Product Testing and Compliance Specialist - Raleigh,NC

Johnnie-O is a branded lifestyle apparel company, founded in 2005 in Santa Monica, CA, that embodies living your best life. Its blend of Southern California lifestyle coupled with a hint of East Coast tradition and Midwest grit creates a truly distinct point of view within the lifestyle apparel industry. Johnnie-O is a unique lifestyle apparel brand providing classic, casual pieces for men, boys and women.  The Johnnie-O brand is both a personality and an experience that can be described as fun, fresh, tongue-in-cheek, accessible, active and family-oriented.

Johnnie-O is a fast-growing multi-channel apparel company. We seek to attract highly motivated individuals that want to work as a team and share in the commitment, responsibility and discipline required to achieve our vision. Johnnie-O management philosophy is based on responsibility and mutual respect.  We are a fun and dynamic bunch that are motivated in working to get the company to the next level. Our employees are smart, creative, and passionate individuals who meet the same superior standards we set for our products. We embrace talented people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. It is our goal to hire high-energy, diverse, bright, creative, and flexible individuals who thrive in a fast-paced work environment.

The Role

The Quality Testing Specialist will join with the Quality team to ensure that all apparel, footwear, and accessory products meet brand standards, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations. This role determines physical, performance, and safety testing by collaborating with design, development, sourcing, and manufacturing teams. This is a full-time on-site position based in our Raleigh, NC, offices. 

Job description & Overall Responsibility:

• Collaborates with the internal teams and outside labs to determine specific tests that are required and needed for Johnnie-O product (apparel & accessories) offerings.
• Review new raw materials with Product development to confirm testing standards have been met and document certifications and test results.
• Review and approve fabric content and care instructions for SMS labels in alignment with test results and regulatory requirements
• Coordinate with internal teams to define and maintain testing requirements that are in line with industry standards for each item.
• Collaborates with Suppliers to assure appropriate fabrics, garments, footwear, and accessories are presented to labs for testing to regulatory and Johnnie-O standards.
• Review and evaluate results and advise on risks/solutions with internal team and factory.
• Maintain a database of test results for customs, customers, and others who require the data.
• Manages communication with internal teams and vendors regarding test results, quality issues from testing, and corrective actions.
• Review and approve bulk labels to ensure accuracy of content and care instructions, and partner with Production and eCommerce teams to ensure all channels reflect correct information.
• Prepares and ships samples from inventory (when applicable) for third-party testing and evaluates results with stakeholders.
• Supports any claims by testing specimens and coordinating with channels to communicate results to customers/vendors.
• Ensure compliance with testing standards and legal requirements (all products).
• Own vendors follow up and deadlines for all testing.
• Monitors vendors for testing trends, repetitive negative results, and overall testing performance, and provide direction for improvements.
• Maintain and update SOPs for testing processes, submission requirements, and lab/factory communication
• Review and approve testing invoices in collaboration with accounting
• Manage Children’s Product Certification (CPC), including tracking, documentation, and uploads
• Provide Certificates of Compliance (CoC) for retail partners (e.g., TJMaxx and others)
• Assist the product development team in reviewing and approving bulk submissions (colligate/seasonal).
• Participate in other tasks and projects as assigned.

Location: Raleigh, NC

Position: Full Time/ On Site

Reports To: Quality Assurance Manager

Knowledge & Skill Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field
• 5+ years in apparel manufacturing, testing, compliance and/or textile and garment construction—Familiarity with major testing labs (BV, QIMA, ITS, etc.)
• Ability to research, attend virtual workshops, seminars, etc., to maintain up-to-date knowledge of testing standards and regulations.
• Good organization with judgment and strong attention to detail
• Effective English written and verbal communication- Foreign languages a plus.
• Strong working knowledge of Excel and the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Must show ability to work independently, as well as be a team player.
• Must show strong attention to detail.

Physical Demands & Work Environment: The physical demands and Work environment described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position is in an indoor, environme ntally controlled office, and the noise level is usually moderate.

• The employee may occasionally be required to stoop and may frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus and Color perception.

• May require some domestic travel to warehouses, workshops, testing labs, etc.

Benefits & Compensation

• Challenging position with opportunities for advancement
• Salaried Position with  bonus opportunities
• Paid time off, paid holidays, paid sick time, Paid volunteer opportunities.
• Health/Dental/Vision/FSA/ Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Life Insurance benefits, Short-Long term disability insurance benefits, retirement Savings Plan
• Employee discounts
• Casual Dress environment in a family-oriented work environment

To apply for this exciting job opportunity, please send your resume to: Wanda@Johnnie-O.com

We appreciate your interest in our company and look forward to hearing from you.