About Columbus Fashion Alliance

Columbus Fashion Alliance (CFA) is a nonprofit organization on a mission to create positive change for people and the planet through fashion. We believe the industry can be a genuine force for economic opportunity, environmental stewardship, and creative community—and we’re building the infrastructure to make that vision reality, one program, one maker, and one career at a time.

About The LOOM

At the heart of CFA’s work is The LOOM: a 43,000+ square-foot Fashion Innovation Center rising in downtown Columbus. The LOOM is a first-of-its-kind hub where workforce development, entrepreneurship, design, circular manufacturing, retail innovation, and community engagement converge under one roof.

The facility features production labs, design studios, educational classrooms, coworking space, photo studios, event venues, retail activation areas, and dedicated workforce training environments—all purpose-built for the future of fashion and the people who will shape it.

Our Core Values

These are the values that guide every decision at CFA—and what we look for in the people who join us.

Innovation — We challenge convention to build what fashion needs next.

Creativity — We turn bold ideas into original, expressive work.

Equity & Access — We open doors to opportunity for every community we serve.

Learning — We grow on purpose, and we help others grow too.

Community — We build belonging through connection and collaboration.

Impact — We measure success by the lasting change we create.

Why This Role Matters

The fashion industry’s future depends on skilled makers. And skilled makers depend on great teachers.

As domestic manufacturing rebounds and demand for circular production grows, the talent pipeline is the bottleneck. The Production & Workforce Training Manager exists to close that gap—by training the next generation of skilled sewists and production professionals, leading hands-on manufacturing work, and helping establish The LOOM as Ohio’s most important center for fashion workforce development and innovation.

You won’t be doing this alone. You’ll work alongside CFA’s industry partners, including ISAIC (the Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center), with the ability to bring in subject matter experts to co-teach, guest instruct, and expand your programming—so you can focus on what you do best.

This is not a back-office role. You will teach, produce, mentor, and build—every day. And your impact will be measurable in the careers you launch and the community you help create.

Position Overview

The Production & Workforce Training Manager serves as the operational and educational cornerstone of CFA’s production programming. This role uniquely blends the technical precision of an experienced production leader with the purpose of a skilled educator—a rare combination that makes this one of the most dynamic and meaningful roles in Columbus’s creative economy.

You will lead delivery of CFA’s RE/WORK workforce development program, manage production lab operations, execute production projects for CFA, and build the community relationships that make The LOOM a magnet for talent, industry, and innovation. The certification tracks are designed to run sequentially rather than simultaneously, and production work is integrated into training rather than a separate workstream—so the role stays focused and manageable.

You Will Report To

• Director of Learning Experience (primary—training & instruction)
• Director of Operations (production projects)

You Will Collaborate With

• Executive Director
• ISAIC & Industry Certification Partners
• Subject Matter Experts & Guest Instructors
• Manufacturing & Community Partners

Your Environment

• Creative manufacturing production lab
• Educational training studio
• Nonprofit fashion incubator
• Community-centered innovation center

Location

• The LOOM — Downtown Columbus, Ohio
• Full-time, on-site

Key Responsibilities

Workforce Development & Instruction · ~40% of Role

Lead delivery of CFA’s RE/WORK workforce development programming, preparing adult learners for careers in fashion manufacturing—with the full backing of CFA’s ISAIC partnership and a network of subject matter experts you can tap to supplement and enrich your programming.

• Teach the ISAIC Industrial Sewing Certification and ISAIC Repair Certification programs
• Facilitate industrial sewing training, garment construction courses, and repair & remanufacturing instruction
• Deliver technical workshops and workforce readiness experiences for adult learners at multiple skill levels
• Recruit, coordinate, and support subject matter expert guest instructors for specialized workshops—you curate and lead, not carry alone
• Support student assessment, skills evaluation, certification preparation, and career coaching
• Collaborate on development of new workshops, continuing education offerings, and industry-led learning experiences

Production Leadership · ~30% of Role

Lead and execute small-scale production projects for CFA—with performance-based financial incentives tied to production outcomes. This is where your technical craft drives tangible results. As CFA’s production capacity develops, this role is positioned to share in the results it helps create.

• Manage sample development, small-batch manufacturing, product development, and special production initiatives
• Provide technical expertise in garment construction, patternmaking, and manufacturing best practices
• Maintain rigorous quality control standards across all production projects
• Serve as primary subject matter expert for CFA’s production programs and manufacturing partnerships
• Participate in production incentive program as CFA’s project portfolio grows

Studio & Equipment Management · ~20% of Role

Maintain The LOOM’s production lab as a world-class learning and manufacturing environment that reflects the standards of CFA’s mission and the ambitions of its community.

• Oversee production lab operations, equipment maintenance schedules, and safety procedures
• Manage studio organization, inventory, materials, and supply ordering
• Build and refine systems, policies, and best practices that ensure safety, productivity, and inspiration
• Onboard and orient The LOOM members, students, and partners to production lab resources

Community & Industry Engagement · ~10% of Role

Represent CFA within Columbus’s fashion and manufacturing ecosystem. Build the relationships that make The LOOM a destination for talent, industry partners, and the community.

• Cultivate relationships with brands, manufacturers, workforce partners, and educational institutions
• Support events, workshops, tours, demonstrations, and community programming at The LOOM
• Serve as a trusted mentor and technical resource for members of The LOOM community
• Represent CFA at industry events and help grow the organization’s reputation as a production and training leader

First-Year Success Outcomes

We’ll know this hire was the right one when, within your first year, you have:

• Successfully delivered ISAIC Industrial Sewing Certification training to your first cohort
• Successfully delivered ISAIC Repair Certification training
• Developed and launched at least two additional production-focused workshops—with help from subject matter experts where it makes sense
• Established operational systems, maintenance protocols, and safety standards the production lab team is proud of
• Supported high-quality production projects that advance CFA’s mission and begin building your production incentive track record
• Become a trusted technical leader and mentor that The LOOM community turns to and celebrates
• Contributed meaningfully to the growth and reputation of CFA as a production and workforce development leader in Ohio

Beyond these outcomes, performance in this role will also be evaluated against CFA’s core values (see Our Core Values, above) as part of ongoing performance reviews.

Compensation & Benefits

CFA is committed to building a team that is compensated fairly, supported fully, and set up to grow. Here’s what this role offers:

Performance-based bonuses

Tied to production project outcomes

Health Benefits

Full benefits package

Medical, dental, vision

Professional Development

Paid training & certifications

ISAIC, industry conferences & more

Industry Network Access

ISAIC & CFA partner ecosystem

Relationships that build your career

Mentorship & Collaboration

Subject matter expert network

Bring in specialists; don’t go it alone

A note on production incentives: CFA is developing a performance-based incentive program tied to production project outcomes. This program is being built alongside The LOOM and will take shape as CFA’s production capacity grows. The person in this role will help shape it and will be eligible to participate as it develops.

Required Qualifications

Technical Expertise

• Advanced proficiency in garment construction, including complex pattern and technical sewing techniques
• Industrial sewing machine operation across multiple machine types (flatlock, coverstitch, serger, single-needle, etc.)
• Foundational to intermediate patternmaking and grading skills (flat pattern and/or draping)
• Working knowledge of product development from concept through production-ready samples
• Familiarity with production management workflows, quality control standards, and manufacturing terminology

Teaching & Facilitation

• Demonstrated experience teaching, training, or facilitating in a hands-on technical environment
• Ability to break down complex construction techniques for learners at multiple skill levels
• Comfort coordinating guest instructors or subject matter experts within a program structure
• Clear and effective written and verbal communication

Operations & Organization

• Proven ability to manage a production or studio environment including scheduling, materials, and equipment
• Experience implementing operational systems, safety procedures, and inventory management
• Self-directed, organized, and comfortable managing multiple priorities simultaneously

Interpersonal & Mission Alignment

• Collaborative, community-minded approach with colleagues, students, and industry partners
• Genuine enthusiasm for fashion workforce development, maker culture, and economic opportunity
• Relationship-building skills that inspire trust across students, professionals, and community members
• Ability to demonstrate CFA’s core values—Innovation, Creativity, Equity & Access, Learning, Community, and Impact—throughout the interview process and in day-to-day work

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in workforce development, adult education, or vocational training programs
• Specific experience teaching industrial sewing, repair, or remanufacturing techniques
• Experience in small-batch or short-run fashion manufacturing
• Background in circular economy practices: repair, remanufacturing, upcycling, or sustainable production
• Experience working with nonprofit organizations or community-based programs
• Experience developing or adapting educational curricula, lesson plans, or training materials
• Familiarity with ISAIC certification programs or similar industrial sewing frameworks
• Knowledge of fashion entrepreneurship, product development, or brand manufacturing

What Makes Someone Exceptional in This Role

The ideal candidate is both a maker and a multiplier.

You find equal satisfaction in perfecting a flat-felled seam and watching a first-time student nail theirs. You bring the precision of an experienced production professional and the patience of a great educator. You see a blank production floor and imagine not just what can be manufactured there, but who can be trained, what careers can begin, and what communities can be served.

You know you don’t have to do it alone—you’re energized by bringing in the right experts, collaborating with industry partners like ISAIC, and building something bigger than any one person could build solo. You’re a curator of learning environments as much as a creator of them.

You are energized by building from scratch—programs, systems, relationships—and you thrive in environments where your initiative shapes the organization’s future.

Above all, you believe that fashion can be a pathway to economic mobility, environmental responsibility, and creative community—and you want your daily work to be proof of that belief.

Why Join CFA

Build Something That Lasts

Help shape a first-of-its-kind institution from the ground up. Your fingerprints will be on the programs, systems, and culture of The LOOM from day one.

Work That Matters

Every training you lead, every student you mentor, every production run you complete connects directly to CFA’s mission. This work is meaningful by design.

Industry Behind You

CFA’s partnership with ISAIC and a growing network of industry collaborators means you’re never operating in isolation. You have expert support, certifications, and a network behind you.

Grow Your Earnings

As CFA’s production capacity grows, this role is positioned to grow with it through a developing performance-based incentive program tied to production outcomes.

An Extraordinary Community

Join a team of passionate, mission-driven professionals and connect with entrepreneurs, designers, makers, and manufacturers shaping the future of fashion in Columbus and beyond.

Room to Grow

As CFA and The LOOM grow, so will this role. We invest in our people—through professional development, industry relationships, and opportunities that deepen as the organization scales. This role is also a launch point: as CFA’s production capacity expands, there is a clear path to grow into broader production leadership.

You’re not just taking a job.

You’re joining a movement to build the future of fashion—and the people who will make it.

How to Apply

We’d love to hear from you.

Please submit the following to jobs@columbusfashion.org:

• A resume or portfolio that highlights your technical production and teaching experience
• A cover letter (one page) telling us why this role and this mission speak to you
• Optional: links to work samples, portfolio, or examples of student work you’ve supported

Applications reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage early submission. Questions? Contact us at jobs@columbusfashion.org.

Columbus Fashion Alliance is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and we strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

Pay: $55,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person