Technologist - Footwear & Accessories

NEW LOOK; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff discount

Pension

Virtual GP

Life assurance

Extra leave

Birthday day off

Parental leave

Cycle to work

Retail Trust partnership

Job summary

New Look is seeking a Technologist with experience in Footwear & Accessories. You will drive the Quality Framework and ensure compliance with regulatory and brand standards while collaborating with product engineering and supplier management to improve value, cost, and lead times.

The role requires office presence four days a week and deputising for the Technical Manager. You will apply specialist knowledge of materials, construction, testing, risk assessment and quality standards across the

Qualifications

• Experience in Footwear & Accessories industry.
• Ability to translate product requirements into technical specifications.
• Strong knowledge of materials, construction and performance.
• Experience in risk assessment and regulatory compliance.
• Able to support cost and margin through quality engineering.

Responsibilities

• Owns and embeds the Quality Framework across the value chain.
• Translates business strategy into actionable quality objectives.
• Collaborates with BMD and suppliers to improve value, cost and lead time.
• Reviews test reports and makes commercially balanced decisions.
• Leads continuous improvement and shares knowledge across teams.
• Mentors the wider quality and BMD teams and deputises for the Technical Manager.

Skills

Footwear expertise

Quality assurance

Supplier management

Regulatory compliance

Product engineering

Leadership

Education

Technical qualification

Relevant degree

Job description

The Role:

We are looking for a Technologist who has experience within Footwear & Accessories.

Quality means consistently meeting customers' expectations whilst ensuring fitness for purpose and meeting regulatory requirements. Within your department you will drive the quality of the delivered products by driving the implementation of the New Look quality framework. To work with the wider teams to deliver better value, cost price and lead time through product engineering and supplier management. To apply your proven knowledge of quality assurance techniques and processes to drive continuous improvement and to set an example of what good look like to the wider quality and BMD teams Deputises in the absence of the Technical Manager. This role requires you to be in the office 4 days a week.

WHATS IN IT FOR YOU:

• 40% staff discount plus friends & family discounts throughout the year
• Access to our reward platform for external discount and offers
• Private pension scheme
• Virtual GP access for you and your children - it allows you to speak to a doctor at a time and date that suits you
• All employees are covered by our life assurance policy from day one
• Unlock extra leave with our buy more holiday scheme.
• Celebrate YOU! Enjoy an extra paid day off on your birthday each year
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave, and shared parental leave.
• Spread the cost of your commute with interest-free season ticket loans
• Do your bit for the environment and save money with our Cycle2Work scheme
• We're proud to partner with the Retail Trust and Fashion & Textile Children's Trust

What you'll be doing:

• Strategic Contribution: Understands the business strategy and translates it into actionable quality objectives within the product category, contributing to the wider quality team and representing the team in cross-business forums.
• Customer & Market Insight: Uses customer insight tools, store and DC visits, and market benchmarking to understand expectations and competitor advances, driving continuous product improvement.
• Quality Management: Owns and embeds the Quality Framework, ensuring robust assurance processes throughout the value chain and compliance with legal and brand standards.
• BMD Collaboration: Works closely with the BMD team to align quality processes with the departmental critical path, support trading activities, and influence decisions to meet customer expectations.
• Product & Manufacturing Expertise: Applies specialist knowledge of materials, construction, pattern technology, grading, and supplier capabilities to deliver products right first time, balancing cost, quality, and commercial value.
• Risk Assessment & Continuous Improvement: Acts as the risk assessment ambassador for the category, implementing corrective actions where standards fall short and embedding risk assessment within all quality processes.
• Technical Leadership: Mentors and upskills the wider quality and BMD teams, sharing knowledge to improve decision-making, purchasing practices, and product consistency.
• Innovation & Best Practice: Drives adoption of new technologies, feedback loops, and frameworks to deliver consistent, high-quality products, including overseeing test-and-learn initiatives.
• Team Development: Motivates, coaches, and develops direct reports, supporting personal growth, skills transfer, and deputising for the Technical Manager as required.
• Operational Excellence: Ensures packaging, labelling, and transit methods maintain brand consistency and product value, while proactively challenging processes to uphold customer standards.

Who you are:

Technical Knowledge:

• Specialist in Footwear & Accessories.
• Strong knowledge of Footwear construction, materials and product performance, with hands‑on experience of manufacturing environments.
• Confident in leading pre-production meetings and converting product requirements into clear technical specifications.
• Skilled in interpreting test reports and making solution-focused, commercially balanced decisions.
• Experienced in risk assessment, regulatory compliance and implementing quality standards across the value chain.
• Able to support Buying through open costing and product engineering to drive quality and margin.
• Proactive in benchmarking product for consistency, innovation and competitor comparison.
• Builds strong relationships across BMD teams and suppliers, using excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Demonstrates leadership capability, analytical strength and a collaborative approach to deliver results aligned to New Look values and strategy.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Previous experience as a Technologist within Footwear & Accessories
• Product specialist in chosen category Minimum level of education or qualifications
• Appropriate Technical Qualification / Other degree