Associate Sourcing Manager

The Associate Sourcing Manager is the liaison between the Buyers and agents/factories. This position is responsible for partnering closely with the Sourcing Manager in developing the overall sourcing strategy by category.

• Support the Sourcing Manager in the Product Partner Matrix process 

• Lead for the Product Partner Matrix discussion for assigned responsibility

• Compile and analyze data (Product Partner Scorecard) and make recommendations for grow/maintain/decline

• Partner with Sourcing, Trend and Merchant Partners to align the matrix to the business needs 

• Identify any gaps in the matrix and present recommendations to fill to the team

• Assist in balancing global risks with country of origin diversification plans 

• Partner with Manager to communicate action plans with Agents/Product Partners

• Assist in onboarding new agents/factories

• Track, report and manage agent/factory performance

• Drive margin savings through cost negotiations during the development process

• Identify cost improvement opportunities (bidding)

• Clarify and communicate specs and product engineering details, labeling and packaging instructions and other information to in country sourcing and/or vendors 

• Negotiate the costs from the directives

• Compile and submit costing worksheets for PO creation to Merchant Partners

• Execute, manage and report on production, resolve any issues to ensure on-time delivery

• Build collaborative relationships with business and support teams

• Perform other duties assigned by manager

   

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required

• Candidate must have a minimum of 3 - 5 years’ experience in international sourcing and/or buying, preferably within home goods, working directly with agents/factories

• Strong organizational and project management skills

• Ability to source from and work with overseas markets as needed

• Strong ability to identify global issues and communicate within the organization

• Demonstrate strong analytical, negotiating and problem-solving skills

• Ability develop/maintain strong working relationship with peers and cross-functional teams

• Demonstrates leadership and decision-making skills

• Demonstrates strong listening, written and oral communication skills

• Willing and able to travel for market and store trips

• Flexible and adaptive to changing priorities

• Possesses a clear understanding of the supply chain: product development, sourcing, packaging and shipping

• Able to organize and prioritize workload to meet deadline

• Takes calculated risks to achieve results 

• Develops creative solutions to business issues

• Prior experience working in a US/European retail business model is a plus

• International travel required