What are the responsibilities and job description for the Material & Trim Developer position at CHAMPRO?
About Us:
Champro® is a privately-owned sporting goods and apparel manufacturer that has been in business for 30 years. We deliver high-value, traditional & innovative athletic equipment and apparel via outstanding, integrity-driven customer service. Our business philosophy is focused on our customers and we take pride in providing them with the best overall values in team sports products.
Position:
This role will support and manage the research and development of all trim materials for sports uniforms and sportswear apparel according to the design brief and budget.
Responsibilities:
Responsible for building and maintaining effective working relationships with vendors, developing a strong working knowledge of vendor capability and availability to meet demands
Seasonal research, development and presentation to designers of new concepts in all trim materials
In conjunction with the Product Development and Design teams, agree and implement the trim development critical path. Ensuring deadlines are adhered to and follow up on all development issues to resolve and drive to completion. Identifying, calling out and making recommendations to mitigate any risks/challenges identified at all stages
Responsible for ordering and delivering trims on time, to the quality standard, and within cost price range, to achieve target margin
Ensuring the functionality (including consistency and standardisation) of products that are developed are fit for purpose for the customer, brand and business. This includes ongoing risk assessment during the development process and proactivity in taking actions as a result
Responsible for collaborating with the Product teams while developing the collections for product testing to relevant standards, leveraging their technical knowledge and negotiating any aesthetic changes to protect the design vision
Support production meetings follow ups at vendors, technical requirements of all proto and samples in preparation for production
Ensure fabrics and trims are sourced to meet quality standards and work with the Quality Control team for testing and approvals
Accountable for ensuring PLM is kept updated with 100% accuracy at all times.
Hand internal samples off to Merchandising. Allocate sample to Sales team via DC
Other duties as assigned.
Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in Apparel, Merchandising, or related field
Ability to work in partnership with Productt Manager and Designers, understanding and interpreting their creative aesthetic and design vision and translating this to teams and vendors
Technical capability and product knowledge with ability to confidently influence the Design team and provide on the spot solutions in raw material trim development
Experience managing vendor relationships, delivering clear briefs and leveraging relationships to meet demands
Critical path management ensuring collections are delivered on time, identifying, calling out and making recommendations to mitigate any risks/challenges identified
Able to manage within a budget with commercial awareness and understanding of product cost, achieving a balance between creativity and commercial implications throughout the product development process
Demonstrated expert technical product knowledge, including specifics on areas such as knit, construction, pattern cutting, fabric construction, raw material (woven and yarns)
Demonstrated experience working on site with vendors and operational knowledge of factories, delivering clear briefs and leveraging relationships and availability to meet demands
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to negotiate with credibility, share information effectively, and work confidently with cross functional teams
In depth knowledge of fashion and products in relevant category –‘fashion sensibility’ - knowledge of trends, the market, the luxury consumer, and peer awareness
Computer skills: PLM, excel, indesign
Company Culture:
We are proud to offer eligible associates a full-range of benefits including medical, dental, vision and life insurance, as well as short-term and long-term disability, 401K, Profit Sharing, paid time off, holidays, and reimbursement toward gym membership fees. A collaborative atmosphere working together to exceed our customers’ expectations, as well as, an Equal Opportunity Employer bringing together diverse individuals to develop new and innovative solutions
Salary : $80,000 - $87,000
