Junior Technical & Quality Assurance Designer

About Poppy Barley

Poppy Barley is a direct-to-consumer Canadian brand creating luxury for people and the planet. We create products to be worn on repeat, offered at reformed pricing and made with a commitment to do better for people and the planet. Innovation is part of our DNA and re-thinking every step is a core value.

Your Purpose:

Reporting to the Director of Product Design, the Junior Technical Designer will work closely with the Design and Product team in reviewing preliminary designs through to production of the collection. They will review a series of prototypes and pre-production Samples as they relate to the initial designs and fit sessions and clearly communicate with suppliers from initial samples to final production.

Technical Design:

• Work collaboratively with the Director of Product Design to create technical packages for initial sampling with the factory including materials, key measurements and any other technical construction details.
• Track and update sample tracking sheet when samples arrive to ensure timely delivery and product is on schedule.
• Review and measure samples upon arrival to ensure that they are in line with the tech package and have all design elements before fitting.
• Attend Fitting Sessions to review styles on the foot - take notes from fittings and translate into sample worksheets to clearly communicate necessary changes to the factory for the next sample or approve for production.
• Ensure continuity of fit for the designated category, making sure all samples fit the standard sizes appropriately for the design, ensuring that expectations for footwear fit and construction are clearly communicated.
• Engage in active problem-solving with overseas vendors, providing solutions & clarity to ensure timely delivery of samples and bulk production.
• Establish and maintain respectful and meaningful relationships with factories and artisans.
• Review Pre-Production samples against approved proto samples and approved materials to confirm that all final components are to spec before going into production.

Quality Assurance:

• Track and follow up on returns and quality issues to ensure continuous product improvement.
• Review samples and production to ensure there are no potential quality assurance issues and work out solutions when issues arise.
• Quality Control of production once it is delivered, communicate any major issues to the factory.
• Review and approve or reject lab testing results from the factory.
• Maintain product development checklist on all new products.
• Shipping label creation for our factories.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Agile individuals, who are able to adapt and problem solve with changing priorities and production challenges.
• Observant, analytical thinkers who can ensure that the best products make it to market.
• Collaborative team players with clear communication skills, who build relationships easily with co-workers and factories.
• Passion for ethical and sustainable production is key.

Your Background:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Fashion Design/Costume Design/Garment Construction/Industrial Design.
• 1 + years of experience in apparel development/sourcing/design.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator required. Google programs such as Google Sheets, Google Docs, Gmail an asset.
• Understanding of leather, footwear and accessory testing will be an asset.
• Residence in or willing to relocate to Edmonton, and able to travel internationally up to 2 weeks per year.

Your Strengths:

• Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
• Self-motivated, passionate and able to work to deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
• Strong and clear communication skills. Spanish language is an asset.

Benefits:

• Participation in an extended health and dental benefits package.
• Employer RRSP matching, up to $10,000 per year.
• Hybrid (home/office) work schedule and flexibility in hours.
• Discounts on our awesome product.
• Great co-workers, a fun working environment and opportunity for growth within the company.

How to Apply

Apply by submitting your resume and cover letter – tell us why you want to join the Poppy Barley team. Please email kalie.johnston@poppybarley.com.

We are excited to meet you! We thank all applications for taking the time to apply. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Uniqueness is powerful. Our customers come from all walks of life and so do we. We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for people and the planet, you will fit our team.