Technical Design Manager - Trenery

Trenery celebrates timeless style lived, not worn - crafting beautifully considered clothing and accessories guided by enduring design, quality fabrics and a creative, modern Australian spirit. 

As the Technical Design Manager for Trenery, you will lead and develop a high-performing Technical Design team, translating creative vision into technically sound, commercially viable and beautifully executed product. Leading a team of 4 Technical Designers, you will set the standards for fit, construction, quality and technical execution across the brand, while ensuring accurate and timely delivery throughout the product development lifecycle.

Partnering closely with Design, Buying, Product Development, Sourcing and our vendor network, you will bring strong technical judgement and commercial thinking to product decisions, balancing design integrity with quality, cost, feasibility and critical path. You will also play a key role in evolving technical processes, systems and ways of working, building capability within the team and strengthening collaboration across Trenery and the broader Country Road Group.

How You Will Contribute

• Lead, coach and develop a team of 4 Technical Designers, building technical capability, accountability and a collaborative, high-performing culture
• Translate creative concepts into technically feasible product, setting clear standards across fit, construction, grading, materials, tolerances and quality
• Oversee the development of accurate and timely technical packs, ensuring specifications provide vendors with everything required to execute product successfully
• Set and maintain fit, construction and quality standards across categories, proactively identifying and resolving technical risks before bulk production
• Partner closely with Design as a trusted technical advisor, providing solutions that protect design intent while balancing commercial and manufacturing requirements
• Collaborate with Buying, Product Development, Sourcing and Production to manage critical path, cost, quality and product readiness throughout development
• Build strong vendor partnerships, providing clear technical direction and ensuring supplier capability aligns with product, quality and delivery expectations
• Establish consistent technical processes and governance across PLM, Master BOM, testing, approvals and product documentation
• Champion the effective use of 3D, PLM and other technical tools to improve accuracy, speed and alignment throughout product development
• Drive continuous improvement across technical processes, systems and ways of working to create greater efficiency, consistency and scalability.

Capabilities We Value

• Extensive experience in Technical Design, Garment Technology or Product Development within the fashion or apparel industry, with proven technical leadership experience
• Strong expertise across garment construction, fit, grading, specifications and manufacturing, with the technical judgement to resolve complex product challenges
• Demonstrated people leadership experience, with the ability to coach, develop and bring together a high-performing technical team
• Proven experience partnering with Designers to translate creative concepts into technically feasible, commercially successful product
• Strong end-to-end product development experience, from initial concept and technical specifications through fitting, approvals and bulk production
• Experience working with offshore vendors and factories, providing clear technical direction and resolving fit, construction, quality and production challenges
• Strong commercial judgement, with the ability to balance design integrity, quality, cost, timing and manufacturing feasibility
• Experience working with PLM systems and technical documentation, with exposure to 3D design tools highly regarded
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences
• A proactive and collaborative leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about developing people, improving processes and delivering exceptional product
• A Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Technical Design, Product Development or a related discipline is preferred.

What We Offer

• Bi-annual product allowance, access to sample sales and 40% discount for you and your immediate family across all CRG brands
• Flex your leave your way, including birthday leave, volunteer leave, personal leave and more
• Access to health and wellbeing support, including Health Insurance, 24/7 EAP counselling, discounted gym memberships and financial advice services
• 18 weeks paid parental leave program for eligible employees with return-to-work clothing allowance
• Internal career opportunities across our brands
• Annual learning calendar to support your ongoing development
• Support impactful community and charity partnerships across our brands, including OCRF, Our Watch, First Nations Reconciliation, Movember, Red Cross and Landcare.

Who We Are

Country Road Group is a design-led portfolio of premium fashion brands, comprising five iconic labels: Country Road, Mimco, Trenery, Witchery and Politix. Each brand has its own story, and together they hold a market-leading position in the mid to upper tier of Australia's specialty fashion segment with a focus on delivering our ambition to build a portfolio of distinctive brands that drive sustainable growth. Country Road Group is part of Woolworths Holdings Limited (South Africa), a leading Southern Hemisphere retail group.

We encourage you to explore our Current Opportunities and we look forward to connecting with you!

Country Road Group acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present.

We’re committed to inclusion and accessibility. If we can support you with any adjustments at any stage, please let us know.