HEAD OF Pattern AND Technical - Garment

About the Company

For over 50 years, P.S. Exports & Consolidates, previously P.S. Apparels, has manufactured high-quality woven garments for brands in North America, Europe, and Japan. Its vertically integrated supply chain supports quality control throughout production, with sustainability as an operating focus.

Our office in Kelambakkam is our base for corporate as well as design, library, archives and merchandising. Our NYC design studio allows us to deliver innovative designs to our clients. Our New York office (OMTC) supplements research and design activity.

Role Purpose

The role holder leads the pattern department and is responsible for delivering accurate patterns on schedule. The role sets technical standards and owns pattern quality across menswear, womenswear, and kids wear. In addition to supervising the department, the role includes hands-on pattern making and quality inspection for complex designs.

Key Responsibilities

1. Pattern quality and standards

a. Own the accuracy of all patterns from Prototype sample through size set, PP sample and Bulk.

b. Set and maintain department standards: pattern checking, notches and markings, seam allowances, grain lines, labelling and naming.

c. Build and maintain a library of approved base blocks for menswear, womenswear and kids wear.

d. Check patterns against tech packs, buyer specs, grade rules and fabric shrinkage before release.

e. Personally develop or check patterns on complex or high-risk styles.

2. Team leadership and development

a. Lead the Pattern Makers, CAD Operator and Pattern Trainee; allocate styles and balance workload.

b. Train the team on pattern techniques, construction and Gerber AccuMark.

c. Run the Pattern Trainee's 3-month Gerber training plan and confirm readiness for the CAD Operator role.

d. Ensure every critical skill is held by at least two people, so no style or buyer depends on one person.

e. Set goals, give regular feedback, and run performance reviews using the department career ladder.

3. Workflow and planning

a. Plan pattern work against the Time & Action Calendar (TNA) and sampling calendar; flag risks to delivery early.

b. Track turnaround time for each pattern stage and clear bottlenecks.

c. Prioritize urgent requests with Merchandising and the Factory Manager.

4. CAD systems and data

a. Own the Gerber AccuMark setup: storage areas, grade rule tables, marker settings and user access.

b. Enforce version control so only approved patterns go to cutting.

c. Ensure daily backups and a clean, searchable pattern and marker library.

5. Grading, markers and fabric efficiency

a. Approve grading for each style before markers are made.

b. Review marker efficiency and fabric consumption; work with the CAD Operator to improve utilization.

c. Give accurate pattern consumption to Merchandising for costing.

6. Cross-functional working

a. Work with the Manager Design and Product Development on fit sessions and turn fit comments into pattern corrections.

b. Support Merchandising on buyer technical queries and comments.

c. Hand over production-ready patterns to Cutting and Production and resolve pattern issues raised on the floor.

d. Attend PP meetings and support pilot runs.

7. Continuous improvement

a. Analyze repeat pattern errors and buyer comments; fix root causes.

b. Write and update SOPs for the department.

c. Keep up with new tools such as 3D sampling and recommend upgrades to the Factory Manager.

Success Measures (KPIs)

1. Right-first-time patterns - % of styles approved without a pattern-caused resubmission

2. Pattern turnaround - Days from tech pack receipt to first pattern, against TNA

3. Pattern errors reaching cutting or production - Number per month

4. Marker efficiency - Average fabric utilization %, by product type

5. Consumption accuracy - Variance between costed and actual consumption

6. Team capability - Each critical skill and buyer covered by at least two people

7. Team retention - Department attrition over 12 months

8. Trainee progress - Trainee ready for CAD Operator role within the agreed period

Candidate Profile

1. Degree or diploma in Apparel / Garment / Fashion Technology or Pattern Making.

2. 10+ years in pattern making in apparel export manufacturing, including at least 3 years leading a pattern or CAD team.

3. Expert in Gerber AccuMark: pattern design, grading, grade rule tables and marker making.

4. Hands-on pattern experience in both menswear and womenswear; kids wear an advantage.

5. Strong knowledge of garment construction, fit, shrinkage, grading and fabric consumption.

6. Experience working to US / EU buyer tech packs, size charts and comments.

7. Good written and spoken English for buyer and tech pack communication.