Product Developer - Clothing - IN

In a nutshell

Product development expert supporting delivery of the Clothing Design Strategy that keeps Tu clothing relevant for all its customers. You will work within the guidelines of the Tu Brand handwriting and be obsessed with supporting suppliers to deliver product to surprise, delight and exceed our customers’ expectations.

You will do this by demonstrating design thinking and the ability to work on broader initiatives whilst being adept at switching your focus to more detailed commercial delivery when it is appropriate to do so.

What you need to do

• Responsible for product development from concept design, supplier briefings, through to launch, liaising with UK Design, Global Sourcing, Product Technologists and UK Buyers to ensure that the critical path targets and priorities are met.
• You will have an eye for new trends in the Asia markets – and will identify new commercial product opportunities that meet category & marketing growth plans & share market intel regularly with UK design teams.
• You will support in-country suppliers to develop commercial & competitive product ranges according to our target customer profiles aligned with Design team in the UK
• You will translate design packs/briefs/broader direction issued by the UK team – coaching suppliers in the Tu Brand Handwriting to ensure right first-time samples and deliver improved sample hit rate KPI.
• Stay attuned with fabric trends, sourcing & innovation & share regular intel back with design teams in UK
• Work within the given price framework and quality criteria for own label products, achieve optimum product cost through effective design and engineering of product with suppliers in collaboration with Sourcing teams.
• Where relevant, review aesthetic fit (green seal sign off) working with Technologist to ensure the right commercial fit for our customer.
• Know our customer – Stay informed of our target customer. Be obsessed with building knowledge of the UK market and Tu customers by knowing our customer handwriting boards and understanding when customer shifts occur.
• Partner with Global Sourcing to build strong relationships with Global Supply Base. Be the eyes and ears of the Product Teams in Asia – delivering significant competitive advantage by being close to product source.
• Support the reset Clothing Sourcing model
• Support suppliers moving to full empowerment model for product approvals as & when required
• Record and manage sample hit rate of a) UK inhouse designs & b) supplier designs from UK commercial requests
• Support Global Sourcing with evaluating and reviewing new suppliers, assessing product quality and design capability.
• Work collaboratively with Sourcing teams to agree suppliers to brief at the onset. Collaborate with Technical teams to risk assess any new products at the onset.
• Support In-country development trips of UK design & buying teams ensuring suppliers show up at their best & follow up developments actioned on the trip
• Seek out inspiration from external sources including trend books, trade fairs, inspirational shops, museums, galleries etc as well as internet research.
• Be a champion for sustainability through both how we do things and the product we deliver. Seek out new sustainability opportunities with our factories and share intel.
• Understanding of trade and assess opportunities and respond to sales at pace for country.
• Consistently deliver on outcome and communicate clear plans and goals to others.
• Look to resolve problems independently but ask for support when necessary.
• Follow up samples with suppliers, ensure critical path compliance while making sure right first-time samples are sent over to UK post first review in country
• Ensure the product/range offer is delivered to our standards expectations & quality and continuously look for opportunities to build a great customer experience.
• Implement sustainability opportunities into the range and be accountable for its delivery from design.
• Drive operational excellence and identify opportunities to deliver efficiency within the team and business.
• Know your supply base strengths and be a country expert for design. Assess the value for each season and what they offer.
• Demonstrate your leadership skills by role modelling our Sainsburys values.
• Support the commercial seasonal Strategy by being the voice for design in your country.
• Be solution focused, lead and drive key priorities.

What you need to know & show

• Demonstrable experience working in Clothing Design or Product development within a retail environment – ideally with experience and understanding of the UK market dynamics, as well as understanding international retail dynamics that influence UK customer behavior.
• Multi product categories and multi fabric base experience.
• Be curious: discover and investigate new opportunities to evolve our business beyond your functional area.
• Strong commercial awareness.
• Extensive knowledge of fabrics, manufacturing processes and working with suppliers, including product and cost engineering, as well as pattern cutting.
• Computer literate with the ability to use Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop to a high standard, ability to create design packs and CAD. Experience and understanding of 3D digital design would be an advantage.
• Articulate; ability to communicate ideas and creative thinking, confident in translating trends and inspiration into Suppliers and in-house stakeholders.
• Be culturally aware: you will be working within a diverse, multi-cultural team.
• Role model positive and agile ways of working with all areas of the business; facilitating an environment that delivers at pace and iterates from learning.
• Show capability to be a strategic thinker who puts the customer at the heart of decision-making, striking the balance between driving business metrics & longer-term objectives.
• Role model positive leadership behaviors, working within a values-driven culture, where all colleagues can be themselves and fulfil their potential.
• Show a high degree of self-awareness, understand the benefit of continuing professional development and exhibit a deep passion for continuous learning and seek to provide and share knowledge widely.
• Consistently exceeds results through the setting of high standards, and galvanizing others around common objectives.
• Clearly and respectfully speak your mind and proactively seek to understand the changing business needs, work collaboratively with team members to problem solve.
• Try new ways of doing things that make things simpler, taking learnings and always look for a simpler cost-effective approach.
• Be curious about the wider business and seek opportunities to improve design input for yourself and wider team.
• Own the design critical path and support the development and production critical paths to ensure business deadlines are met. Manage suppliers during development to ensure key critical path dates are met.
• Be Proactive and anticipate any potential issues, problem solving and driving resolution where necessary.
• Plan, coordinate, and deliver in country showcase for in country develop meetings.
• Agile working and demonstrate working at PACE.