Quality Assurance Manager

About the role

As a , you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the quality and compliance of our women's apparel products. This position focuses on maintaining consistency across various quality assurance processes, including care label approvals, third-party inspection reviews, and fabric testing. You will primarily manage quality outcomes through data analysis and effective communication with vendors, rather than through physical inspections. This role is essential for fostering collaboration between international vendors, inspection partners, and internal teams, ensuring that our products meet the high standards we set for sustainability and quality.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Oversee the management of overseas inspections and audits, dedicating approximately 65% of your time to reviewing third-party inspection reports from organizations like QIMA and Intertek. You will be responsible for approving shipments, addressing workmanship issues, and ensuring that shipments are accompanied by approved samples.
• Ensure care label compliance by verifying vendor-submitted labels against Bills of Materials (BOM), Product Information Management (PIM) systems, and Technical Packs. You will identify any discrepancies and coordinate necessary corrections with vendors.
• Manage the complete fabric and garment testing process, which includes reviewing overseas fabric reports, processing internal testing requests, and overseeing retests. You will also communicate rejection or replacement instructions to suppliers as needed.
• Track the arrival of Top of Production (TOP) and Technical samples while building weekly quality control capacity versus demand charts to ensure the team is prepared for incoming volumes.
• Collaborate with the Merchandising and Production teams to analyze high-return items, conducting inventory pulls and measurement checks against original inspection results for executive review.
• Investigate escalated quality issues from Import Production, coordinating re-audits and ensuring that vendors implement corrective actions to address any quality gaps.

Requirements

• A minimum of 4 to 6 years of experience in Apparel Quality Control, Quality Assurance, or Production, with a focus on managing offshore vendor quality through third-party inspection and testing programs.
• Strong technical knowledge of garment construction, fabric behavior, and inspection standards, including AQL and the differences between inline and final audits.
• Proficiency in cross-referencing complex data across BOMs, PIMs, Technical Packs, and laboratory reports.
• Intermediate skills in Excel, including the use of vlookups and pivot tables. Familiarity with NetSuite or PIM systems is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of fabric performance standards such as colorfastness, shrinkage, and seam strength, along with an understanding of lab testing methods.
• A Bachelor's degree in Textiles, Apparel Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Nice to have

• Experience in a fast-paced, high-volume production environment.
• Strong analytical skills with a keen eye for detail.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to provide clear and actionable feedback to both internal teams and external vendors.

Skills & tools

• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and familiar with data management systems.
• Strong understanding of quality assurance processes and standards in the apparel industry.
• Ability to work collaboratively across various teams, including Production, Tech Services, and Merchandising.

Practical notes

• This position requires you to work onsite at our Vernon HQ five days a week.
• The anticipated base salary for this role ranges from $70,000 to $77,000 annually, with eligibility for a 10% bonus based on various factors, including experience and qualifications.
• Reformation is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace culture where innovation thrives, and every team member has the opportunity to grow and succeed.

At Reformation, we are dedicated to sustainability and making a positive impact on the fashion industry. If you are passionate about quality assurance and want to contribute to a mission-driven company, we encourage you to apply and join our team in Los Angeles.