Topshop / Topman - Lead Garment Technologist

ASOS; England; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading British fashion retailer is hiring for a role focused on optimizing product development processes. The position requires strong experience in technical standards and a proactive approach to problem-solving. Successful candidates will join a dynamic team dedicated to quality and efficiency in fashion production, with competitive benefits including employee discounts and personal development opportunities.

Benefits

Employee discount

Personal development opportunities

Access to LinkedIn Learning

25 days of paid annual leave

Discretionary bonus scheme

Private medical care

Flexible benefits allowance

Qualifications

• Proven experience with UK and offshore retailers.
• Strong technical knowledge of testing, construction, and production.
• Comprehensive knowledge of product testing standards.
• Excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver optimized product development processes.
• Support sourcing and technical strategy.
• Formulate and deliver digital product development strategy.
• Monitor technical KPIs and ensure quality.

Skills

Experience with product technical standards

Knowledge of product testing

Strong communication skills

Proactive problem-solving

Job description

Job Responsibilities

1. Deliver an optimized E2E product development, sealing, and fitting processes across all departments to ensure quality is built at the very early development stage.
2. Support in driving a sourcing, fabric-first, and technical strategy to support the business in delivering best-in-class products.
3. Formulate and deliver a digital 3D product development strategy for suppliers and at the departmental level.
4. Support fabric/trims sourcing processes and implement strategies to meet technical strategy and overall business KPIs.
5. Formulate and implement technical bulletins and best practices to deliver consistency in workflows and increase the right-first-time fit approval rate.
6. Collaborate with offshore production and technical teams to support building the supply chain of the future, including management processes, tools, and manufacturing technologies.
7. Support building technical capabilities within the supplier base to deliver quality, ensuring the right product is placed in the right factory with optimal cost and lead time.
8. Continuously monitor departmental and supplier technical KPIs and scorecards to meet overall business KPIs and quality standards.
9. Lead departmental initiatives and ad hoc projects to ensure quality consistency across product types, speed to market, and cost savings.
10. Develop and lead a high-performance team with the necessary skill sets and commitment to achieve or exceed business results.

Company Overview

TOPSHOP and TOPMAN are iconic British fashion brands with 60 years of heritage, headquartered in London. The brands reach over 2 million customers worldwide through the ASOS platform, generating approximately £200 million in sales. Our mission is to unlock the best of fashion for everyone, emphasizing creativity and innovation.

Following the formation of a joint venture between ASOS and HEARTLAND in October 2024, ASOS is creating a dedicated, standalone cross-functional team to unlock the growth potential of TOPSHOP and TOPMAN. The brands will benefit from ASOS's infrastructure and resources while maintaining creative independence and agility.

In the next 12 months, TOPSHOP and TOPMAN will expand their offline and online retail presence, including the launch of Topshop.com and new wholesale partnerships.

Candidate Requirements

• Proven experience working with UK and offshore retailers, suppliers, or manufacturers on product technical and quality standards.
• Strong technical knowledge of product testing, construction, fitting, sealing, production, and supply chain management gained in retail or manufacturing environments.
• Comprehensive knowledge of product testing standards, both technical and legal.
• Excellent communication skills, clear and objective.
• Strong work ethic with integrity.
• Proactive problem-solving skills.

What’s in it for you?

• Employee discount (hello ASOS discount!)
• Opportunities for personal development across the business
• Employee sample sales
• Access to extensive LinkedIn Learning resources
• 25 days of paid annual leave plus an extra celebration day for special moments
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Private medical care scheme
• Flexible benefits allowance, which can be taken as extra cash or used for other benefits