Job Title: Technical Innovation Manager
Reporting to: Site Director
An exciting new opportunity has arisen for a Technical Innovation Manager to join our team in Hawick. Our Scottish Borders-based Hawick Research & Design Centre is situated in our knitwear mill, where we have the latest state of the art Shima Seiki knitting machines, significant technical development and sampling resource. We are recognised as the go-to Scottish manufacturer for the world’s leading couture houses and are continually progressing our own brand journey at the same time.
By joining our busy & dynamic team, you will be able to build a successful career in a growing and globally recognised family-owned company.
This is a full time, permanent post working Monday to Friday (38 hours per week). This role is based on site. You may be required to travel for work from time to time, as reasonably required by the Company. This may occasionally include overnight stays away from home.
We are offering a competitive salary, based on candidates experience and skills.
About the Role
The main purpose of the role is to lead material and technical innovation within a premium Made in Scotland knitwear business supplying luxury, private label brands. This role will focus on advancing yarn innovation, elevating product quality, and creating distinctive, commercially relevant knitwear and knitted accessories through cutting-edge material development and technical expertise.
Key responsibilities for this role will include -
- Translate advanced material and yarn innovation into commercially viable knitwear and accessory products with exceptional handfeel, quality, and performance.
- Build and manage a differentiated yarn strategy that strengthens the business’s position as a leading Made in Scotland manufacturer.
- Guide development teams on yarn selection and application across different structures, gauges, and product categories.
- Introduce new thinking from broader textile disciplines to elevate knitwear innovation and product differentiation.
- Partner closely with design, development, and production teams to deliver innovative, luxury-quality products from concept through to bulk production.
- Troubleshoot technical challenges during sampling and production, ensuring consistent quality and seamless execution.
- Work with commercial and customer teams to develop bespoke, differentiated product propositions for luxury private label clients.
- Integrate innovation with traditional Scottish craftsmanship, enhancing heritage techniques while evolving them through modern materials and processes.
- Drive sustainability through the adoption of responsible fibres and processes, improving traceability, product longevity, and environmental performance while maintaining strong supplier partnerships and awareness of global innovation trends.
- Perform any additional or alternative duties as requested by the Director[s] as is reasonably expected within the role.
About you
Our ideal candidate will -
- Have technical knitwear knowledge, with a minimum of 3 years industry experience following a design (or other relevant) degree to support this.
- Have a strong understanding of yarn performance, machine capabilities, tensions & gauges.
- Have a flexible, can do approach.
- Be enthusiastic and willing to learn new skills and techniques.
- Have excellent IT skills in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and Microsoft Office.
- Have the ability to manage several tasks and projects simultaneously whilst prioritising workload.
- Have excellent organisational skills with a high attention to detail.
- Be a confident communicator that enjoys working with a variety of people.
- Passionate about delivering a high standard of quality
What You Can Expect from Us
At Johnstons of Elgin, we value our team and understand that our people are at the heart of our success. Here’s what we offer:
- Competitive Salary
- Pension Contribution
- Work-Life Balance
- Generous Holiday Allowance
- Life Assurance
- Employee Discounts
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Social Perks
About Us
Founded in 1797, Johnstons of Elgin is an innovative, luxury clothing brand celebrating over 225 years of experience in working with the world’s finest fibres. Across three centuries, our family-owned company has carefully sources cashmere and fine woollen fibres from around the world, ing the latest technology and highest quality craft expertise in our very own vertical Scottish mills. Employing over 1,000 staff, our valued employees and communities are at the heart of everything we do, producing unique, high-quality designs that are made to last. Our brand is focused on sustainability, working with natural, renewable, and biodegradable fibres and we are committed to maintaining a minimal environmental footprint.
Johnstons of Elgin is proud to be an equal opportunity employer wholeheartedly supporting the principles of equality and diversity to build an inclusive workforce. Our aim is to embed diversity and inclusion in everything we do to create an environment where our employees feel safe to be their whole authentic self without having to downplay or change parts of their identity. We celebrate diversity in all its forms, which goes beyond those characteristics protected by law to include everything that makes us unique, from our backgrounds and experiences to our personalities and ways of thinking.
We endeavour to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and encourage any candidate who requires assistance to contact us at
[email protected].
Don’t meet every requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to to jobs unless they meet every single requirement or qualification. At Johnstons of Elgin, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but think your experience doesn’t align perfectly with the job description, we encourage you to anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
Please note all applicants must be able to provide evidence of their right to remain and take up paid employment in country job is based.
Closing date - Friday, 17 July 2026
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