The posting
Leather Goods Making Supervisor
We are looking for an experienced Leather Goods Making Supervisor to lead daily workshop operations for handbag repair, restoration and custom leatherwork. You’ll assess incoming jobs, plan the team’s workload and oversee each piece from material selection to final inspection. You’ll also guide craftspeople through complex repairs and help them develop their technical skills.
Key responsibilities
- Assess bags and leather goods to determine suitable repair or replacement methods, materials and finishes.
- Plan workshop schedules, assign jobs based on each craftsperson’s skills and monitor progress against agreed completion dates.
- Supervise pattern making, cutting, skiving, hand and machine stitching, edge finishing, and hardware fitting. Provide hands-on support for complex jobs when needed.
- Review work at key stages and carry out final quality checks on fit, stitching, edge finish, colour and texture match, and hardware function.
- Train and mentor craftspeople, set clear workmanship standards and address recurring defects.
- Oversee leather and hardware stock, tool maintenance and safe workshop practices.
- Work with the sales and operations teams to confirm repair feasibility, explain expected outcomes and flag changes to the scope or timeline.
Qualifications
- Proven hands-on experience in leather goods making, handbag repair or fine leather goods production.
- Experience supervising craftspeople, assigning work and checking finished pieces.
- Strong knowledge of leather types, grains, thicknesses and finishes, with the ability to select replacement materials suited to the original piece.
- Proficiency in pattern adaptation, leather construction, hand and machine stitching, and edge finishing.
- Ability to explain technical decisions clearly and manage multiple jobs while maintaining consistent quality.
- Matching leather grain, colour and sheen for partial replacements.
- Improving workshop processes and training staff in specialist techniques.



