Associate Technical Designer

ASSOCIATE TECHNICAL DESIGNER

Associate Technical Designer will be responsible for fostering and accelerating the presence of CC in the fashion industry. This role will focus on growing brands’ awareness of Custom Collaborative and its capabilities, and partnering with cross-functional teams (head of industry partnerships, executive director, training manager, entrepreneurship coach, FTWP, graduates of our training institute, a.k.a “makers “ and Program Director) to deliver meaningful partnerships in the form of brand collaborations, apprenticeship, internship and production opportunities in the fashion industry. Support the Head of Partnerships as necessary.

Apprenticeship and Internship Partnerships:

Manage relationships with apprentices and external employer partners.
Oversee communications of apprenticeship programs, updating involved partners and working closely with internal/external stakeholders to achieve programmatic goals.
Promote the “earn-and-learn” model to help place CC program participants in the industry, and carve out future employment opportunities in the industry.
Recruit guest speakers, and mentors, to further enhance participant education & skills and help broaden their network of available resources.
Manage skills training workshops and foster skill sharing among participants.
Collaborate with local universities and other learning institutions to develop educational opportunities and to obtain certification of some programs that we are offering.
Develop success plans with internship, apprenticeship and job placement employers, maintaining a high level of employer satisfaction ; successfully prescribe appropriate solutions and services to meet their targeted needs.
Ensures we capture and document the apprenticeship experience, for social media.

Production Partnerships:

Manage and execute tools and systems for efficient and professional production processes, supporting CC’s Business Incubator.
Be the liaison between CC makers/artisans (graduates of our Training Institute), and clients/prospective clients for production projects.
Develop and monitor client and maker timelines, conduct product costing and basic financial analysis.
Create purchase orders, secure deposits and ensure all project expenses are closely monitored.
Lead quality control and resolve client product issues, if they arise.
Manage materials inventory and raw materials purchasing needs, ensuring materials inventory and distribution spreadsheets are up to date.
Report findings and social impact stories to colleagues monthly.
Manage periodic maker meetings and engagement. Work closely with makers, and help with any projects as necessary and brainstorm solutions to their sewing problems, as necessary.
Attend and participate in industry and allied organization meetings.

REQUIREMENTS:

Must have sewing and pattern making skills (Technical Designer background preferred)
Must pay close attention to details
Must work with a sense of urgency
Must have the ability to work in a cross-functional team environment
Must have the ability to handle multiple tasks efficiently
Must have good time/project management and organizational skills
Must have good written and verbal communication skills
Must be able to conduct workshops on pattern-making and sewing
Ability to work inclusively, effectively, and equitably with diverse groups of people.
Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to and passion for Custom Collaborative’s mission.
Commitment to racial equity, and comfort applying a racial equity lens to programs well as to interpersonal professional interactions and relationships.
Experience working in a high-performance, collaborative organization.
Spoken fluency in a language other than English is preferred.
We recognize that a successful candidate will meet many of the requirements listed, but may not meet all the qualifications. If much of this job description describes you, we encourage you to apply.

Benefits & Compensation:

Benefits include generous and flexible paid time off; paid family and medical leave; healthcare reimbursement plan for employees, dependent children, partners and spouses; supplementary funds to support staff wellness and professional development.

Pay range for this full-time position is $26/hr – $34/hr, commensurate with experience and expertise.

Please note that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Custom Collaborative staff are working mainly remotely, with the expectation that we will transition to a hybrid (i.e., remote and office work) when conditions permit in 2022. COVID-19 vaccination is required of all employees.

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume to apply@customcollaborative.org.