Vivienne Westwood is one of the most iconic British Fashion Brands who cares and believes in its people and the environment. If you’re interested in being part of an organisation that produces quality products, promotes awareness for a better world, and provides an excellent benefits package to support its employees, keep reading….
Vivienne Westwood Ltd is currently looking for a Bridal Procurement and Development Officer to join our Couture & Bridal department. The successful candidate will report directly to the Senior Product Manager and the Bridal Collection Manger and will join a tight knit small team based in the headquarters in Battersea, home of our renowned atelier. This position is offered on a fixed term contract for 12 months, with the possibility of extension.
This is a great opportunity for a proactive Procurement and Development Officer to implement their skills and further grow their experience working closely on iconic Vivienne Westwood styles. The new team member will be responsible for the PD of the Bridal Collections as well as ad hoc special projects.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Regularly attend trade fairs and shows to conduct research on fabrics and trims for new developments and establish connections with new suppliers.
- Liaise with suppliers to discuss quality, sustainable options, certifications, pricing, and delivery times, while adapting to market and industry standards.
- Continuously monitor budget constraints and company requirements to determine the quantity and quality of raw materials to be purchased.
- Source and trial new suppliers and manufacturers, evaluating pricing and standards to meet departmental needs.
- Analyse supplier terms to improve delivery dates, pricing, and quality.
- Oversee the movement of all raw materials through the Logistics and Warehouse teams, ensuring timely delivery to suppliers and manufacturers for smooth operations.
- Verify that delivered items match order specifications, assess the quality of incoming goods, and arrange returns for any unsatisfactory or faulty items, ensuring performance targets are met.
- Manage SAP, the Codetex Concierge Platform, the Fabrics Master Chart, and all internal files.
- Purchase fabrics, trims, and accessories via SAP using Codetex, and follow up on POs, proformas, and invoices from accounts and suppliers, maintaining accurate records.
- Monitor raw material stock levels at the Codetex warehouse, Merton warehouse, in-house studio, and two manufacturers to estimate material flow and replenishment needs.
- Check the Codetex platform for suspended QC reports and manage fabric roll approvals, returns, and replacements, coordinating shipments to the UK warehouse as needed.
- Set up and manage material specifications, fabric suppliers, and colour details on PLM and SAP.
- Maintain packing lists for items sent to manufacturers and ensure all deliveries are complete, tracking the location of Codetex fabric rolls.
- Track sustainable material certifications, supplier compliance forms, and modern slavery policies, coordinating with the supply chain specialist for surveys and checks.
- Collaborate with the sustainability specialist to develop sustainable heart tags, disclaimers, and packaging solutions.
- Explore opportunities to enhance supply networks and present new ideas to the senior management team.
- Manage MTO and MTM client colour change orders and swatch requests, including sourcing and distributing swatches to clients.
- Conduct inspections of fabrics and trims upon arrival, promptly addressing and resolving any quality issues with suppliers while logging relevant data in SAP.
- Prepare seasonal fabric books and update seasonal development charts.
- Order studio and production packaging supplies (garment bags, hangers, swing tags, tissue paper) and log all data in the Packaging Master Chart and SAP.
- Perform weekly QC inspections at manufacturers.
PROFILE & KEY SKILLS
- 3+ years of hands-on experience in product development and procurement.
- Proven experience working with high-end designer brands, with a focus on luxury goods.
- Strong understanding of fabrics, materials, and the manufacturing process.
- Familiarity with FlexPLM and SAP systems is advantageous, though not required.
- Experience collaborating with Codetex and/or third-party QC inspection companies is preferred.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
- Exceptional organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- A flexible, proactive team player with a positive attitude towards collaboration.
- Prior experience in the bridal and occasion wear sector is desirable, but not essential.
(Please note this is not an exhaustive list of duties and you may be required to perform additional duties to fulfil the requirements of the role)
Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.
Vivienne Westwood is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by local government laws.
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