What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sourcing Manager position at Serena & Lily?
The Sourcing Manager – Textiles is part of the Serena & Lily Sourcing team. This role will report to the Director of Sourcing. We are looking for an experienced individual who has strong knowledge of Textiles in sourcing, production, and product development. This role will manage a large supplier base both domestically and internationally in a range of product types. Each day can range from small tasks to building large strategies for this role.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
OVERALL
- Serve as primary contact to Agents/Vendors in Textiles. Vendors range from overseas to domestic importers
- Managing and onboarding Domestic or Direct Import US vendors to suit Serena & Lily’s packaging, labeling, and operations processes.
- Optimize sourcing procedures to attain maximum efficiency.
- Manage Calendar & timelines w/ cross-functional teams and vendors/agents to ensure on-time deliveries.
- Obtain costing, MOQ’s, lead-times, and approval deadlines for all new development.
- Close working partnership with Design, Merchandising, Planning, DC, and Quality & Compliance.
PRESOURCING & STRATEGY
- Evaluate current supplier portfolio and introduce new suppliers to balance the sourcing matrix with strategic goals for growth.
- Identify, cultivate and maintain new and existing supplier relationships both domestically and internationally.
- Work with the design team during the initial development process to identify region or vendors for requested materials, finishes and products in the assigned product categories. Direct the sampling process by identifying markets to cost and sample.
- Executes and advises on vendor strategies to support design and merchandising strategies (including vendor allocation).
- Identify potential product in the assigned categories that present opportunities in new markets.
- Responsible for identifying and tracking vendor capabilities, including: Innovation in design and production (materials and techniques), quality, core competency, capacity, speed to market.
- Develop strategies to reduce core production lead times and increase speed to market
SOURCING & DEVELOPMENT
- Deliver aesthetically correct samples that meet design/merchant vision.
- Allocate designs to appropriate sources with support growth strategies.
- Develop and monitor pre-production activities (sample development, quotes, packaging, etc) to ensure all are completed in a timely manner.
- Negotiates favorable costs based on targets provided by Merchant team and effectively ensuring design and materials are aligned to either hit first cost target or adjust based on design and material direction.
- Perform a consultant role for merchants and design. Identifying opportunities for improving design execution, quality, and cost.
- Manage the product development and approval process and ensure vendors follow protocol.
- Strategically source, allocate and negotiate cost and deliveries. Improve IMU and reduce lead times.
- Tracking and monitoring shipment or status of all samples.
- Opening samples and reviewing any initial packaging concerns.
CAPACITY
- Share major updates or changes from assortment strategies or adoptions that would affect the markets & allocation strategy.
- Troubleshoot capacity issues and develop long term capacity planning strategies.
- Assess and analyze vendor capacities and partner with planning teams to utilize projections and forecasts.
PRODUCTION
- Monitor production process by reviewing weekly production status reports and maintain reports. Communicate to teams on delivery status. Anticipate and resolve issues.
- Negotiates best delivery and ship dates.
- Monitor purchase order milestones to ensure development is approved prior to ordering and any outstanding approvals are escalated to Sr Management.
- Assess, react, and communicate to appropriate business units on missed production or purchase order deadlines.
- Improve vendor reliability through the management of vendor performance - provides feedback to suppliers on their performance.
- Work with vendors & internal teams on solutions for quality issues and production delays.
- Executing enhancements on existing products.
QUALITY
- Troubleshoot seasonal product issues related to development, production and/or delivery in assigned categories.
- Work closely with internal teams on reviewing returns-develop plans for damage or quality issue reductions. Identify inferior quality source and chargeback.
- Develop relationships with QA partners internally and internationally.
- Work closely with vendors to track necessary product and package testing.
- Ensure standards are met for packaging and product testing.
LEADERSHIP
- Mentor a Sourcing Coordinator in Textiles.
- Training in the following areas: S&L sourcing operating procedures, production and sourcing policies, technical, negotiation and communication skills.
REQUIRED SKILLS
- A minimum of 5 years in a Textile Sourcing or Production Role. Technical knowledge of textiles preferred. Experience in Pillows, Rugs and Performance fabrics is preferred.
- Intermediate to advanced understanding of manufacturing processes for assigned Textiles categories.
- Knowledge in Textiles sourcing within Europe, Asia and USA.
- Ability to manage small and large tasks simultaneously.
- Strong knowledge of product testing requirements for textiles is preferred.
- Understanding of raw material properties, fabric, embroidery, construction, and finishes.
- Strong capacity planning and production management capabilities.
- Knowledge of product packaging and product testing.
- Logistics and supply chain management and coordination experience.
- Effective communicator with internal and external parties, must have the ability to work in/with cross functional teams.
- Proactive approach to problem solving, adapt quickly to changes.
- Demonstrates high level of organization and can quickly reprioritize based on the needs of the business - Detail oriented and driven by deadlines and high sense of urgency.
- Ability to manage production to the master calendar.
- Strong negotiation, financial reporting and quantitative analysis skills.
- Must be willing to accommodate off hours/overseas meetings.
- Proficient reading, written and verbal language skills (English).
- Physically able to lift/unpack boxes and assist with sample assembly.
- College Degree required.
- Multi-cultural awareness and respect.
- Ability to work in person in Sausalito, CA. This is not a remote role.
TO APPLY:
If you are passionate about this opportunity, please email careers@serenaandlily.com . Please include your resume and portfolio along with a cover letter telling us why you are the one for this role.
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