Rapha creates the finest cycling clothing and accessories in the world. Designed without compromise for the most discerning rider, Rapha products blend optimum performance, the finest fabrics and modern style. At Rapha, it’s our purpose to inspire the world to live by bike.
Owning the engineering of a product collection, ensuring functionality and performance requirements of the product are met.
Drive the sample approval process throughout the product life cycle.
Engineer products to meet targets, working cross-functionally throughout the process with the ability to engineer a product meeting target costs. Flagging to management when costs won't be achieved.
Collaborate cross-functionally with design, atelier and supply chain teams to ensure that products are risks assessed in a timely manner and that any subsequent risks are highlighted to the correct functions or elevated to management levels.
Responsible for a collection of NN, CN and PN products in numerous categories.
To serve as primary category contact for apparel suppliers acting as an internal liaison between their vendors and Rapha.
Building strong relationships with our tier 1 and tier 2 vendors with trips and continuous daily communication. Ensuring all critical path dates and KPIs are met by our vendors.
Maintain and update product tech packs and BOMs on our PLM and Ai filing system.
Facilitate and drive the capture of accurate data across input tracking documents.
Actualise print concepts across a broad product and application range via exceptional management of Ai print lay plans.
Being responsible for your products strike off comments and approvals.
At times develop collections in collaboration within the wider Rapha partnership framework.
Manage both in season and sprint projects across multiple categories and critical paths.
Lead weekly cross functional meetings and fit sessions. Offering feedback on vendor capabilities and constructional restraints that will impact the development of your products.
Create measurement specifications, inputting grading and sizing rules for each garment type.
Communicate all fit and constructional comments to our vendors through the PLM system in a clear way.
Review construction,quality and performance of all samples that arrive, driving Rapha’s high standards at all times.
May manage 1 - 2 more junior members of the team in day to day tasks as well as encouraging and supporting their growth.
Support more junior members of the team to measure prototype samples and size sets before fitting to ensure they conform to size and construction specifications.
Actively participate in team meetings and encourage more junior members of staff to do the same.
To present at major stage gate meetings. Responsible for preparing meeting spaces and supporting more junior members of staff to document the minutes.
Travel to suppliers, trade shows and Rapha partner events when necessary.
To ensure their own travel expenses are within the company's limits.
Have an awareness of competitor’s products, participating in inspiration days and reporting back to the wider team.
The candidate must ensure that garments are truly fit for purpose, are of the highest quality and developed in a timely manner. Balancing a keen sense of quality with cycling legitimacy. Effective internal negotiator, this person will be a natural role model to the wider team in terms.
A graduate, ideally with a degree in fashion / sportswear.
At least 6 years’ experience working for a lifestyle or sportswear brand.
Excellent time management and organisational skills. The ability to roll up your sleeves and participate in any task with a positive attitude.
Ability to adapt to the changing structure of a growing company and team.
Has an excellent understanding of costing template variables within manufacture, an excellent understanding of the impact of construction, materials and patterns on this.
Experienced working on printed products.
Determined and supportive team player, with the ability to build more junior member's knowledge and confidence.
Experience in managing more junior members of the team and show capability of supporting and nurturing them would be an advantage.
Has excellent knowledge of technical performance materials and their properties.
Must have excellent attention to detail and be proficient in using Mac OS, Adobe Illustrator and G Suite.
Confident working on CAD’s, Lay-plans and print files using Adobe Illustrator.
Strong experience and knowledge of working with overseas factories.
To liaise with your team to ensure the briefs are executed correctly and that the vendors are receiving all correct and up-to-date necessary technical information.
Be able to work to tight and challenging deadlines.
Must be able to understand and manage risk and be able to elevate any risks that impacts on the delivery of the product to a high level.
Must be able to challenge the status quo and questions to ensure the product brief is met.
Must be able to understand and manage risk and be able to elevate any risks that impacts on the delivery of the product to a high level.
Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.
Ideally an active outdoor person who is keen to develop their riding skills and use their passion for sport to improve our product range.