Garment Technologist, Childrenswear Multi Product

River Island’s Garment / Product Tech department supports the Buying and Design teams to ensure product fit, quality and compliance align with the brand strategy and values across all markets and channels.

Department

Garment Tech

Location

Head Office, Chelsea House, West London

Key Accountabilities

• May be required to manage a junior member of the team – e.g. junior technologist / student – including mentoring, setting objectives and providing timely feedback.
• Leads the technical approval process for their department(s) and is the ‘go to’ person for all matters relating to technical standards.
• Identifies opportunities or risks that may lead to cross‑functional collaboration and initiatives.
• Works with suppliers and buying teams to establish opportunities for improvements.
• Leads the product development and approval process for the department to ensure delivery is compliant with all River Island standards including those of wholesale partners and all markets.
• Ensures River Island ways of working are followed by buyers, designers and suppliers for all technical processes to achieve KPIs of efficiency, consistency and right‑first‑time.
• Assesses risk of both production and safety prior to production and collaborates with supplier and buyer to minimise risk and ensure compliance.
• Approves test reports and Certificates of Compliance in line with our standards and manages failures in line with commercial limits and standards.
• Develops blocks and key shapes in collaboration with Buyer / Designer relevant to department and season, ensuring distribution and understanding of all relevant stakeholders.
• Contributes to the development and maintenance of the relevant grading tables for the department.
• Regularly reviews quality and fit of delivered product through store visits, wearer trials, fit squads, benchmarking exercises and ongoing analysis of customer returns; challenges suppliers where necessary to ensure standards are maintained or exceeded and fit remains consistent and relevant. Recommends appropriate actions to buying team where relevant.
• Maintains knowledge of current and changing global legislation and ensures compliance at product level.
• Contributes to setting, reviewing and communicating standards and manuals in collaboration with other River Island Technical/Compliance teams.
• Maintains regular communication with suppliers to encourage understanding of and commitment to River Island ways of working and achievement of fit and quality standards.
• Conducts regular reviews of supplier performance according to agreed KPIs and supports suppliers to improve.
• Feeds into the department supplier strategy – highlighting technical strengths and risks of key suppliers.
• Develops and empowers suppliers to take accountability for management of River Island processes.
• Supports sustainability team in achieving their objectives.
• Supports ethical team in achieving their objectives.

Key Experience Required

• Previous experience as a Technologist in a retail or manufacturing technical environment.
• Good understanding of sizing, pattern making and grading.
• Good relevant knowledge of fabrics, materials and components.
• Previous experience demonstrating a good knowledge and understanding of fit, manufacture, testing, compliance/legislation and other technical aspects relevant to the product area.
• Good experience of working across multiple sourcing locations.
• Supplier management experience.
• Strong interest in product and the River Island brand.

Benefits

• Generous 50% staff discount for latest products.
• On‑site staff shop.
• Discounts and benefits through the Retail Trust including financial advice and wellbeing solutions.
• Free on‑site gym, subsidised restaurant and café.
• Social events throughout the year.
• Support for all family setups, including maternity, paternity, adoption and fertility treatment.
• Flexible working and optional early finish Fridays.
• Give‑as‑you‑earn scheme with matched funding.
• Upskilling through on‑the‑job training and qualifications.
• Progression plan for career development.
• Generous bonus scheme and private pension plan.
• 25 days paid holiday plus option to purchase additional holiday twice a year.

Our Island is made up of a diverse community. We welcome applications from individuals regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio‑economic background, religion or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.

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