assessment (STRA), High Attention Raw Materials integration and handover (HARM), Product Lifecycle Technical path (PLTP), WWMT validation, working online with Flex PLM, execution of samples and tests, reporting back to Quality Development Manager.
• Supporting Sr. QD Manager in the on-going projects for Document Management & Vendor Development, building and refining processes etc.
• Able to anticipate potential issues, problem solves for issues related to Raw materials and Trims / claims validation / construction / workmanship & able to look beyond obvious.
• Provide quality risk assessment and mitigation during design concept, sketch review, prototypes and size run
• Able to work with off-shore vendors through emails, conference calls, zoom calls and onsites to execute the design intent & intended training to downstream partners.

qualifications

• Diploma in a garment industry related program or Industrial Engineering (textile specific)
• Knowledge & expertise in soft goods, hard-goods/Bags & acc. etc. an asset.
• Minimum 10 years working experience in technical design, product development and garment production field and/or apparel industry quality control role (required competency).
• Knowledge of technical fabrics, garment construction and related machinery is a must (required competency)
• Industrial Engineering course/program (in Textiles or related field) an asset, but not necessary.
• Strong problem solving and decision making skills.
• Fast collaborator, agile and think possibilities.
• Actively live and breathe the lululemon culture and lifestyle
• Self-awareness, with a desire for constant self improvement (goal –oriented)
• Self motivated, passionate, empathetic, approachable
• Outgoing, energetic, upbeat and fun!

must haves

• Acknowledge the presence of choice in every moment and take personal responsibility for your life.
• Possess an entrepreneurial spirit and continuously innovate to achieve great results.
• Communicate with honesty and kindness and create the space for others to do the same.
• Lead with courage, knowing the possibility of greatness is bigger than the fear of failure.
• Foster connection by putting people first and building trusting relationships.
• Integrate fun and joy as a way of being and working, aka doesn’t take yourself too seriously.

Additional Notes
Authorization to work in Canada is required for this role.

Compensation and Benefits Package

lululemon’s compensation offerings are grounded in a pay-for-performance philosophy that recognizes exceptional individual and teamperformance. Thetypical hiring range for this positionis from$96,800-127,100annually; the base pay offered is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and internal equity. As part of our total rewards offering, permanent employees in this position may be eligible for our competitive annual bonus program, subject to program eligibility requirements.

At lululemon, investing in our people is a top priority. We believe that when life works, work works. We strive to be the place where inclusive leaders come to develop and enable all to be well. Recognizing our teams for their performance and dedication, other components of our total rewards offerings include support of career development, wellbeing, and personal growth:

• Extended health and dental benefits, and mental health plans
• Paid time off
• Savings and retirement plan matching
• Parenthood top-up
• Extensive catalog of development course offerings
• People networks, mentorship programs, and leadership series (to name a few)

Note: The incentive programs, benefits, and perks have certain eligibility requirements. The Company reserves the right to alter these incentive programs, benefits, and perks in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.

workplace arrangement

This role is classified as In-Personunder our SSC Workplace Policy:

In-Person

In-person collaboration and connection are important to our culture. Work is performed onsite, minimum 4 days per week.

Only those applicants under consideration will be contacted. Please accept our utmost appreciation for your interest. lululemon is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs, and not on race, color, creed, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, military service, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions or any other classification protected by federal, state or provincial and local laws and ordinances. Reasonable accommodation is available for qualified individuals with disabilities, upon request. This Equal Employment Opportunity policy applies to all practices relating to recruitment and hiring, compensation, benefits, discipline, transfer, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment. While management is primarily responsible for seeing that lululemon equal employment opportunity policies are implemented, you share in the responsibility for assuring that, by your personal actions, the policies are effective.

lululemon is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you would like someone from our team to contact you for individualized support, email us [e-mail] . In your email, please include the position title, the location of the position and the nature of your request.