Junior Technologist (Footwear) London 2024

From our first store in the 1960s, a little Taunton shop with great clothes and even better prices, to an omni-channel business serving millions of customers… we're New Look.

Our purpose is always to inspire That New Look Feeling and we believe that starts with us. Our values motivate us every day: we play to win, we’re customer-obsessed and we work as one.

It's a busy and exciting time for the brand and we’re on the hunt for a Junior Footwear Technologist to join our growing Quality team.

The team

In Quality we make sure New Look exceed customers’ expectations of our product. All the attributes that enhance our broad fashion:  appearance, fit, comfort, performance, safety and legal compliance.  

We partner with Buying, Merchandising and Design, as well as Sourcing and Sustainability to make sure quality and value are designed and engineered into our products and our suppliers deliver products which meet the standards we have set.

We are good listeners, using customer insight and returns data for continuous improvement. Our Quality team work closely with our suppliers, they understand how products are constructed, the manufacturing processes involved and use this knowledge to assure quality, engineer product to price, and troubleshoot.

The role

We are looking for a Junior Footwear Technologist to join our Footwear Quality Team in our London Office. You will need to have previous experience in a similar role and have fitting and technical footwear skills.

• Maintain departmental quality, fit, testing and grading standards to uphold manual compliance with support from your manager
• Take responsibility for fitting and sealing of a department
• Work with design and supply base to develop product briefs, providing accurate measurement and fabric requirements
• Risk assess product and supplier capabilities to ensure correct quality standards are achievable
• Manage the product development process from first fit through to production, liaising with design, buying, merchandising, suppliers, franchise, international, supply chain and E-Commerce as required
• Understand product construction and suitability for mass production
• Understand how to adapt product to minimise costs
• Negotiate effectively with suppliers to achieve desired quality and fit objectives
• Ensure full understanding of packaging and labelling requirements to ensure consistency of brand and quality
• Conduct regular New Look store visits to identify faults and action improvements
• Monitor the market, identifying competitor advances in quality/ fit, and highlight to managers
• Monitor and manage weekly faulty returns using weekly reports and highlight to suppliers and BMD
• Review supplier compliance in a commercial manner to resolve DC on holds within 48 hours of ‘Supplier Compliance Authorisation’.
• Manage test reports through ‘Datalink’
• Complete factory/ testing laboratory/ distribution centre trips in line with departmental needs
• Provide reporting on quality and fit at department level in order to identify which areas to focus improvements with support from your manager.
• To be responsible for the motivation and development of direct reports in your department

About you

• Knowledge of all the footwear components that make up the product.
• Able to conduct a fit session with support.
• Able to measure a model confidently.
• A strong eye and ability to develop a product range with a consistent fit and quality
• Good influencing skills and resolution techniques
• Risk assessment skills
• Footwear Testing knowledge and understanding.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and influence the buying team and suppliers
• An understanding of grading and sizing regulations
• Numerical and analytical skills in order to review returns data.
• An understanding of manufacturing faults and how to prevent going forward.
• Understanding of supply chain issues, for example: lead times/ flexibility/ supplier capability
• Understanding of labelling, packaging and presentation of a product to include legal compliance
• The capability to perform under pressure and work in a fast paced environment.
• Degree level Fashion/ Footwear technical qualification plus two years of footwear technical experience
• Apprentice level 3/ 4 plus two years of technical experience

Why New Look?

The amazing people, the fashion – there are so many reasons to love working at New Look. We prioritise development, offering training to support your progression, so you can be your absolute best and achieve your goals. Being part of the New Look Team means you get access to a great range of benefits & perks …

• You’ll *love* our generous staff discount – 40% off for you and a loved one, and 25% off for up to 12 friends and family members!
• Get special access to hundreds of discounts from top retailers and gyms, along with free workout classes, on our rewards platform Runway.
• Plan for you retirement while you work with our contributory private pension scheme.
• Our family-friendly policies include enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave, and shared parental leave.
• Receive quick access to consultations and treatments with AXA Private Medical Scheme, paid for by us.
• Big trip on the cards? Unlock extra leave with our buy more holiday scheme.
• Celebrate YOU! Enjoy an extra paid day off on your birthday each year.
• Do your bit for the environment and save money with our Cycle2Work scheme.
• Spread the cost of your commute with interest-free season ticket loans.
• Running late? No worries, enjoy a free breakfast on us!
• We're proud to partner with the Retail Trust and Fashion & Textile Children's Trust