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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Knitting Coordinator

💰 $55,000 - $75,000

Apparel & FashionProduct DevelopmentProductionSupply Chain

🎯 Role Definition

The Knitting Coordinator serves as the central operational hub for our knitwear collections, acting as the critical link between the design team's creative vision and the tangible, finished product. This individual meticulously manages the entire product development and production lifecycle, from initial yarn sourcing and tech pack creation to sample tracking and final bulk production oversight. The role demands a robust combination of technical knitwear expertise, exceptional project management skills, and a collaborative mindset to effectively partner with designers, technical teams, and a global network of mills and factories. Ultimately, the Knitting Coordinator is accountable for ensuring our knitwear is produced on time, within budget, and to the impeccable quality standards our brand is known for.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Product Development Assistant
  • Knitwear Assistant or Intern
  • Assistant Technical Designer

Advancement To:

  • Senior Knitting Coordinator
  • Knitwear Product Developer
  • Production Manager (Knitwear)

Lateral Moves:

  • Production Coordinator (Wovens/Other Categories)
  • Technical Designer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Manage the complete end-to-end development and production calendar for all knitwear categories, ensuring all key milestones are met from concept to in-dc date.
  • Collaborate closely with the Design team to interpret creative concepts, providing technical guidance on yarn selection, stitch techniques, and construction feasibility.
  • Initiate and maintain all technical packages (tech packs) in the PLM system, ensuring all details including BOMs, construction notes, and measurements are accurate and up-to-date.
  • Source new and seasonal yarns, trims, and materials by working directly with mills and suppliers, managing the yarn library and presenting options to the design team.
  • Request and track all development samples, including proto, fit, salesman, and pre-production samples, ensuring they are received on schedule for key review meetings.
  • Review and provide detailed, clear comments on all sample submissions for construction, quality, fit, and adherence to tech pack specifications.
  • Manage the lab dip, strike-off, and handloom approval process, ensuring accurate color and pattern matching from development through to bulk production.
  • Build and maintain strong, professional relationships with overseas and domestic factories, serving as the primary point of contact for all daily production-related communication.
  • Issue, track, and manage purchase orders (POs) for both sample development and bulk production, ensuring accuracy in costing, quantities, and delivery dates.
  • Actively monitor Work in Progress (WIP) reports from all vendors, proactively identifying and resolving potential delays or production issues to maintain on-time delivery.
  • Negotiate initial and final production costing with factory partners to achieve target margin goals without compromising garment quality or design intent.
  • Oversee all bulk production approvals, including top-of-production (TOP) samples, shade bands, and bulk yarn lots, to guarantee consistency with approved standards.
  • Partner with the Technical Design team to ensure fit intent is accurately communicated and executed by the factory partners throughout the sampling process.
  • Maintain and organize the physical library of development samples, yarn qualities, stitch swatches, and color standards for team reference.
  • Coordinate with third-party testing facilities to ensure all knitwear products meet company performance, safety, and compliance standards.

Secondary Functions

  • Prepare and analyze weekly and seasonal production status reports for cross-functional teams, highlighting any risks to delivery schedules.
  • Assist in the development and documentation of new processes and best practices to improve the overall efficiency of the knitwear supply chain.
  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory analysis related to costing, lead times, and vendor performance.
  • Contribute to the organization's material and vendor strategy by researching and vetting potential new mill and factory partners.
  • Collaborate with business units, such as merchandising and planning, to translate assortment needs into clear production and development requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies if the product development team follows that methodology.
  • Attend and provide input during key design, merchandising, and production meetings to ensure alignment across all functions.
  • Support the onboarding of new vendors by clearly communicating company standards, protocols, and expectations.
  • Maintain comprehensive records of costing, negotiations, and final agreed-upon prices for historical analysis and future reference.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Expert Knitwear Knowledge: Deep understanding of knitwear construction, various knitting machine types, gauges, yarn properties, and different stitch techniques (e.g., intarsia, jacquard, plating).
  • PLM Proficiency: Hands-on experience with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems such as Centric, FlexPLM, or BlueCherry for tech pack and PO management.
  • MS Excel Mastery: Advanced ability to create and manage complex spreadsheets for tracking WIPs, costing, and production calendars.
  • Adobe Suite Skills: Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator for creating and editing technical sketches and construction callouts.
  • Costing and Negotiation: Proven ability to analyze cost breakdowns, negotiate pricing with vendors, and manage budgets to achieve margin targets.
  • Color Evaluation: A keen eye for color and the ability to accurately evaluate and approve lab dips and shade bands under various light sources.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional Organization: Ability to manage multiple seasons and a high volume of SKUs simultaneously without sacrificing attention to detail.
  • Proactive Communication: Clear, concise, and proactive written and verbal communication skills for effective correspondence with global partners and internal teams.
  • Problem-Solving Acumen: A resourceful and solution-oriented mindset, capable of anticipating issues and troubleshooting production challenges effectively.
  • Time Management: Strong ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment to ensure critical path milestones are met.
  • Collaborative Spirit: A team player attitude with the ability to build and maintain positive, productive relationships with cross-functional partners.
  • Adaptability: Flexibility to pivot and adapt to changing priorities, timelines, and business needs.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree or equivalent practical experience in the apparel industry.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Fashion Design or Merchandising
  • Textile Science or Textile Development
  • Apparel Production or Manufacturing

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3-5 years of direct experience in an apparel product development or production role, with a strong focus on knitwear.

Preferred:

  • Experience working for a contemporary, advanced contemporary, or luxury fashion brand with complex garment construction. Direct, hands-on experience managing communication with a diverse portfolio of overseas mills and factories is highly desired.
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