Sewing Operations Supervisor at Spoonflower | Powderkeg

Location: Durham, NC

Employment Type: Full Time

Team: Sewing Operations

The Company

Spoonflower’s mission is to inspire individuals to make, buy and sell unique products built around color and pattern. Our e-commerce website makes it possible for individuals to create, sell, and shop for unique fabrics, wallpaper and home decor, such as bedding and table linens. Many of the designers who use Spoonflower to create products also use it to sell their artwork, making Spoonflower the world’s largest marketplace of surface designs. The community of designers and shoppers who make up Spoonflower is central to what we do. Our goal is to continue to expand the reach of Spoonflower’s services internationally, and, more generally, to expand the opportunities available for individuals to express themselves through color, pattern and personalization. At Spoonflower, creativity, customer-focus, resourcefulness, authenticity, fun and trust are the core values of our workplace. Our team is full of creative, multitalented individuals who embody -- like our customers -- a DIY ethic and an embrace of hard work. We offer team members competitive benefits, support of continuing education, the chance to learn new skills and to move within the company, and a dynamic and flexible company culture.

Position Summary

The role of the Sewing Operations Supervisor is to serve Spoonflower’s rapidly growing community of designers and customers as a leader within the Sewing Operations team. This position is responsible for participating in and supervising others in all aspects of Sewing Operations at Spoonflower, which includes cutting fabric, preparing items to be sewn, sewing, serging, cubbying, ironing, prepping, and shipping orders, as well as monitoring the quality of both the product and the sewing process at every step. The Sewing Operations Supervisor oversees the productivity and performance of those who are on their shift to ensure that sewing goals are being met. The Sewing Operations Supervisor has a complete mastery of the functions and tasks involved in Sewing Operations, and is proficient in Floor Operations tasks adjacent to sewing, such as cutting and shipping. The Sewing Operations Supervisor works closely with their team to ensure that Sewing Operations is running properly and efficiently, and reports to the Sewing Operations Manager.

Responsibilites

  • Preparing items to be sewn and organizing items in all stages of sewing production.

  • Sewing all Finished Goods products.

  • Finishing and prepping items for shipping.

  • Packaging and shipping finished goods.

  • Quality assurance of all products, understanding the expectations and needs of Spoonflower customers.

  • Participates in production work when business needs demand it.

  • Shipping finished products to customers to both domestic and international addresses. Assuring the orders are correct, complete, routed to the correct customer, and that the packages are stored in the proper place until pick-up.

  • **Leads a team of Sewing Specialists and is thus responsible for: **

  • Ensure the team is productive, efficient, and producing good quality work.

  • Help the team to grow and develop, including ensuring that teammates are properly trained and mentored, are following correct procedures during all stages of production, and have access to necessary information.

  • Lead training and mentoring sewists and sewing staff.

  • Oversee the sewing training program for members of the sewing team, ensuring that sewists are properly trained on equipment and on product specifications.

  • Partner with the Managing Supervisor to communicate quality and efficiency standards, and track the productivity and efficiency of the team.

  • Help to set goals and challenges for the team that will improve the performance of the team and ensure customer satisfaction.

  • Participate in performance management tasks for the sewing operations team, including progressive discipline, performance counseling, performance reviews and meetings with sewing team members to correct performance or behavior.

  • Provide just-in-time feedback to members of the Sewing team regarding their performance.

  • Provide a good model of performance, positive attitude and professional behavior to all members of the team.

  • Troubleshoot and find creative solutions to unexpected problems and properly report issues.

  • Attend, participate in and lead meetings related to the Sewing team as needed/requested.

  • Take an active role in projects that will improve and benefit the work environment and team.

  • Report directly to and give feedback to the Sewing Operations Managing Supervisor.

  • Work closely with members of other departments as needed to facilitate efficient operations, communicate issues, or to engage in cross-departmental projects.

  • Other tasks or assignments as business needs may require.

Environmental Conditions

  • The ability to work in warm temperatures within the OSHA threshold.
  • The ability to work in an environment with machine and factory noise, either constant or intermittent, within OSHA safety thresholds.
  • Ability to work in dusty conditions, which are a natural result of working with fabric fibers.
  • The ability to withstand potentially strong or unpleasant factory smells which may include fabric, ink, solvent-based glue, and others.
  • Exposure to designs that you may consider offensive.
  • Exposure to latex, synthetic latex and other solvents.

Physical Requirements

  • Finger dexterity to cut fabric safely using handheld rotary cutters.
  • Lift approximately 35 lbs in assistance of loading, unloading and storing materials and equipment.
  • Able to stand or sit for prolonged periods as well as, stand, reach, or lift intermittently during the day.
  • May be necessary to work extended hours as needed.
  • Visual acuity in order to thread needles and operate sewing machines.
  • Ability to bend, pull, push, balance, kneel, twist, crouch, sit Ability to do repetitive wrist motion.

Safety Requirements

  • Responsible for reading and understanding Spoonflower’s Safety Program.
  • Responsible for knowing the Spoonflower Emergency Evacuation Plan
  • Responsible for following all employer health and safety safety rules and regulations directives.
  • Responsible for reporting hazardous conditions to Spoonflower.
  • Responsible for reporting any job-related injury or illness to the employer, and seek treatment promptly.

Administrative Functions

  • Develops and maintains written records for all activities completed.
  • Utilizes work email effectively to communicate and stay up to date.
  • Comfortable with software and new technology, and ability to become proficient in using Spoonflower features.

Relationship Building

  • Establish and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues and vendors.
  • Professionally resolve any conflicts.
  • Able to communicate and work effectively with people from other departments.
  • Report on the progress and status of any project given by a Manager, or the status of anyone being mentored or trained.
  • Participate in industry affiliations, community organizations and company sponsored events when possible.

Competencies

  • Communication: Communicates efficiently, effectively, and through the proper channels to teammates and colleagues about orders, tasks, and information. Communicates effectively with managers and coworkers, to give and take feedback, and to report any problems or issues. Written communications employ a professional standard of grammar, spelling, and composition.

  • Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely and appropriate manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully.

  • Customer Service: Respects the customer in every way by committing to provide the customer with a high quality product in a timely manner. Communication about and to customers is done with respect.

  • Time Management: Prioritizes and plans work activities in an organized manner and uses time efficiently to maximize productivity. Personal activities and needs are managed so as to have the least possible impact on work requirements.

  • Good Judgement and Professionalism: Makes good decisions around production, as well as models a calm and mature demeanor to co-workers, directing any personnel issues to the Sewing Operations Manager.

  • Organization: Keeps written documentation and all project-work organized.

  • Quality Control: Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness, and monitors own work to ensure quality and apply feedback to improve performance.

  • Productivity: Meets productivity standards and completes work in a timely manner.

  • Adaptability: Adapts to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands and is able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events. Also, stays up to date and current on all new technologies and processes necessary for the job, and is willing to learn new technologies and printing equipment as the company moves forward.

  • Dependability: Consistently at work and on time, honest in all dealings, follows instructions.

  • Safety and Security: Observes safety and security procedures and uses equipment and materials properly.

Job Requirements and Qualifications

  • At least 3 years of sewing and serging experience, with experience on industrial machines preferred.
  • High School Diploma or equivalent.
  • Experience supervising or managing a team.
  • Basic computer literacy for operation of our internal and shipping software.

Schedule Requirements

  • Because Spoonflower runs with 24-hour operations, employees are required to work the schedule agreed upon with their supervisor, which may be during 2nd or 3rd shift hours and/or weekends.
  • Employees must be timely, arriving promptly for their shifts, and not leaving before their shift is complete.
  • Supervisors should make an effort to be available and responsive by phone and email, even when not in the office, in order to help their team if the need arises.
  • Employees must be able to flex up and work more hours during times of heavy order flow, or flex down and work less hours during slow business periods.
  • Flexibility to come in for additional training and meetings, as needed.

What can we offer you?

  • 100% company paid medical premiums for you and your family
  • 93% of qualifying medical expenses covered by the company
  • 401K with a 4% company match
  • 120 hours of PTO a year
  • 88 hours of flexible holiday pay
  • $75 Monthly Creativity Benefit

Interested?

If you're interested in joining Spoonflower, please send a cover letter, telling us what inspires you about Spoonflower and why you think you are perfect for our team. We are as interested in knowing who you are as we are in knowing what you can do. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Include in your letter a URL for any/all your online material that you would like to share with us, including resume, blog, or portfolio of work.

We have a trove of talented individuals in the Durham and RTP areas. Therefore, only local candidates will be considered.

We look forward to hearing from you!

To all agencies: Please, no phone calls or emails to any employee of Spoonflower, Inc. about this job posting. All resumes submitted by search firms/employment agencies to any employee at Spoonflower, Inc. via-email, the internet or in any form and/or method will be deemed the sole property of Spoonflower, Inc. unless such search firms/employment agencies were engaged by Spoonflower, Inc. for this requisition and a valid agreement with Spoonflower, Inc. is in place. In the event a candidate who was submitted outside of the Spoonflower, Inc. agency engagement process is hired, no fee or payment of any kind will be paid.

To qualify for employment at Spoonflower, Inc., applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and should not require, now or in the future, sponsorship for employment visa status. Spoonflower is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, protected veteran or military status, genetic information, or any legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulation or ordinances.

Job Summary
  • Job Title
    Sewing Operations Supervisor
  • Company
    Spoonflower
  • Location
    Durham, NC
  • Employment Type
    Full time
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