Product Development Technician

John Lewis Partnership; Darwen; Remote; GBP 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

John Lewis Partnership's Herbert Parkinson site in Darwen is seeking a specialist to develop and implement products into our manufacturing operation, translating concepts into production-ready specifications and SOPs.

Working with product managers and production partners, you will lead prototype development, align on scalable manufacturing processes, and help upskill colleagues through training programs.

Qualifications

• Experience in textile manufacturing and fabric processes.
• Proven track record delivering a product pipeline.
• Understanding of product development lifecycles and specs.
• Excellent presentation and training capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of products into manufacturing operations.
• Collaborate with Product Manager on prototypes and specifications.
• Establish efficient scalable manufacturing specifications for high quality products.
• Create robust SOPs and handover documents to teams.
• Support upskilling and training for Partners and stakeholders.

Skills

Textile manufacturing

Product pipeline

Product development lifecycle

Presentation & training

Job description

About the role

At Herbert Parkinson, a proud and historic part of the John Lewis Partnership, we are embarking on an exciting transformation journey to secure our long‑term success. By investing in state‑of‑the‑art manufacturing capabilities, streamlining our operations, and creating broader, more fulfilling roles for our Partners, we are building a more sustainable and agile future. Join us as we continue to deliver exceptional quality and service for our customers while empowering our partners to thriveAs part of the Operational team, you will be responsible for developing the process & technical expertise to take products from concept to production. Working closely with a range of internal stakeholders, you will be responsible for developing product specifications, Standard Operating Procedures & leading on the implementation of products into Operations, contributing to overall achievement of business KPIs. To operate within the guidelines of ISO standards.

• Expected salary - £31,700-47,500 (dependent on experience)
• Contract type - This position is a Permanent role. 38.75 Hours per week
• Location - This role is based at our Herbert Parkinson Office in Darwen Nr Manchester.

Key responsibilities

• Lead on the development & implementation of products into the manufacturing operation. Utilising your technical expertise and creativity, you will work with production partners to collaboratively create an initial prototype of a new product
• You will liaise with the Product Manager on the developed prototype
• Working with internal stakeholders, you will establish the most efficient way of achieving scalable manufacturing specifications to achieve high-quality,
• repeatable products
• Manufacturing specifications to achieve high-quality, repeatable products
• You will be responsible for creating robust SOPs to define new products & processes, holding responsibility for the handover of these documents to both Operational & Commercial teams
• Support upskilling & refresher training for all JL stakeholders
• Support the development & supervision of a training school, being an advocate in the local community to inspire future talent into the industry.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• Relevant experience in working in textile manufacturing
• Proven track record of delivering a product pipeline
• Thorough understanding of product development lifecycles & creating specifications
• Excellent presentation & training capabilities

Desirable skills/experience you may have

• Relevant experience in soft furnishing products

The partnership

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food‑lovers in Waitrose.

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.

Important points to note:

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre‑employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third‑party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work‑life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.