About the Role: Responsibilities, Skills, and Requirements
Introduction
Ever envisioned yourself at the heart of a buzzing creative hub, guiding a talented team as they transform fabric into bespoke garments? We’re seeking a Workshop Supervisor for our newly opened tailoring workshop in Shawamekh, Abu Dhabi. This is more than a management role — it’s a chance to shape the culture, quality, and reputation of a workshop just finding its feet in an energetic and growing community. If you’re ready to blend craftsmanship with leadership, keep reading.
About the Company
We’re a fresh face in Abu Dhabi’s vibrant tailoring scene, but our ambitions are anything but small. Our workshop is founded by people who believe that a suit isn’t just something you wear — it’s a story, stitched seam by seam. Our team is a blend of seasoned experts and eager new talent, and Fridays usually find us sharing a quick bite and a laugh over chai before getting back to the machines. Growth here is real — both in what we produce and how we support each other, day in and day out.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Leading and motivating a diverse team of tailors, cutters, and embroiderers, making sure skills and personalities both shine.
- Delegating daily tasks based on current orders, worker strengths, and workshop priorities (you’ll know your team well enough to play to their best!).
- Monitoring work quality and timelines, gently correcting when needed and celebrating excellent results.
- Troubleshooting day-to-day hiccups, like sourcing the right threads or resolving any production bottlenecks.
- Acting as the bridge between workers and management — keeping everyone on the same page about expectations and updates.
- Overseeing inventory of materials, notifying when stock’s running low, and helping streamline ordering.
- Ensuring the workshop runs smoothly, safely, and in compliance with company and local regulations.
- Offering practical support during busy seasons — whether it’s hands-on guidance with tricky projects or simply boosting morale when deadlines loom.
What You’ll Bring
Must-Haves:
- Experience supervising teams in a tailoring, garment production, or similar workshop environment.
- Strong organizational and communication skills: you can delegate clearly and keep the group focused.
- Technical understanding of tailoring, cutting, and embroidery processes — you know the workflow, inside and out.
- Calm problem-solving ability, especially in busy or high-pressure moments.
- Basic computer skills (for schedules, inventory, and order tracking).
Nice-to-Haves:
- Multilingual abilities (Arabic, English, Hindi/Urdu are all helpful).
- Previous experience helping open or scale up a new workshop.
- Passion for mentorship and upskilling junior team members.
Not sure you tick every box? We’d still love to hear from you.
Why You’ll Love Working Here
- Competitive salary, paid on time — every time.
- Supportive, close-knit team atmosphere — you won’t ever feel like just another number.
- Opportunity to shape the workshop’s systems and culture from day one.
- Staff discounts on tailoring services for you and your family.
- Regular training and skill-building workshops.
- Comfortable, well-equipped workspace with natural light and modern amenities.
- Located in Shawamekh — an easy commute from across central Abu Dhabi.
We’re passionate about building a workshop where pride in the craft and care for the team go hand in hand. If you’re ready to lead with heart and skill, this could be the place you call your professional home.
Common Interview Questions and Tips
To help you prepare and feel confident, here are some questions you might encounter during the interview process for this role.
- Can you walk us through your experience supervising teams in a tailoring or garment production environment? What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
- How do you delegate tasks to ensure both the strengths of your team members and pressing workshop priorities are balanced?
- If a tailor is repeatedly missing deadlines or submitting subpar work, what steps would you take to address this in a way that maintains morale and quality?
- Tell us about a time when you had to troubleshoot a production bottleneck or supply shortage. What was your approach to finding a solution?
- Describe your hands-on technical knowledge of tailoring, cutting, and embroidery — are there specific skills or techniques you are especially comfortable demonstrating or teaching?
- How do you typically monitor quality and workflow on the workshop floor? What systems or tools have worked best for you in the past?
- Imagine it’s a particularly busy season and tensions are high — how do you keep your team motivated, and how do you personally stay calm under pressure?
- Give an example of how you have helped junior or less experienced team members develop their skills. What did mentorship look like in that context?
- When opening a new workshop or joining a forming team, what are your priorities for establishing a positive and productive culture from day one?
- How do you ensure that inventory stays well-managed, and what methods have you used to handle low-stock or urgent material needs?
- Our team is multilingual and multicultural — can you share your experience communicating across language barriers and fostering an inclusive environment?
- What does “leading with heart” mean to you in the context of a tailoring workshop?
- In your opinion, what makes a workshop not just productive, but also a genuinely enjoyable place to work?