Product Technologist - Upholstery

Product Technologist - Upholstery

At Frasers Group we're rethinking retail. Through digital innovation and unique store experiences, we're serving our consumers with the world's best sports, premium and luxury brands globally. As a leader in the industry, we're elevating the retail experience for our consumers through our collection of established brands, including Sports Direct, FLANNELS, USC, Frasers, and GAME.

Why join us? Our vision – we are building the worlds most admired and compelling brand ecosystem Our purpose – we are elevating the lives of the many with access to the world's best brands and experiences

At Frasers Group, we fear less and do more. Our people are forward thinkers who are driven to operate outside of their comfort zone to change the future of retail, embracing challenges along the way. The potential to elevate your career is massive, the experience unrivalled. To be able to make the most of it you need to live and breathe our principles:

• Think without limits - Think fast, think fearlessly, and take the team with you
• Own it and back yourself - Own the basics, own your role and own the results
• Be relevant - Relevant to our people, our partners and the planet

Are you ready to join the Fearless?

Accountable for the setting, maintaining & monitoring of all legal, safety and technical aspects of sofa.com products.

Ensure knowledge of current and emerging legislation is relevant and up to date.

Ensure the relevant teams across the business have proper understanding of relevant and/or new requirements.

Drive continuous improvement across all product areas, in line with Company & QA Strategy.

Provide support to the Buying and Design team on NPD: Customer and store feedback, market data, current or emerging technical, environmental, ethical and legal issues.

Continually review range to make technical improvements where applicable, and implement standardisation of components, with a view to achieve manufacturing efficiencies and reduction of customer issues.

Work in conjunction with the buying team on the Product Approval Process to hit Critical Path Milestones and other QA requirements.

Monitor performance and returns of own products against agreed quality KPIs and effect corrective actions, negotiations and improvements.

Responsible for negotiating debits against suppliers when the claim is QA related.

Ensure Risk Assessments are conducted on all products within our own ranges ensuring that document evidence exists to provide robust due diligence.

Action and track annual flammability testing of fabrics and product components in line with current UK legislation.

Maintain a QA Reference Library and control procedure for the management and storage of all QA reference documents.

Anticipate and identify potential compliance risks and work with the labs to de-escalate and resolve the issues ahead of commercial issues. Assess the need for product recall, negotiate compensation and effectively communicate final actions to be taken with internal stakeholders at all stages.

Ensure strong relationships with testing houses to allow access to their technical knowledge and to ensure best prices.

Factory & Supplier Management

Ensure that all suppliers achieve and practice satisfactory Sustainable and Ethical standards and behaviours and Quality Management Systems that will deliver consistently safe, legal and quality products.

Build strong relationships with suppliers, communicate specifications and provide feedback on compliance issues, returns levels and performance with recommendations for improvements to increase customer satisfaction

Review our fabric supplier performance with the factory against KPIs. Work collaboratively within the buying and merchandising team to influence sourcing strategy.

Knowledge of technologies relevant to furniture, home accessories and fabric (including textiles)

Ability to conduct risk assessments.

Strong knowledge of product and fabric testing.

Understanding of legislation in regard to furniture and homeware.

Understanding of Quality Management Systems and processes with an awareness of auditing principles and ethical and sustainable trading.

Degree in Technical discipline or completed vocational training relevant to furniture, homeware and/or textiles.

Process analysis, development and implementation.

Ability to take technical and commercial decisions.

Key team player.

5 years' experience minimum in a head office furniture QA/Product Development/ Buying environment.

Comply with the appropriate statutory regulations and department requirements relating to health, safety, welfare and working conditions, to promote a better working environment