Manager, Alterations Trainer

Manager, Alterations Trainer

At CHANEL, we are focused on creating an inclusive culture that nurtures personal growth, contributing to collective progress. We believe the uniqueness of each individual increases the diversity, complementarity, and effectiveness of our teams. We strongly encourage your application, as we value the perspective, experience, and potential you could bring to CHANEL. 

About the role: 

We are looking for a national Manager, Alterations Trainer who will be responsible for the skills development of our alterations team members across the U.S. This individual will play a key role in the technical skills assessments of our Alterationists, the recruitment of new team members in partnership with People & Organization, animation of the learning path for the existing population and newcomers and developing the knowledge and agility of the teams in using key digital tools. The Manager, Alterations Trainer role requires strong knowledge, expertise and practical application ability across alterations techniques including specialized areas like leather, denim, knitwear and high-end pieces. The ability to confidently transmit these skills across various expertise levels through formats including public speaking and one-on-one coaching is essential for success in this role. This role will be focused on spending time with alterations team members in boutiques across the U.S., as well as in centralized learning environments. The Manager, Alterations Trainer will collaborate closely with and be guided by the strategy of the CHANEL & moi team in order to strengthen the CHANEL & moi commitment across Ready-to-Wear services. 

What impact you can create at CHANEL: 

PEOPLE & RESOURCES: 

• Assesses technical and Client relationships skills across Alterationist population to map the existing skill levels, identify gaps in head count and skill sets and determine appropriate learning needs and development solutions 

• Partners with Boutique Management and P&O teams in the recruitment process of the new Alterationists, specifically conducting skills evaluations

• Evaluates Boutique Workshops efficiency, flows and technical equipment, machines and working conditions and coordinates ordering of any necessary elements 

• Develops the knowledge and agility with key digital tools including ACET (After Sales Client Experience Tool), Repair and Alteration App and IFL (Inside Fashion Learning) among the relevant populations

LEARNING PATH & ANIMATION:  

• Contributes to the building and animation of the learning path, both for existing population and newcomers

• Transmits the savoir-faire and the rules to offer the Perfect Fit to guarantee the respect of Creation and harmonize alteration services based on the Global recommendations

• Animates the technical training sessions and the follow-up with the Alterationist population 

• Co-animates and effectively delivers any CHANEL & moi seminars or training sessions on relevant topics across tailoring techniques and client relationships

• Partners with CHANEL & moi team to help improve the Client Experience and Boutique alteration KPI’s

• Acts as key point of contact for the alteration savoir-faire at the Global level and for the Regional Alteration community, providing key feedback to continue to evolve the best learning path

• Partners with learning and product teams of each boutique to ensure the sharing and retention of knowledge among Alterationists and FAs

• Completes the Global learning path to continuously develop own level of tailoring expertise and training skills 

APPRENTICESHIPS:  

• Collaborates with the CHANEL & moi team in the creation of an apprenticeship program and the assessment and the recruitment of Apprentices.

• Forms and maintains strong relationships with key schools. 

• Contributes to the creation and execution of the Apprentice learning path and follow-up.

ALTERATIONS SCHOOL:  

• Contributes to the creation of any potential Alterations school.

• Identifies equipment needs and recommendation on architectural features.

•  Identifies the need concerning tools and Couture material at the service of an optimized learning experience. 

• Oversees the workshop organization and technical management.

• Collaborates on any recruitment as above.

You are energized by: 

• The history and heritage of the House of CHANEL

• Motivating and coaching team members

• Building and fostering a team-focused culture

• Demonstrating your strong attention to detail and technical background in specialty skills, such as leather, knits, double-face, beading, fine tailoring, buttonholes, etc.

• Building an exceptional Alterations service experience

• Public Speaking

What you will bring to the team: 

The Manager, Alterations Trainer role requires an expert fiitter level of expertise and a passion for effective transmission of knowledge and skills.  

• Excellent understanding of the CHANEL style and allure

• Excellent mastery of sewing (tailoring and flou): at least 10 years of experience in a tailoring or alteration workshop

• Mastery of morphologies, perfect fit and fitting ceremony

• Knowledge of the collections and ready-to-wear products

• Possess strong interpersonal communication skills

• Understanding of, and passion for client experience

• Strong training and presentation skills, and an eagerness to share knowledge

• Relational ease, openness, tact

• Autonomy, ability to plan and organize

• Basic PowerPoint and Excel skills

• Ability to lift 20 pounds, sit or stand for extended periods, and bend, reach and kneel periodically.  

• Must be at ease and flexible regarding local and international travel (up to 30% travel, international and domestic)

Compensation: 

• The anticipated base salary range for this position is $145,000.00 through $150,000.00. Base salary is one component of the total compensation for this position. Other forms of variable pay may be offered for this position. Other components may include bonus potential, benefits, and/or perks.

Benefits and Perks: 

• Wellbeing resources include dedicated paid time off for wellbeing (Wellbeing Days in Retail) and a Wellbeing fund

• Family and care giving benefits (inclusive of parental leave, fertility support, MilkStork, and Care.com Membership)

• Generous paid time off policies to include vacation, holiday, sick and volunteer days

• 401K and other incentives

• Robust healthcare offerings; medical, dental, vision, MDLIVE (virtual care), One Medical, Flexible Spending Accounts (Health Care & Dependent Care), Health Savings Account and Employee Assistance Program

• Life insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Health Advocate, International Business Travel Accident & Medical, and Commuter Transit & Parking

Additional Information: 

CHANEL is a private company whose values are grounded in creating the conditions for people to perform at their best and feel fulfilled and confident in their work. We offer a unique work environment where individuals are encouraged to better understand the brand, the business, and motivations, so that together we can unlock the possibilities of growth. This is reflected in: 

Diversity and Inclusion: 

• At CHANEL, we are intentional in promoting Diversity & Inclusion. We foster respect, empathy, and dignity for all.  We believe strongly that the diversity of our people across the full spectrum of human differences is essential to our organisation and the connections we have with each other and our clients. 

• We offer Employee Resource Groups in the US that are voluntary, open to all, employee-led groups formed around a shared identity or lived experience, whose aim is to foster a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community aligned with the values and missions of the communities they support.

CHANEL Community: 

• CHANEL Community empowers our employees to channel their passions, talents, and sense of purpose to contribute to and learn from our communities.

• Employees are encouraged to take time off annually to volunteer through CHANEL Community. CHANEL also matches employee donations to select charitable organizations.

Sustainability: 

• CHANEL Mission 1.5° is our climate action plan. It is focused on transforming the business in line with the ambitions of the Paris Agreement on climate change to limit the average global mean temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.

• Employees are encouraged to contribute to our US Sustainability efforts at the corporate level and within the divisions, through organized taskforces and initiatives.

Arts and Culture: 

• We are committed to extending our legacy of cultural engagement. Global support includes the CHANEL Culture Fund, which supports a select group of leading art culture institutions across the globe, and the CHANEL Next Prize for the next generation of creative talent.  US support currently includes Annual sponsorship of the MoMA film program, Tribeca Film Festival programs and Through Her Lens, Support of the Academy Gold Fellowship for Women and Sponsorship of the BAAND Together Dance Festival at Lincoln Center.

Fondation CHANEL: 

• Since 2011, Fondation CHANEL’s mission is for women and girls to be free to shape their own destiny.  Through multi-year partnerships with financial and technical support, Fondation CHANEL is committed to improving the safety and autonomy of women and adolescent girls around the world, impacting over a million women and girls in its first 10 years. 

• For more information, please navigate to the Fondation CHANEL website here.

Career and Leadership Development: 

• We have dedicated in-house teams focused on supporting the onboarding of employees, developing leadership skills via custom programs like Imagine CHANEL People, Heart of Leadership and group and individual coaching, and blended online and live classes offered on our Bloom platform and by skilled trainers, such as Shape Your Career, to develop career building skills.

*CHANEL, Inc. benefits and perks are dependent on eligibility and subject to modification by CHANEL at any time.