Fabric Technologist

at  Rohan Designs Ltd

Rohan is a leading outdoor company who loves creating high quality products. We have an exciting opportunity within our Materials Team, based at our Head Office in Milton Keynes. If you are an experienced Fabric Technologist looking to work across outdoor apparel and accessories, covering multiple product categories including waterproof jackets, walking trousers, and active jersey tops, then read on..

Key Requirements & Skills:

• Educated to degree or similar qualification in a Textile related discipline
• Minimum 5 years experience in a similar role and/or business
• Knowledge and understanding of technical apparel and sportswear a must have
• Knowledge, understanding and appreciation of Outdoor and Travel activities is a benefit
• Ability and willingness to travel within UK, EU and Asia if required
• Self-motivated and wanting to learn and develop skills and knowledge
• Organized and methodical approach to work, driven by attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and within multiple teams
• Effective communicator
• Excellent project management skills
• Strong understanding of Microsoft office and PowerPoin

As part of the Materials team, the Fabric Technologist will support the Product Department with the sourcing, development and production of premium fabrics and materials, in line with the agreed strategy, ensuring maximised profit margins, and adhering to Rohan brand and quality standards .Working across multiple product and fabric categories, you will deliver compelling and innovative fabrics and materials, driving product aesthetics while retaining commercial viability and required performance attributes. This role will also play a key part in driving our compliance and sustainability goals and targets. The Fabric Technologist will play a key role in building strong relationships between Rohan and the fabric and materials suppliers, ensuring that standards and specifications are understood and development and production deadlines are met.

Key Objectives:

• Developing and delivering market leading performance materials aligned to seasonal briefs, utilising our brand five pillars of protective, lightweight, packable, easy-care and versatile.
• Collaborate with Designers to source and select fit for purpose fabrics for each product and identify new fabric concepts and trends in the market place.
• Manage fabric developments from concept through to technical approval, to align with the fabric strategy and seasonal calendar deadlines
• Support the entire fabric development process and ensure all fabric are fit for purpose and commercialised.
• Participate in or lead projects on the sourcing and development of fabrics
• Maintain knowledge and expertise in the latest technical developments in fibre, finishes, construction, and market trends, and its application to the final products.
• Build advanced fabric expertise and network of industry contacts and sources
• Develop and maintain up-to-date knowledge of sustainable and low-impact ideas, sharing information to support the product sustainability roadmap and targets
• Ensure all materials meet Rohan’s performance attributes, quality standards, testing requirements and sustainability requirements to support marketing claims (waterproof, DWR, wicking, odour management, UPF, etc) and all standards are met from product brief to production
• Input accurate and up to date material information on the Range Grid database to align with information in the BOM, Commercial sheets, testing results and latest sample
• Organising and tracking product and fabric laboratory and wear tests to ensure all test reports are completed and approved

Key Requirements & Skills:

• Educated to degree or similar qualification in a Textile related discipline
• Minimum 5 years experience in a similar role and/or business
• Knowledge and understanding of technical apparel and sportswear a must have
• Knowledge, understanding and appreciation of Outdoor and Travel activities is a benefit
• Ability and willingness to travel within UK, EU and Asia if required
• Self-motivated and wanting to learn and develop skills and knowledge
• Organized and methodical approach to work, driven by attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and within multiple teams
• Effective communicator
• Excellent project management skills
• Strong understanding of Microsoft office and PowerPoint