Product Technologist - Home Textiles

Ulster Weavers Home Ltd; Little Hulton; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job description

Job Title: Product Technologist - Home Textiles

Location: Unit 2, Ravenscraig Road, Little Hulton, M38 9PU

Salary: Competitive

Job type: Full Time - Permanent. 8.30am - 5pm Monday to Thursday, 4pm on Friday.

WFH: 1-2 days a week.

The Company:

UW Home is a home textiles company and part of the John Hogg group. With over 100 years of service, the business has built strong relationships with many of the UK's leading home furnishing retailers, independents, mail order and e-commerce companies, working with them to create and deliver market leading designs that go on to become best-selling collections.

With a passion for design, a focus on innovation and commitment to providing high quality products, UW Home has set the standard in readymade curtains, bedding, cushions, accessories and kitchen textiles in the home furnishings market.

Job Overview:

An exciting opportunity for a Product Technologist in the Home Furnishings industry, supplying UK High Street retail and e-commerce sectors. Your job is to ensure a product moves from its design and development stage into the hands of the retailer or end user. You will work closely with internal stakeholders, overseas manufacturers and the customer to fully meet or exceed expectations for product compliance, quality, packaging, sustainability, on time delivery and end user performance.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Work closely and collaboratively with teams across the business.
2. Evaluate new developments/products to ensure they are suitable for bulk manufacture and compliant with UK/EU statutory requirements, meet performance requirements and customer expectation.
3. Attend and contribute to pre-production & handover meetings via close liaison with Design, Development and Customer Account stakeholders.
4. Issue detailed product and packaging specifications to overseas manufacturers.
5. Populate, maintain and manage relevant sections of a detailed critical path to ensure timely product launch. Communicate with overseas manufacturers to ensure key milestones are met.
6. Attend & contribute to weekly critical path meetings.
7. Take responsibility for assigned product categories. Provide regular updates with internal and external stakeholders.
8. Review strike-offs, bulk fabric, packaging proofs and red/gold seal samples against standards to ensure compliance to internal and customer requirements. Communicate appropriate approvals and rejections back to the supplier.
9. Hold suppliers accountable and maintain KPIs. Encourage 'right first time' sample submission within agreed deadlines.
10. Ensure products are tested to relevant standards and perform product risk assessments where appropriate.
11. Review test reports to ensure products are compliant and meet specified standards.
12. Deal quickly and effectively with daily email communications to and from suppliers, customers and internal stakeholders.
13. Evaluate pre-shipment inspection reports in partnership with our overseas teams.
14. Analyse product returns, faults and customer complaints to resolve issues quickly and efficiently.

Skills and Experience:

1. Must have experience in a similar role, ideally within Home Textiles.
2. Technical knowledge of products, specifications and testing.
3. A good understanding of manufacturing methods and quality standards.
4. Ability to understand and follow a critical path and work to deadlines.
5. Organised, and capable of prioritising multiple tasks.
6. Exceptional attention to detail.
7. Experience using Adobe Illustrator desirable, but not essential.
8. A strong communicator with ability to present confidently via email, audio conferencing and face to face with internal stakeholders, suppliers and customers.
9. Ability to work effectively in a high volume, fast paced environment.
10. Competent using Microsoft Excel, Word and Office.

Benefits Package:

Salary commensurate with experience
Pension plan with 3% employer contribution
Death in Service Life Assurance
Employee discounts on all products
Employee Assistance Program

Candidates with the relevant experience or job titles of: Product Manager, Product Officer, Home Textiles Product Manager, Home Textiles Product Officer, Product Technologist, may also be considered for this role.