Mainline Product Coordinator - Italian and English Speaker

Margaret Howell Limited; London; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in fashion is seeking a highly organized individual to assist with product development. This role involves liaising with designers and suppliers to create high-quality collections while ensuring timely delivery and adherence to sustainability practices. The successful candidate will have a strong background in product development and garment fitting, along with excellent communication skills. Join a dynamic team that values creativity and craftsmanship, and enjoy a competitive salary and generous benefits including a clothing allowance and additional holiday time. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a brand with a rich heritage and a commitment to ethical practices.

Benefits

5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays

Generous clothing allowance

Staff discount

Life insurance

Contributory pension

Personal development grant

Cycle to work scheme

Birthday and volunteering days off

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in Product Development focusing on multi-category products.
• Technical knowledge of garment fitting and construction, especially tailoring.

Responsibilities

• Liaise between designers and suppliers to develop the Mainline collection.
• Ensure timely delivery of samples, overseeing technical specifications.

Skills

Product Development

Communication Skills

Negotiation Skills

Garment Fitting Knowledge

Sustainability Awareness

Tools

Microsoft Office

PLM Systems

ERP Systems

Job description

Margaret Howell is a contemporary British clothing designer with over five decades of success in men's and women's fashion. Today, her brand is sold worldwide, with 12 shops in Europe, over 100 outlets in Japan, and an established online presence.

We are seeking a highly organized and motivated individual to assist with executing the design critical path (CP). The successful candidate will develop sample collections and communicate effectively within the company and with external suppliers for all multi-category products (excluding knitwear) in the Mainline range. They will ensure high-quality, competitively priced products that support company targets through timely delivery.

Location

Head office, W1/Remote

Required on-site 3 days per week

Hours

Part or full-time availability, 28 to 35 hours (4 or 5 days per week)

Key Responsibilities

1. Liaise between designers and suppliers to develop the Mainline collection in line with the Critical Path (CP), advising on cost, MOQs, and supplier capability to ensure appropriate buy.
2. Act as the main contact for woven, accessories, and Mainline suppliers, building strong relationships and meeting CP deadlines, engaging with suppliers in Italy, the UK, Portugal, and Japan.
3. Collaborate on seasonal supplier allocation, balancing product suitability with buy depth to support production planning, aligned with responsible purchasing and ethical trade practices.
4. Ensure timely delivery of all samples, overseeing technical specifications, design packs, BOMs, and graded specs.
5. Coordinate with the Shirtline manufacturing unit and Senior Pattern Cutter to develop the Mainline shirt range, communicating pattern plans, product development, BOMs, fabric, and sample needs.
6. Lead all garment fittings, ensuring accurate measurements, detailed notes, and clear communication with suppliers.
7. Negotiate costs and MOQs to achieve margin targets, monitoring and communicating price changes.
8. Attend seasonal range review meetings, providing insights on product, pricing, and suppliers.
9. Contribute to sustainability initiatives aligned with company goals.
10. Maintain accurate records in ERP and PLM systems, including style setup, attributes, origin, risk assessments, shipping, labelling, BOMs, and SAP records.
11. Organize and attend supplier trips for design fittings with clear objectives.
12. Provide comprehensive handovers to production, highlighting potential risks.
13. Support the Product Development Manager with additional tasks as needed.

Role Requirements

• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English and Italian.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in Product Development, with a focus on multi-category products.
• Technical knowledge of garment fitting and construction, especially tailoring and high-end craftsmanship.
• Ability to build relationships, source, negotiate, and manage suppliers effectively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, PLM, and ERP systems.
• Understanding of sustainability and ethical compliance, with a drive to meet targets.
• Experience in pricing negotiations, working within budgets.

Rewards

• Competitive salary from £30,000
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays, increasing to 6 weeks with service
• Generous clothing allowance
• Staff discount
• Life insurance
• Contributory pension and salary exchange scheme
• Personal development grant
• Cycle to work scheme
• Birthday and volunteering days off

We are committed to blind recruitment practices to promote diversity and inclusion. Applications are considered as received, with shortlisted candidates based on skills and experience matching our requirements.