Product Development Technologist, Handbags and Accessories

John Lewis Partnership; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 57,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

John Lewis Partnership is seeking a Product Development Technologist to manage safety, quality, legality, sustainability and provenance across the product life cycle. The role requires strong supplier management, technical knowledge and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders in a hybrid London-based setting.

Responsibilities include leading product specs, compliance testing, and continuous improvement to ensure high quality Own Brand products while meeting regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• Experience in a technical role in retail/manufacturing.
• Product development experience.
• Product testing & compliance experience.
• Supplier engagement experience.
• Strong garment and accessories construction knowledge.
• 3D fitting knowledge desirable.
• Degree or equivalent industry training in an appropriate discipline.

Responsibilities

• Deliver compliant, safe, legal and quality product assortments for Own Brand.
• Set and communicate product specifications and standards; briefing new products.
• Develop and implement technical strategy into the category strategy, including sustainability requirements.
• Review and approve product development against agreed standards.
• Test and certify legal and performance standards; maintain technical files.
• Support end-to-end product development from concept to delivery.
• Drive continuous improvement by analysing suppliers’ technical performance.
• Carry out product insight, horizon scanning, innovation, benchmarking and regulatory awareness.
• Drive improvements using quality performance, returns data and customer feedback.
• Collaborate with suppliers and stakeholders to ensure compliance and reduce faulty returns.

Skills

Product development

Product testing & compliance

Supplier engagement

Garment construction knowledge

3D fitting knowledge

Education

Degree or equivalent training

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Product Development Technologist, in the Sourcing & Technical Profession, you will expertly manage the safety, legality, quality, product development, sustainability and provenance aspects of the product life cycle. In doing so you will ensure compliance with technical standards & policies across multiple categories. To do this you will utilise your deep specialist & generalist technical knowledge. Remaining customer-focused to exceed customers’ expectations and create industry-leading products.
You will be responsible for managing supplier/factory technical relationships and proactively lead in managing improvements to Product & Process.

• Expected salary - Salary up to £60k depending on experience.
• Contract type - This position is a fixed term contract/secondment for 14 months
• Working pattern/flexible working - The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you’ll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business. The team meets in the office 3 days a week in the office to connect and on a more ad-hoc basis to attend key meetings.
• Location - The normal place of work for this role is our London Central Office in Pimlico.

Key responsibilities -

• Delivering compliant, safe, legal and the right quality product assortments (Own Brand) that are customer-focused, and understanding and complying with all relevant product regulations and safety standards.
• Setting, maintaining & clearly communicating product specifications & standards, interpreting designs and briefing new products.
• Developing & implementing the technical strategy into the category strategy, including lessons learnt, compliance - Ethical, Technical, and Sustainability requirements.
• Reviewing & approving product development against an agreed set of standards.
• Testing & certification approval of all legal & performance standards (inc. chemical compliance) maintaining up to date and accurate technical files.
• Supporting the end-to-end product development process from concept to delivery to ensure quality products. Using product expertise to assess product suitability including, performance of the complete product, technical suitability of design:, quality and safety and functionality ensuring product is fit for purpose
• Drives continuous improvement by analysing suppliers’ technical performance.
• Carrying out Product Insight, horizon scanning, innovation, competitor analysis, benchmarking, upkeep & detailed knowledge of technical/legal requirements
• Drives continuous product improvement by using and analysing quality performance, returns figures, reviews & customer voice data, escalated complaints and stakeholder feedback
• Works collaboratively with suppliers, and internal & external stakeholders to ensure product compliance, and reduce faulty returns and customer complaints through failure analysis and root cause investigations.
• Managing key raw material/sustainability data to ensure compliance to the raw material targets
• Provides quality & technical contributions to product tenders and assortment reviews.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• Experienced in a technical role in retail or manufacturing typically covering:
• Product development
• Product testing & compliance
• Supplier engagement
• Strong fitting and garment and accessories construction knowledge.
• 3D fitting knowledge is desirable.
• A degree or equivalent industry ‘on the job’ training in an appropriate discipline

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Closing Date:

October 18, 2026

Pay:

£57,400.00 - £86,200.00 Annual

Contract Type:

Temporary

Hours of Work:

35 hours per week

Job Level:

Partnership Level 6

Where You’ll Be Working:

London Central Office, 1 Drummond Gate, London, , SW1V 2QQ

ABOUT 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.