Technical Developer (Apparel)

Why Oak+Fort?

OAK + FORT is a fashion and lifestyle brand that provides attainable luxuries consisting of modern essentials in full collections of womenswear, menswear, accessories, jewelry, beauty, and homeware. We are a female-founded and led business that is brought together by a passionate group of people with a natural bond over an aesthetic vision that radiates throughout our collections. From our first studio that opened in 2010 in Vancouver, BC, we now have 30+ locations across North America with a global e-commerce presence.

At the heart and core of it all, it’s our people that matter most. We offer a work ethos that is driven by endless passion, intellectual curiosity, and perennial creativity. Here you get the opportunity to influence our global strategy and growth, while working alongside incredibly talented people.

What You’ll Do:

As the Technical Developer, you will play a key role in the development of quality products, ensuring all styles meet the fit, construction, and aesthetic standards of the OAK + FORT brand. Working closely with the Design and Production teams, you will bring both technical expertise and a strong design sensibility to the development process — from first proto through to final approval. This is a mid-level role suited to a candidate with a solid foundation technical design and fit, ideally with experience in tailored constructions, who is ready to take ownership of their category and contribute meaningfully to the brand’s evolution.

This will be an on-site position in our Vancouver office.

What You’re Responsible For:

TECHNICAL DESIGN

• Develop on-the-body fits with the design team for seasonal product

• Develop spec packages, measurements and grading for all styles

• Create a block library for all product categories

• Work directly with factories on style development

• Communicate the fit and construction requirements and corrections clearly to factories, anticipating potential production issues, and work out any problems that arise

• Problem solve fit and fabric issues as they arise

• Coordinate approval of garments and specs

• Maintain production deadlines and the organization/logistics of samples

• Review each sample for quality, construction, and OAK + FORT standards, with a strong understanding of fit and finish requirements

• Continuously develop, maintain and elevate fit standards

• Support in the development of process and procedures for the TechnicalDevelopment team

• Support in the creation of standards manual for product categories, labels placement and QA testing

FIT

• Continuously develop, maintain and elevate fit standards

• Keep design concept in mind throughout the fitting process from the first proto through all stages of pre-production samples, to the final size sets and top of production samples

• Support the Senior Manager, Technical Development in fittings and day-to-day work

• Work closely with Design team from first proto fitting stage to establish desired look and fit of garment on model.

• Develop on-the-body fits with the design team for seasonal product

• Active participation in the fit sessions - give feedback on fit improvements

LEADERSHIP

• Attain departmental goals for self

• Support the Senior Manager, Technical Development in mentoring junior team members and contribute to the development of training resources

• Improve and maintain departmental process Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to drive process consistency in the department as well as provide training documents for new hires

PRODUCT CALENDAR

• Meet technical design timelines for development and production

• Manage technical design timelines and prioritize workload

• Create partnerships with cross-functional partners to ensure the collection is delivered on time and design direction is clear

OTHER

• Other projects and responsibilities as assigned

What We're Looking For:

You’ve had experience with:

• 3+ years of industry experience in Technical Development and/or pattern making;

• Denim experience a strong asset

• Proficiency in MS office (Excel/Word/Outlook), Adobe Illustrator, PLM software

You’re likely someone who:

• Passionate about both the technical and aesthetic dimensions of product; brings a keen eye for fit, proportion, and design detail

• Highly organized, solutions-oriented, and collaborative; a self-starter who takes ownership of their category

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable working cross-functionally with design, production, and vendor partners

Why You’ll Love It Here:

• Extremely generous employee discount starting from day one

• Health and dental benefits

• Paid vacation time off

• An opportunity be a part of our growth journey

• Work amongst an exceptionally talented team

Our Values:

ABOVE + BEYOND

We strive for something greater than ourselves.

SELF STARTER

Entrepreneurship is the mindset that leads to endless curiosity and continuous improvement.

UNIQUELY YOU

We practice acceptance through open-mindedness and personal responsibility.

CHANGE DRIVER

We embrace change and never fear what’s next.

PEOPLE POWERED

At the core of our brand we are powered by each other.

OUR COMMITMENT TO A HUMAN HIRING PROCESS

At OAK+FORT, we believe every application deserves thoughtful consideration. While we embrace technology in many parts of our business, we do not use AI or automated systems to screen resumes or make hiring decisions. Every application is reviewed by a member (human) of our team to ensure a fair and personalized process.

We are committed to hiring practices that are transparent, inclusive, and human-centered, because we know our people are at the heart of our success.

We strive to provide an outstanding experience to every individual who shows interest in our organization. Our goal is to ensure that you receive clear communication, regular updates and have a dedicated recruiter to support your hiring journey with us. We believe that every candidate journey should be unique, and that honesty, integrity and transparency are carried throughout.

Once you’ve submitted your application, here is what you can expect:

• A response confirming that we have received your application.

• Your application will be reviewed by our recruitment team.

• Only candidates that are selected for an interview will be contacted directly by a recruiter or hiring manager.

• Your first connection is a 30 minute video interview.

• You can expect two additional interviews with the hiring team, and a short assignment following the interview

• We will request references before moving to a final offer.

OAK + FORT is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a respectful, diverse, and unique approach to hiring individuals in the communities in which we operate – allowing each person to be their authentic selves. Our hiring commitment applies to all candidates and employees regardless of race, ethnicity, citizenship, creed, place of origin, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, family status, marital status, disability, age, and any other protected characteristic.

Requests for accommodation due to any disability or any other protected characteristic can be made at any stage of the recruitment process and during employment by contacting our People & Culture team. Employee pay will vary based on factors such as qualifications, experience, skill level, competencies and work location.