At Northern Playground we have a very clear vision: We are going to reduce the world's clothing consumption. To do so, we need to develop products that last a long time. A really long time.
Our clothes must be able to take a beating, be repaired and be just as relevant in 10 years as they are today. Sounds impossible? Then this job might not be the one for you. If you on the other hand are itching to get started, we might be a great match.
Now we are looking for a product developer that lives and breathes designing products that last a long time and that also are worn a long time. We already have a head start, but you will still have your hands and head full of challenges when it comes to prolonging the lifetime of our garments.
Generally, this position is divided in two. About half the time you will be working on classic product development tasks. The other half you will be working on the further development of existing garments and making sure they last and are worn for as long as possible.
WHAT YOU WILL DO AS A PRODUCT DEVELOPER
- Follow a product from prototype to production, including measuring and following up samples and size sets, and continuously updating tech packs
- Follow up suppliers during the development process, in Norway and Europe
- Quality control
- Source materials and accessories
- Update care labels and packaging with correct information
- Other development tasks in close collaboration with our Design Director
WHAT YOU WILL DO AS A DURABILITY MANAGER
- Main responsibility for all products durability, both new and existing. This includes especially durability and reparability
- Keep up with current research and explore new possibilities within this area
- Quality control
- Take notes, analyze and improve weaknesses after usage and feedback from customers and our Community
- Follow up and further develop the company's repair service and Lifetime service
- Communicate directly with our Community on product relevant topics
QUALIFICATIONS
- You are not afraid of challenges and like responsibility. You like being in an environment that collectively takes risks
- You are creative, take initiative and don't wait around for someone to tell you what to do
- You have multiple years experience within development of outdoorwear
- You have relevant education within textiles, product development, design, etc.
- You have extensive textile knowledge
- You are very familiar with, and especially interested in, how clothing production can be performed with the least amount of environmental impact
- You have experience in large scale production
- You are competant in Illustrator and InDesign and are interested in learning about new technical tools (we use CLO, for example)
- You are methodical, structured and analytical, combined with a flexible and commercial way of thinking
- You have good communication skills and would like being in contact with people from the entire world
- You speak and write at least one Scandinavian language, and English almost fluently
- You are not afraid of helping out when and where it's needed, even though it might not technically be your responsibility
WHAT WE OFFER
- Lots of influence on where the brand and company is headed
- Exceptionally ambitious colleagues
- Joining a journey with an open itinerary together with a small, dedicated team
- Work days that are definitely not calm, predictable or monotonous
- The chance to redefine "sustainability" in a dirty and cynical industry
- An innovative design and development process for clothing production, with an untraditional supply chain
- Flexibility in pretty much every area
- Full time position with a competitive salary
MORE ABOUT THE JOB
Not following the "recipe" as a brand is very exciting, but also demanding. If we want to reach our goal of reducing clothing consumption, and simultaniously become a clothing brand of significant size, we need to set enormously high demands for our designs. Our established Lifetime service requires high quality products that are easy to repair. We must also offer a wider range of products than we do today. In close collaboration with our Design Director you will take part in developing the clothes that make all this possible.
As a small company, most employees are involved in pretty much everything. This means that the rest of the team is also tied to product development in some way. Expect lots of good and bad ideas and discussions with teammates. Another group that has a say in development is our Community. This is a group of dedicated customers that give feedback on designs, test prototypes and suggest their own product ideas. As durability manager and product developer it will be your responsibility to involve the Community in the design phase for inspiration and feedback. This also means that you have a central communication role and act as a connector between us and the Community. This involves keeping up the dialog with them, answering their questions and helping the marketing team create engaging content.
Send us an informal text about why you think this job is right for you and how you will contribute to reaching our goals. We would also love to see some of your work, with examples of products you have helped develop or other results you have achieved. We also need a resumé.
Application deadline: Sunday, September 4th. We will be reading applications as soon as they come in, so don't hesitate to apply before then.
Applications and questions can be sent to: jorunn@northernplayground.no
