Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organisation:

We’ll never launch a product unless we consider it perfect. Our product operations teams create every shirt, every shoe and every piece of equipment for thousands of athletes and fashion lovers as if it was one of a kind. And it truly is, as they weave their passion into every single product. But translating designs, drawings and renderings into real products requires a lot of decision making.

As Senior Manager Sample Studio Apparel you will manage and lead a team of Sample Sewing Specialists and Protoptype Engineers in the process for innovative and fit critical prototypes in collaboration with the Creation Center teams (Design, Marketing and Product Operations), Sourcing and Tier 1. You will also drive innovation with regards to prototyping machinery as well as product creation process.

Key Responsibilities:

Sample Studio:

• Manage and lead the sample studio team to support the product creation processes in order to reach the company objectives through partnership with the x-functional teams
• Proactively communicate on an on-going basis with team, supervisors and cross functional teams to continuously review and improve sample quality and sample creation process
• Provide direction to the team to ensure the sample creation process is synergized with focus on results
• Consult and support development teams with optimum workmanship solutions regarding quality and cost while considering production feasibility
• Actively monitor incoming tasks, development calendars (e.g. seasonal calendars, Basic Pattern, Olympics) and projects to ensure that timelines are set according to business needs
• Allocate/delegate the different products/projects to the individual members of sample team, T1’s or external partners and manage the workflow of the team in a well-balanced manner
• Execute and drive key initiatives and provide input to short mid and long term planning and budgeting
• Manage and give guidance of the apprenticeship program (e.g. ‘Textil und Modeschneider’)

Innovation:

• Set up a structure, processes and communication to evolve the Sample Studio into a “Product Creation Center” which provides a platform for innovation with regards to workmanship and production techniques
• Proactively work together with the innovation departments (Innovation, Athlete Servicing, Creative Direction, Business Units) and Design on innovative products and processes to realize new concepts on product creation level
• Research new technologies for prototyping machinery and drive the evaluation of potential implementation into the Sample Studio product creation processes to ensure state-of-the-art prototyping
• Ensure the availability of technical capability (with regards to the team) and latest innovative equipment/machines in order to create an innovative working environment for innovation departments

People Management:

• Build the appropriate structure to be able to manage the respective organization effectively, identify and develop the future talents and create realistic succession scenarios for key positions.
• Ensure appropriate leadership skills are present at every level through creating an inclusive, motivational and supportive work environment in which employees are coached, trained and provided with career opportunities through development. 
• Allocate the different topics and work streams to the respective teams and employees considering experience, complexity, workload and organizational efficiency.
• Continuously monitor and evaluate team workload and organizational efficiency with the support of systems, data and analysis and team feedback and make appropriate changes in order to meet business needs.
• Provide team members/direct reports with clear direction and targets that are aligned with business needs and legal objectives.

Key Relationships:

• Creation Center – Marketing, Design, Product Development, Pattern Engineering
• Liaison Office/ Operations Center – Merchandiser, Tech Service
• Tier 1 supplier – Development and Pattern Engineering

• Innovation teams and Athlete Servicing

• External CAD and Sample Studio partners

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong communication (both written and verbal) and facilitation skills (small and large groups)
• Ability to create, plan and effectively deliver presentations in formal and informal settings
• Ability to manage and motivate a team
• Ability to anticipate problems and develop solutions through to resolution
• Ability to cope with change, make decisions and act comfortably with risk and uncertainty
• Strong knowledge of production environment and sewing flow
• Good consulting and training skills
• Business acumen
• Basic software skills in Gerber or similar CAD programs
• Fluent in English and German (written and spoken)
• Strong IT skills (MS office, Illustrator)
• Travel, domestic and international as required by business needs

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• Four-year Technical college/fashion school training in pattern making/ grading, “Meisterbrief” or equivalent education
• Minimum 4 years of progressive work experience in garment industry in comparable role
• Minimum 2-3 years of experience in managing a team