Garment & Textile Technician Job Description

JOB TITLE: GARMENT & TEXTILE TECHNICIAN

JOB TYPE: FULL TIME

LOCATION: BAYSWATER, VIC

REPORTS TO: PRODUCTION & DESIGN MANAGER

DIRECT REPORTS: NONE


JOB SUMMARY

The role of the Garment & Textile Technician is primarily to deliver and maintain a design leading product range by utilising experience with apparel development with a keen focus on quality and compliance standards. This includes creation of patterns, coordinating fit review with sample feedback, managing apparel labelling and trims and care labels. The role includes production coordination, working with our global suppliers to deliver on the brand’s critical path, quality and testing management. 

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Development

  • Work across multiple textile & hardgoods categories to focus on but not limited to apparel (baby, children & adult)
  • Collaborate with the design team to translate design concepts into technical specifications and provide technical support and problem solving in textile construction
  • Work with design & production team regarding size specification to accuracy within design packs, ensuring comments are clear and detailed
  • Create and review technical packs (tech packs) including detailed garment construction, measurements, and fabric requirements, care & brand labels and ensure that suppliers are aware of all required testing prior to commencing sampling.
  • Develop, set and review patterns, blocks & fits and keep a clear recording system
  • Ensure garments are developed to the correct specifications, with attention to fit, quality, and production efficiency
  • Liaise with suppliers regarding all quality, testing, construction, and fit issues to ensure quality outcome in final production
  • Nominate accurate and appropriate care labels along with correct fabric testing requirements for easy customer care, enabling quality to meet the lifetime of the garment
  • Support the fabric development process and ensure all fabrics are fit for purpose, meet testing requirements
  • Provide ongoing technical assistance to the product team, ensuring all technical aspects are addressed
  • Schedule, conduct & manage fit sessions with a keen eye on time management, making necessary adjustments to patterns and samples to achieve the desired fit and look
  • Assist in the review of product samples with production & design team to confirm acceptance or provide feedback for adjustments, where needed and ensure all approved samples are correctly tagged & stored.
  • Actively participate and attend apparel/how-to-wear shoots to assist on set
  • Stay informed on industry, ACCC and global requirements to ensure compliance and minimise risk
  • Create & maintain construction manuals including:
    • Sizing & grading for apparel
    • Stitching methods
    • Finishing standards 
    • Construction changes 
    • Risk assessment on fabric & construction

Production Coordination

  • Manage the production process from initial sampling to final bulk production, ensuring timelines and budgets are met
  • Coordinate with suppliers and internal teams to manage production schedules, lead times and delivery deadlines
  • Conduct thorough evaluations of new online brand products to ensure compliance with all relevant legal and safety standards
  • Managing the onboarding process of suppliers to ensure all required certifications and documentation are current and reviewed
  • Develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers and production partners
  • Coordinate with suppliers and internal teams to manage production schedules, lead times, and delivery deadlines
  • Monitor the quality of all programs during the production process and implement quality control measures to address any issues, continuously assessing / improve production processes to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and maintain high-quality standards
  • Ensure that production processes align with the brand’s sustainability goals, including waste reduction and ethical manufacturing practices
  • Facilitate fabric supplier meetings to drive our sustainability goals, supporting to keep the fabric library up to date and relevant 
  • Attend and contribute to pre-production handover meetings via close liaison with design, production and customer care stakeholders to ensure selected products are suitable and compliant for bulk manufacture, performance, presentation, and customer expectations 
  • Work with the design team to ensure the samples are checked, approved, correctly labelled and stored
  • Process Improvement:
    • Continuously assess and improve production processes to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and maintain high-quality standards
    • Implement new technologies and methodologies to streamline production and improve product quality

Supplier & Vendor Relations

  • Set up and manage 3rd party inspections inline with production schedules & critical path followed by review and management of inspection reports and actions required
  • Implement new technologies and methodologies to streamline production and improve product quality

Team Engagement

  • Active willingness to dive in and help where necessary; to learn, develop and support the team with demonstrated strong organisational skills
  • Engage and participate fully in training initiatives, including but not limited to inclusion + diversity workshops and personal + professional development 
  • Actively participate & demonstrate behaviour that aligns with our values of accountability, authenticity, belonging, creativity and excellence
  • General duties & responsibilities of all team members, in our culture of supporting and assisting others when needed include but are not limited to:
    • During high volume times, as directed by management (online sales, collection release, pre-order arrivals, etc), assist in the warehouse
    • Assist with warehouse sales, including working weekends where required
    • Assist team with maintaining general tidiness of warehouse and office areas 
    • Assist with seasonal events including trade show bump in and bump out, as needed

 

ABOUT YOU:

Experience and Qualifications

  • Degree in Textile Technology or relevant experience
  • 5+ years’ experience in a similar role with focus on garment construction and technical expertise across multiple product areas
  • Demonstrated expertise in womens & childrens apparel fit and pattern making with deep understanding of garment specifications, technical fit and grading
  • Strong knowledge of garment production processes, including pattern making, fit and quality control, and fabric sourcing
  • Proven experience in managing production timelines and coordinating with suppliers and manufacturers
  • Knowledge of sustainability practices in the fashion industry is a plus
  • Experience working directly with global factories and fabric mills
  • Strong technical background in fabric construction, dyeing and finishing. 
  • Proficient in Google docs and MS Office with focus on Excel and Outlook
  • Experience working in Adobe Illustrator is a plus
  • Knowledge of Australian standards for textile products and ideally a working knowledge of global standards

Skills and Behaviours

  • A thorough grasp of critical path and production timeline management, coupled with excellent time management skills
  • Solutions focused with a meticulous approach to organisation and the foresight to anticipate and solve problems
  • The ability to manage risk and make quick decisions when needed
  • Excellent attention to detail and ability to maintain high standards of quality
  • Strong organisational and problem-solving skills
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and with offshore suppliers
  • Being proactive and quick thinking to fix issues to meet delivery dates on the critical path 
  • Ability to establish effective relationships to collaborate, persuade and influence at all levels
  • Able to shape & lead initiatives/change projects
  • Can interpret and analyse data and propose actions to drive positive change.
  • Assertive, resilient, and tenacious with the ability to work well under pressure and overcome setbacks

 

SAGE X CLARE KEY COMPETENCIES:

  • Accountability
    • Thoughtful, decisive, and aware of the energy that you bring to the workspace
    • Actively take responsibility for ensuring behaviour and communication is in line with best practice diversity and inclusion principles and actively prioritises diversity and inclusion in the workplace 
    • Reflection on and ownership of mistakes with willingness to discuss them in an open and honest way
    • Treat colleagues with respect and compassion by responding when appropriate in a timely and professional manner
    • Ability to work autonomously with full ownership and under pressure to meet deadlines, which could entail last minute, after hours work if required
    • Be a highly motivated, self-starter with superior time-management skills and the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment while respecting the workflow and time of the broader team with ability to be flexible if project calendar changes
    • Positive, can-do & highly motivated attitude and self-starter mindset with a relentless drive towards quality and consistency, superior time-management skills and the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
  • Authenticity
    • Ability to take and receive feedback in a respectful and clear way understanding that ‘clear is kind’
    • Transparent intentions and motivations
    • Ability to be resilient, assertive, optimistic and open to change 
    • Ability to clearly & effectively present to internal stakeholders and customers
  • Excellence
    • Strive to do the best whether that is in daily work, collaborating with team members, in general communication, or with external stakeholders
    • Meticulous attention to detail at all times to deliver a high standard & quality of work
    • Capable of managing workflow with the changing & competing priorities of a business, you understand that your flexibility will help you develop and grow along with the business
    • Proactive approach to deliver a high standard quality of work
    • Keen ability & initiative to utilise systems and professional experience to solve problems, find solutions & overcome obstacles
    • Positive & can-do attitude with a relentless drive towards quality and consistency
    • Exercise independent judgement to meet the customers needs while considering the needs of the business
  • Creativity
    • Innovative and willing to challenge the status quo
    • Tackle problems in a multi-faceted way, looking at problems with curiosity from different perspectives and with varied input
    • Adept at dealing with ambiguity
    • Keen ability to solve problems and overcome obstacles 
    • Ability to balance multiple & competing priorities in workload and deliverables
    • Be able to express the company’s views creatively using the brand tone of voice
  • Belonging
    • Communicate in a clear, kind, inclusive and honest way while demonstrating care and compassion to all
    • Proactively participate in, promote and commit to inclusion, equity and diversity
    • Excellent communication skills, self-motivated and personable with strong values and integrity a must 
    • Build sustainable relationships of trust with colleagues & customers through open and interactive communication, ability to respectfully work with diverse teams and personality types
    • Top notch active listening skills, ensuring full understanding of message before making a decision or reacting to make an effective and timely decision
  • Strong Business Acumen
    • Maintain a thorough understanding of our products, pricing & terms and delivery information so that questions can be answered timely, accurately and efficiently
    • Commercially focused with sound business acumen 
    • Demonstrated project management & planning experience
    • Provide accurate, valid and complete information by using the right methods and tools
    • Team player that understands how to work within the business framework, considering the entire team in decisions and requests
    • Strong project management, highly organised and detail oriented
  • Dealing with Ambiguity
    • You’re comfortable with changing & competing priorities and ad hoc needs of a growing business, you understand that your flexibility will help you develop and grow along with the business
    • Keen ability to solve problems and overcome obstacles
    • Confidence, patience, politeness, tact and diplomacy when dealing with difficult situations
  • Team & Customer Focused
    • Build sustainable relationships of trust with colleagues through open and interactive communication
    • Ability to respectfully work with diverse teams and personality types
    • Ability to clearly & effectively present to internal stakeholders, team and customers
    • Interpersonal communication skills driving positive relationships & partnerships 
    • Communicate and coordinate with team members as necessary, being mindful of others schedules & workloads
    • Team player that understands how to work within the business framework, considering the entire team in decisions and requests 
    • Ability to remain calm & clear when team members and/or customers are frustrated, stressed or upset