Senior Garment technologist - Knitwear and Swimwear - 12 Month Maternity Cover

Stylish, grounded, uplifting – these values live through everything we do at Boden. Without the collaboration, honesty and friendship between our teams, we wouldn’t be where we are today. We curate a world of beauty that’s ethical, inclusive – and importantly – good fun. We inspire you to live your best life. We are Boden.

Overview

We’re looking for a Senior Garment Technologist to lead knitwear and swimwear across Womenswear, Childrenswear and Baby, from first sample to sealed production approval. You’ll combine expert knitwear knowledge with a sharp eye for fit and quality, leading your team and partnering with product teams and suppliers in creating brilliant product for our customers.

Location: 3-4 days per week at our North Acton office, the rest WFH.

This is a 12 Month Maternity Cover role. Ideally looking for a February 2027 start date.

How We Lead At Boden

• Being a manager at Boden is about giving people clarity, backing them properly, and helping them do their best work.
• You make things make sense. You take big ideas and turn them into clear priorities, so people know what they’re doing and (most importantly) why it matters.
• Your communication is clear and open – you listen and you don’t overcomplicate things.
• You take responsibility. When big decisions need to be made, you make them. When things change, you adapt. And when things don’t go to plan, you own it and move things forward.
• You stay close to what matters – our customer, our brand and our goals – using that to guide decisions and keep teams aligned.
• Most importantly, you build a team people actually want to be a part of – where people feel trusted, supported and able to grow.
  
  

What You Will Do

• Own the technical development of knitwear and swimwear from first sample to sealed approval.
• Lead fit sessions and give suppliers clear, commercially minded feedback.
• Assess yarns, gauges, stitch structures, trims and construction, flagging performance and compliance risks early.
• Keep approvals on track, escalating issues and recommending practical solutions.
• Approve specifications, measurements, graded size charts, construction details, care labels and test requirements.
• Partner with suppliers and factories to resolve fit, shrinkage, recovery, finishing and workmanship issues.
• Guide yarn and fabric development, balancing hand feel, durability and end use.
• Review testing, wearer trials, pre-production samples and AQL results, following up where standards fall short.
• Use returns and customer feedback to improve future product.
• Build effective relationships across Design, Buying, Merchandising, Product Development and our supplier base, sharing your expertise with the wider team.

What We Are Looking For

• Strong hands-on knitwear understanding, with specialist knowledge of yarns, gauges, stitch structures, construction and finishing.
• Experience as a Senior Garment Technologist or skilled Garment Technologist, within Childrenswear or Womenswear (both is preferrable). Knowledge within both knitwear and swimwear is a bonus.
• Proven success leading and developing a team, setting priorities, coaching colleagues and supporting their growth.
• A sound grasp of grading, testing, quality standards, compliance and production.
• Clear communication and the ability to influence suppliers and cross-functional partners.
• Commercial judgement and a practical approach to technical challenges.
• Brilliant organisation and the ability to juggle priorities without missing the detail.
• An independent, proactive approach and a generous team spirit.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; PLM or product-system experience is a bonus.

Our Behaviours

• At Boden, how we work matters just as much as what we deliver.
• We keep things simple. We say what we mean, keep each other in the loop, and follow through on what we’ve said we’ll do.
• We care about doing a good job – and we care about each other.
• We’re always kind, often honest, and we will push for high standards without making it heavy.
• We know what we’re good at, we lean on each other when needed, and we show up as a team – taking ownership and getting things done together.
  

What We Offer

• Generous Boden clothing allowance
• 30% discount on all current clothing ranges
• 25 days holiday annual, plus Bank Holidays
• Online portal with an array of discounts on retail & entertainment
• Virtual GP Service for you and your household
• Free onsite parking and subsidised café
  

We want Boden to be the place everyone wants to work. Friendly, open, understanding and supportive. A best-of-British company with diverse teams, equal opportunities, and fair working and recruitment practices. We believe in hiring the best person for the job whoever they are, helping them thrive in it and celebrating their individuality.

We would like to encourage people from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply for our roles. If you need any reasonable adjustments or additional support during your application process, please do not hesitate to let us know.