Joules
Joules Compliance & Quality Lead
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Job Description
The Role
Step into the role of Compliance & Quality Lead.
Discover an exciting opportunity to take on an integral role here at Joules Head Office working within our brilliant Technology & Quality team.
Working Pattern: This is a full time role based at 'The Barn', Joules' purpose built Head Office in Market Harborough, Leicestershire. The typical hours for this role are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and this is an onsite role.
Our Location
Market Harborough in Leicestershire is where Joules began in 1989. This market town is home to the brand's Head Office and is full of independent shops, bars and restaurants. It also benefits from good transport links to London, making it easily accessible for visitors and commuters alike. It is the perfect place to mix a rewarding career with a bit of well-dressed time off.
What You'll Do
You will lead the charge on product integrity from concept to final production, ensuring every piece of clothing reflects our commitment to durability. Operating as the main point of contact between our Buying, Sourcing, and Technical teams, you will champion compliance, sustainability, and quality.
Your day to day responsibilities will include:
Technical Leadership
- Lead and develop the Compliance and Fabric Technologist teams, providing clear direction, prioritisation, and coaching to build technical capability while ensuring alignment with our technical standards, critical path requirements, and continuous improvement.
Regulatory Compliance
- Ensure everything we create complies with UK, EU, and international regulations, from product safety to AGEC and Restricted Substances, while staying aligned with NEXT Group frameworks. Monitor regulatory developments and changes, advising internal teams on upcoming compliance requirements, potential risks, and business impacts.
Sustainability & Responsible Sourcing
- Drive our commitment to the planet by overseeing responsible sourcing for cotton, leather, and man-made cellulosics, and making sure our green claims are completely substantiated.
- Working closely with the NEXT Group Sustainability and Compliance teams, leveraging their expertise and frameworks to support Joules’ compliance, sustainability and responsible sourcing objectives.
Product Testing & Quality Assurance
- Own the governance of all testing activities, from fabric approvals to garment testing, ensuring everything meets our strict standards on time.
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Supplier Engagement
- Act as the technical lead for our suppliers, supporting the Buying team with onboarding and helping our partners meet our sustainability goals.
Systems & Continuous Improvement
- Keep our compliance tracking platforms and internal systems spotless, using data like PowerBI dashboards to constantly sharpen our efficiency.
Training
- Keep our internal teams and suppliers educated sharing knowledge on the latest regulatory changes and industry best practices.
What You'll Bring
To really shine within the role of Compliance & Quality Lead, you must be able to work flexibly and at pace with a natural ability to lead and inspire. You possess a true appreciation for the craft, balancing a retail governance mindset with commercial awareness.
From a technical and operational perspective, it would also be advantageous if you have:
- Experience in apparel or textile compliance, product safety, or technical quality role, with deep expertise in product legislation.
- A strong understanding of UK and EU regulatory frameworks affecting apparel.
- Experience managing compliance risk, regulatory interpretation, and supplier compliance performance.
- Proven experience leading and developing people.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, allowing you to influence effortlessly across retail and supply chain environments.
- A background in product testing, quality assurance, and supplier compliance management would be ideal.
- Familiarity with digital compliance platforms, reporting tools like PowerBI, or ESG traceability systems, which is highly desirable.
Sponsorship
In accordance with Home Office guidance successful candidates will be required to evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. Joules does not hold a Sponsor Licence and would not, therefore, be able to sponsor a successful candidate under the Skilled Worker route. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the right to work without sponsorship.
Please note that we may close the advert early if the required level of applications is received - this role requires an immediate start so apply now to receive early consideration.
About Us
Our Working Way
At Joules, we honour our British heritage while creating products and experiences that delight, inspire, and connect with our customers every day. We are committed to bringing freshness and innovation to our collections, delivering style, quality, and joy in every season. We strive to be the leading brand in preppy, heritage ‘time off’ clothing, offering standout outerwear and rainwear, layered autumn and winter essentials, fresh spring and summer styles, and a broad selection across womenswear, menswear, kidswear, and homeware.
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At Joules we lead on product, design, print, creative brand strategy and marketing whilst NEXT supports retail, HR, finance, distribution, customer service and returns - offering operational excellence.
About The Team
- 23 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Health and Wellbeing benefits - Opt in Healthcare cash plan, free digital GP via the Aviva App, Wellhub app access with discounted gym membership, free access to an array of health and wellness apps and much more
- We offer flexible start and finish times and discretionary flexibility to support your needs and help you navigate life's demands as and when your work allows
- 25% staff discount on Joules and NEXT products
- Up to 10% off most NEXT partner Brands & Branded Beauty products
- Up to 25% off Joules partner Brands
- Opt-in clothing allowance
- Access to fantastic discounts at our NEXT staff shop
- Life assurance
- Reward Schemes - From a cycle to work scheme to discounts with nearly 1000 retailers
- Collaborative, progressive and supportive working environment
- Competitive employer pension contributions
- Financial, physical and mental wellbeing support via our Employee Assistance Program
- Dedicated Learning and Development
- The Cafe - Our infamous on-site cafe offering subsidised, healthy, fresh and varied food available from breakfast through to lunch and beyond
- Free on-site Parking & low cost EV charging points
Conditions apply to all benefits. These benefits are discretionary and subject to change.
We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary. Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long-term condition, feel free to get in touch with us by email headoffice_joulesHR@next.co.uk (please include 'Workplace Adjustments' in the subject line), or call us on 0116 284 2486 and leave a voicemail.
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