Product Developer

About WNU

With Nothing Underneath is a DTC Womenswear brand where British heritage meets modern simplicity. WNU is about the art of effortlessness. Creating beautiful wardrobe essentials to suit all the women you are in one day; from the city to the country, from work to play.

Inspired by men’s tailoring, British heritage, and timeless style, WNU was born in London in 2017 out of the need for shirts that were perfectly adjusted for women, sustainably sourced, and stood the test of time. 

WNU fulfils the under exploited territory of female shirting, in an accessible, easy to shop manner, an affordable price for a luxury item, using the highest quality sustainable materials. WNU is also a business with a message and a purpose; we are dedicated to running a business that gives back to our community, values our customer, and respects our planet.

The Role

The WNU Product Developer is passionate and driven, with a combination of creative flair, acute commercial and technical awareness to lead the build out of the WNU product offer. They are meticulously organised and lead product development projects with a problem-solving attitude and a creative eye. The Product Developer is collaborative and solution orientated, responsible for making the design vision come to life. You will have a strong network of European suppliers and manufacturers, strong negotiation skills to ensure best terms and timelines for WNU, plus an eagerness to source the most sustainable and innovative raw materials for our new collections.  

Responsibilities and Duties

This is a full-time role at our office in Southwest London, reporting to the Head of Product Development and Production, whilst working closely with the Lead Designer. You will lead raw material development and manage all multi product sampling, ensuring critical path deadlines are met enabling business to review correct samples, shoot and book bulk RM on time. 

• Collaborate closely with design to understand the initial design concepts and develop them into first trials, fabric and garment samples, ensuring initial vision is maintained
• Working closely with design to conduct market research and stay informed about emerging trends in fabrics, design and sustainability practices
• Source, select, and recommend fabrics and trims that align with design vision and sustainability standards
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and manufacturers
• Managing sampling critical deadlines across WNU’s supply network
• Ensuring all development aligns to business quality, target retails, performance and sampling budgets set by Manager
• Responsible for the launch, development and sign off of all WNU product categories
• Ensuring product is fit for purpose and on brand, whilst working with the Head of PD to ensure it can be delivered on time and at the right price 
• Responsible for communicating launches with manufacturers, creating clear and accurate brief for product with awareness of target costs and timelines
• Owning the tech pack creation deadlines for design and reviewing all details and product specifications to ensure first samples are correct
• Creating all products in Zedonk and maintaining accuracy of the BOMS until production handover to Production team and the factory
• Responsible for clear communications and hand over to the production team once initial design sampling has been approved for production to action
• Supporting Head of on the sampling budget by maintaining and processing all sampling PO’s and invoices accurately, tracking spend to ensure budgets are managed
• Manage fit timelines and all communications to factories for product PP sign off and next samples
• Support the business with all sampling requirements across marketing and brand teams
• Ensure all product costings are clearly communicated in relevant systems (Zedonk, range plan etc) with all the target margins being achieved
• Ongoing risk assessments to ensure product meets brand and customer expectations
• Acting as a WNU brand ambassador internally and externally

Skills and experience required:

• At least 5 years professional experience in a similar role within a premium/luxury environment. Ideally within womenswear and certainly multi category.

•  A relevant fashion design/ fashion engineering degree is an advantage

• Expert with Zedonk software and BOM management
• Confident with product costings and negotiations
• Confident in garment construction, pattern cutting, fabrications and production processes  
• Previous experience working with pattern makers and CMT factories
• Technical understanding of fabrics, processing, finishes and trims
• Clear and confident communication skills internally and externally, experience working closely with a diverse supply chain
• Passionate about sustainability through design and aligned with WNU core values
• Organised, detail orientated and a fierce product perfectionist 
• Enjoys collaborating and problem solving
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Willingness to travel when required 

Employee Benefits:

• 33 days annual leave for full time employees (25 days holiday + 8 bank holidays)
• Flexible working hours
• Work from home days
• ​Generous Staff Discount
• ​Annual Volunteer Day
• ​Eye Care Vouchers
• Biannual company parties and at least one company away day