A leading multinational apparel brand is seeking a highly skilled Technical Design Manager to join its sourcing business. This role leads the technical development of outdoor apparel, ensuring product safety, construction excellence, and risk management across multiple vendors and regions.
Key Responsibilities
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Lead the technical design function for outdoor apparel from development to bulk, ensuring consistent fit, construction, and workmanship standards across all styles.
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Drive garment product safety risk assessment, working with QA, Compliance, and Testing labs to identify hazards, define requirements, and ensure all products meet global regulatory and brand standards.
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Evaluate construction and engineering of garments at each development stage, proactively identifying risk (e.g. seam strength, trims, drawcords, small parts, flammability, chemical requirements) and driving corrective actions with vendors.
Outdoor And Construction Focus
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Specialize in outdoor apparel categories such as outerwear, performance layers, and technical sportswear, with strong understanding of functional construction, materials, and performance requirements (weather protection, durability, comfort, mobility).
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Partner closely with Design, PD, and Sourcing to translate design intent into commercially viable, technically sound products, balancing aesthetics, function, cost, and safety.
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Lead fit sessions and approve patterns/construction, ensuring grading, size sets, and fit standards are appropriate for outdoor use and end-consumer expectations.
Product Safety And Risk Management
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Own the garment product safety risk assessment process: build and maintain risk assessment matrices, define critical construction standards, and ensure appropriate testing plans are in place by product type and market.
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Partner with internal compliance teams to implement and maintain SOPs on safety, construction, and quality, and roll out requirements and training to the vendor base.
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Review test reports and factory capabilities, troubleshoot failures with vendors, and implement preventive measures and best practices across the sourcing base.
Vendor And Cross-Functional Leadership
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Act as a key technical contact for global sourcing offices, vendors, and factories, providing clear, construction-focused technical packages, comments, and approvals.
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Coach vendors on construction, risk assessment, and safety requirements for outdoor garments, elevating technical capability and consistency across the supply base.
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Collaborate with Design, Merchandising, Raw Materials, and Production Planning to ensure timelines, quality standards, and risk mitigation plans are aligned each season.
Qualifications
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Degree in Apparel Technology, Fashion Engineering, Pattern Cutting, or related discipline.
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8+ years' experience in technical design / garment technical development, preferably within an MNC buying or sourcing office, including significant outdoor / outerwear category exposure.
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Deep expertise in garment construction, fit, patternmaking, and grading, with proven experience in product safety risk assessment and working with international safety/quality standards.
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Strong communication skills in English (and Chinese preferred), with the ability to influence cross-functional partners and vendors; experienced in working with overseas factories and PLM / digital fitting tools is a plus.
