Company Description:
The Barbour story began in 1894 in South Shields in the North East of England. Founder John Barbour began supplying oilskins and other garments to protect the growing community of sailors, fishermen and dockers. Still family owned and now fifth generation, Barbour HQ remains in South Shields. Under the leadership of Chairman Dame Margaret Barbour, Barbour has grown into a lifestyle brand sold in over 55 countries worldwide including Europe, the US and Asia offering a wardrobe of stylish functional clothing, footwear and accessories inspired by the unique values of the British countryside. The iconic Barbour Bedale and Barbour Beaufort wax jackets continue to be made by hand in the factory in South Shields. In 2020, Barbour launched Wax for Life, an overarching name for all of Barbour’s wax services designed to encourage customers to extend the life of their wax garments. Wax for Life includes re-waxing and repairs (first introduced in 1921) and Barbour Re-Loved an upcycling circularity initiative. Each year over 70,000 wax garments are sent back to Barbour globally to be repaired, rewaxed or altered.
Position Overview:
We currently have a rare opportunity for a Head of Technical to join our Menswear team based at Barbour House, South Shields. As the Menswear Head of Technical, you will lead the product tech teams from development through to production, ensuring all men’s apparel meets the company’s high standards for quality, durability and craftmanship. You will oversee both Outerwear and Clothing technical teams and collaborate closely with Design, Supply Chain/QA and Suppliers to deliver market leading products that embody the Barbour brands rich heritage, in line with commercial needs and critical path deadlines. You will be a key and valued member of the Men’s Senior Team and will be pivotal in driving our 5yr strategy in product and sourcing plans.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
* Lead and manage the Technical Mangers, ensuring alignment with our standards and business objectives. Foster a culture of working hard together and continuous improvement.
* Manage the Tech teams (Outerwear & Clothing) in all aspects of product development through to sealing samples, encouraging strong link with the Design teams and Supply Chain.
* Deliver an optimised E2E product development, sealing and fitting processes across the menswear department to ensure quality & cost is built at the early development stage.
* Implement and drive the agreed 5yr product placement plan (wax, jersey & knits). Visiting the priority manufacturing sites, assess their ability to produce Barbour products.
* Develop strong partnerships with global supply chain partners both current and new, to ensure high standards and address complex development and production challenges.
* With your team ensure we are constantly assessing suppliers to understand their strengths and capabilities and identify gaps and weaknesses in the supply base.
* Act as the opinion leader and subject matter expert for product quality, defining & embedding technical metrics, including product performance and construction standards
* Lead departmental / business initiatives (such as PDP and Sustainability goals.), bringing energy and enthusiasm. Establish yourself as the key point of contact for men’s tech and help implement and engage the tech teams.
* Demonstrate an excellent understanding of our key markets and how the business is changing. Ensuring product manufacturing decisions are aligned to this with quality, speed to market and cost being a priority.
* Set your team, clear yearly objectives, linked to the business needs and department goals. Ensure continued team assessment, identifying high performance, skill gaps and training needs.
* Oversee tech managers travel planning ensuring these are efficient and budgeted.
Skills and Experience:
* Preferred - Degree in Garment Technology/ Fashion or related equivalent.
* Experience in a similar level role
* Outstanding understanding of Menswear apparel (fabrics, fits and competitors etc).
* Previous use of PLM system/s or similar.
* Long established experience of working with suppliers
* Outstanding, effective problem solving and decision-making skills.
* Proactive, assertive, organised, capable of prioritising workload and able to deliver to given timelines.
* Strong people management skills – ability to lead a management team is a most.
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
* All-round IT skills.
* Demonstrate an understanding of the Barbour brand positioning, it’s heritage and competitor brands.
Additional Information:
* This role will require an extensive amount of travel both in the UK and Internationally.
Benefits:
* Discretionary Company bonus scheme
* Staff discount
* Staff shop
* Healthcare cash plan
* 25 days holiday as standard increasing with length of service plus bank holidays
* Free onsite parking
* Subsidised canteen
Note: In the event that a sufficient volume of suitable applications are received, the post may close prior to the specified closing date. Please apply as soon as possible if interested.