We have an amazing opportunity for a Quality Assurance Manager to join Team OB in our Home & Gift Buying Team.
As a Quality Assurance Manager at OB you will be an experienced and accomplished product technologist with a proven track record in own label development. You will set the product area strategy in line with the overall department and company strategy and implement your plans to achieve this.
As the QA Manager you will lead and manage your team, working collaboratively with the Buying, Merchandising and Design teams to deliver the very best product ranges that are on brand and commercial, whilst maximising sales and profit.
Our Support Office is based in Tolworth, near Chessington, only a 30-minute journey from London Waterloo. We are working a 50/50 split of office and home working.
A bit about us …
Oliver Bonas is an independent British lifestyle store. We are proud to call ourselves Team OB and believe Oliver Bonas is a truly special place to work. Our company values are Work Hard, Play Hard & Be Kind, and these values sit at the heart of every role here at OB. We are passionate and provide everyone with a fun place to work. Working at OB is more than just a job; it’s somewhere to build a career you are passionate about.
More about the role …
An OB Quality Assurance Manager will:
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Manage the end to end quality process from supplier to end customer
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Benchmark competitor quality standards across core product areas and key ranges
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Identify and implement best practice standards within the QA department
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Develop effective methods to communicate testing requirements and product quality standards
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Scope and implement testing and quality requirements for international and/or wholesale markets
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Agree and maintain defect classification lists
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Maintain critical path on all new product developments
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Track any trends in product returns to reduce return levels, using this information to improve production standards
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Review product design briefs, initial and sealing samples to accurately call out and document observations
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Communicate the quality standard expectations to our suppliers effectively
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Identify and articulate key quality performance indicators to suppliers in order to build relationships, improve sampling performance and production quality
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Maintain an up-to-date library of information including, test reports, factory audits, supplier database and signed supplier manuals
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Ensure QA sections within Oliver Bonas supplier manual are clear, succinct and in line with OB brand guidelines
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Assist the Ethical Trading Manager in logging, monitoring and tracking any action plans agreed with suppliers in relation to factory visits, audits and social compliance
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Work with the Head of Buying to set clear and achievable H&G QA strategy in line with overall company and department strategy
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International travel visiting suppliers with the buyers and designers, or alone depending on company needs.
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Work with the QC team to receive and analyse returns feedback and plan/advise how suppliers can improve
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Build strong relationships with Fashion QA team to share ideas and understand direction and strategy of their department
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Manage relationships with external bodies such as Trading Standards and various test houses
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Present to all store managers on product launch days
Bonas Benefits:
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Generous employee discount up to 50% off all OB products
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Free access to our 24 hour employee assistance programme with Care First – offering financial, emotional and vocational support
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Flexible holiday – 33 days (including bank holidays) – increasing to 35 days with length of service
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Annual discretionary profit related bonus scheme
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Free membership for our Westfield Health Cash Plan or Private Medical
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Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave
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Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Voice network and EDI team
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Education and support throughout Looop eLearning platform
What we look for:
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A love of the OB brand and product
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Extensive experience as a product technologist, or similar, with own label development
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Strong leadership skills and experience of managing a team
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Great communicator at all levels
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Self-motivated, approachable and adaptable to change
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Ability to switch between tasks when necessary and reprioritise accordingly
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A good understanding of the OB customer
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Creative yet commercial eye
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A strong problem solver
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Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines
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PC literate with a knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at OB
At Oliver Bonas, our promise is to do our bit to make living a joyful experience and give cause for optimism. This promise is central to our work in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). To bring joy to others, we must first ensure everyone at OB feels valued, included and most importantly, can be themselves at work.
It is important to us that our brand reflects wider society and the communities in which we operate. As a result, we welcome all eligible applicants for this role however we are particularly interested in speaking to eligible candidates from the Black, Asian & Mixed Heritage communities.
Oliver Bonas is a Disability Confident Committed employer under the Disability Confident employer scheme.
To read more about our ED&I commitments, head over to the EDI page on our website: https://www.oliverbonas.com/meet-the-team/diversity