Product Technologist - Kidswear

Marks and Spencer; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in the UK is seeking a skilled Product Technologist to join the Kidswear team. This role entails leading the technical development of market-leading products, focusing on innovation, compliance, and customer feedback. Ideal candidates will have expertise in fabric and materials, ability to deliver clear specifications, and experience in managing departmental data. The position offers a collaborative work environment with numerous employee benefits, including discounts and a pension scheme.

Benefits

20% Colleague discount

Attractive annual bonus

Competitive holiday entitlement

Wellbeing support programs

Qualifications

• Expert in technology related to fabric and raw materials.
• Experience with direct design sourced product and Tech Packs.
• Ability to manage data and use M&S systems.

Responsibilities

• Deliver specifications on Design Tech packs.
• Work with the Fit Development Studio and suppliers.
• Ensure all technical deadlines are met.

Skills

Patternmaking

Fabric manufacturing

Customer data analysis

Entrepreneurialism

Job description

All the details

From Merchandising and Marketing, Product Development and Design through to Supply Chain and Space Planning, our mission is to deliver stylish wardrobe, home, and beauty essentials through an inspiring, seamless shopping experience-both online and in store.

As we accelerate our transformation to meet the evolving needs of our customers, we're looking for results-driven individuals who combine a passion for great products with strong teamwork, creativity, and commercial focus to join us on this journey.

We now have an exciting opportunity for a Product Technologist to join our Kidswear team. In this role, you'll lead the technical development of market-leading products, overseeing specification, innovation, fit, safety, compliance, and ethical standards that set M&S apart from the competition.

To stay close to customers, our support teams are in the office three days a week as we believe that skills are developed through collaboration, and that spending time together makes us more creative and connected.

What's in it for you

Being a part of M&S is exactly that - becoming a part and playing your part. We're an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and always evolving business built on core values.

Here are some of the benefits we offer that make working for M&S just that little bit more special

• 20% Colleague discount on most things from furniture, fashion and food.
• A first-class welcome to M&S with a tailored induction and a wide range of training schemes to help with your learning and development. Having options to progress is something we're proud of at M&S.
• Attractive annual bonus, based on company performance and personal objectives.
• Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days!
• Amazing perks and discounts via our M&S Choices website. Including GymSave - that offers up to 25% off Gym Memberships and the option to become an M&S Shareholder using our ShareSave & ShareBuy Schemes
• Charity Volunteer Day - A paid day away from work to support your chosen charity.
• A very generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and Life Assurance
• Every colleague at M&S has access to a fantastic range of wellbeing support - this includes access to our 24/7 Virtual GP, PAM Assist to support you & your family as well as many other schemes

What you'll do

Your key accountabilities will include

• Deliver clear specifications on Design Tech packs & relevant tenders, to include fit, materials, blocks, size chart, construction, components and performance standards.
• Work with the Fit Development Studio, fit specialists, buying and design to deliver relevant blocks and seasonal trends incorporating customer feedback in the development. Including Sourcing Offices and suppliers where relevant
• Working closely with raw material suppliers and where relevant with the Central fabric technology team, to ensure quality feedback and innovation is embedded into the material strategy and seasonal material workshops
• Critical path - ensure all technical deadlines are met in line with BU critical path and continually working to optimise Leadtime whilst maintaining product technical standards
• Ensure all PLM data is accurate at tech pack stage to include material details and components added to BOM, blocks, measurements, colour coding, innovation and Plan A

Who you are

Your skills and experience will include

• Expert in the field of technology including patternmaking / fit and manufacturing of fabric / raw materials and promotional claims
• Multi tasked orientated working to tight timelines while maintaining entrepreneurialism
• Capable of interpreting customer data to shape future product development strategy
• Experience of briefing and specifying direct design sourced product, working with Buying and Design teams to create Tech Packs
• Ability to manage departmental data and leverage M&S systems to enable strategic reporting

We are ambitious about the future of retail. We're disrupting, innovating, and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We're transforming how we work together and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. Marks & Spencer strives to be an inclusive organisation, trusted, and admired by our colleagues, customers, and suppliers. Join us and make change happen.

We are committed to building diverse and representative teams, where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and be at their best. We support each other and work together to win together.

If you feel you'd benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please don't hesitate to let us know when completing your application. This information will be picked up by our team, so we can try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.