Job Title: Senior Product Developer - Outerwear
Location: Chesterfield
Reporting to: Development Manager
NO HYBRID WORKING- This role is office based 5 days per week in our Chesterfield office
Who we are:
Varley is a contemporary fashion brand for the modern woman. Founded in 2015 by husband-and-wife Lara and Ben Mead, we are an international, family-run business headquartered between London, Los Angeles, and New York. We offer year-round collections, including knitwear, outerwear, and everyday staples, complemented by active pieces to create an elevated wardrobe for how you live and move. We are defined by the women who wear Varley and exist to instil quiet confidence,creating collections that enhance everything they already are. As women’s lives evolve, so do we.
Job Description
The Senior Product Developer is responsible for leading the end-to-end development process withintheir category, ensuring products are delivered to the highest standards of quality, performance, and design integrity.
As a technical specialist, they lead a team of Product Developers and Junior Product Developers to deliver the collection in line with the design brief, whilst managing targets and adhering to the critical path. Reporting to the Development Manager, the role is based full time at our Chesterfield office.
Responsibilities
• Build and maintain a close working partnership with Design to develop the collection from initial concept through to the finished product.
• Act as the technical partner for design, attending fittings, providing feedback on production feasibility, and identifying solutions to realise the design vision.
• Manage the critical path from concept to pre-production, ensuring deadlines are adhered to.
• Champion Varley quality standards and seek opportunities to further elevate and refine our products.
• Take ownership of product fit, ensuring all styles are functional, well balanced, and consistentacross the range.
• Monitor return rates by style and utilise these insights to continuously drive product improvements.
• Track FOB costs and take a proactive approach to engineering products to meet margin requirements.
• Ensure product specs are accurately maintained within our PLM system.
• Own the category range plan, ensuring all details are accurately handed over to the Merchandising team on time.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and manufacturing partners.
• Oversee production to guarantee all requirements are met and take the lead in resolving issues in a timely manner when they arise.
• Lead, mentor, and develop direct reports, fostering a collaborative and high-performance team culture while supporting ongoing professional development.
Experience and Skills
• 8+ years’ experience developing outerwear within the fashion or performancewear industry, ideally across product categories such as rainwear, puffers, quilted jackets, contemporary wovens, sherpa and fleece.
• Strong technical knowledge of fabrications, construction methods, pattern cutting and production processes to confidently support Design with ‘on the spot’ solutions.
• Experience in managing vendor relationships, with a track record of delivering high quality products on-time.
• Highly organised and detail-oriented, able to lead overlapping collections efficiently while maintaining quality and accuracy.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, able to collaborate effectively with other teams and external partners.
• Highly motivated and proactive, able to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• A passion for the industry and an awareness of competitors’ products.
• Proficient in PLM, excel and ideally Adobe Illustrator.
Benefits
• Employee Purchase Scheme with 50% off for employees.
• Friend and Family Purchase Scheme with 20% off.
• Access to Bupa Health care after 2 years
• 25 Days Holiday
Our People
We think of ourselves as an international family-run business that embodies our founders’ commitment to creating timeless collections for the modern woman. What started as a company of two, has grown into a close-knit team of thinkers, creators, and innovators, taking care of our clothes, each other, and our community.
Split across the UK and USA, our team is 85% female, making us proud to be a brand for women, by women.
We are guided by two core beliefs: the pursuit of qualityin everything we do and looking after one another. Everything else should take care of itself.
Company Values
We are the sum of many parts.
We may have two founders but we are the sum of many parts. The journey is just as important as the destination. We look after one another. We promote diversity and inclusivity as central parts of the culture we are building. We are less when we don’t include everyone. Our successes and our failures we make as a team not as individuals.
We pursue quality in everything we do.
We should chase perfection in everything we do. Growth is a result of improvements to every aspects of what we do, not just reliant on an individual or department. We grow together.
We embrace possibility and push boundaries.
We believe that there are no limits to what we can achieve. We encourage innovative thinking, pushing boundaries, and embracing new possibilities. We constantly challenge ourselves to think beyond the ordinary and create extraordinary outcomes.
Data-driven decisions and purposeful actions.
We base our decisions and actions on data and reason, not on hope. We prioritize and justify our choices through thoughtful analysis. We think before we act, understanding the impact of our actions.
Our brand is timeless and valuable.
Our brand is our most valuable asset, and we treat it with the utmost respect. We recognize that our brand will outlive us and strive to enhance its value through everything we do. We prioritize long-term growth over short-term gains, ensuring the longevity of our brand's reputation.
We never compromise our product.
We believer the best form of marketing is to make better product. Let word of mouth be the most powerful marketing channel. Constantly improve, however marginal a gain. Our product is defined by the quality not price.
We respect and exceed customer expectations.
We deeply appreciate and value those who choose to consume our brand. We consistently strive to surpass their expectations in every interaction. Our goal is to transform customers into passionate advocates who enthusiastically share their positive experiences with others.
We choose partners who reflect our values.
We view our suppliers, service providers, and stockists as partners, not mere business relationships. We carefully select partners who align with our values and standards. We understand that the company we keep reflects our brand's integrity and reputation.
We grow our brand by empowering others.
We understand that the way we present information is just as crucial as the information itself. We focus not only on what we do but also on how our actions positively impact others. We aim to empower and support those around us, fostering growth and creating meaningful connections.
Responsibility is at the core of everything we do.
We believe that responsibility is as fundamental as the fit of a garment. We prioritize ethical practices and sustainability in all aspects of our business. We are accountable for our actions and strive to make a positive impact on our environment and communities.
Kindness is our guiding principle.
We prioritize treating others with respect, empathy, and understanding. We believe that kindness creates a positive work environment and fosters strong relationships with our team members, partners, and customers.