SOURCING SPECIALIST - MENSWEAR
Position summary
Introduction
Job description
Contribute to the development of the Sourcing and Supplier Strategy
- Analyse and review Supplier performance scorecards (quality, OTIF, innovation and sustainability)
- Review trends on Supplier delivery to financial KPIs
- Identify opportunities for new Suppliers to close Supplier gaps/risks.
- Consolidate inputs from Heads of Planning, Buying and Design on Product Category Strategy
- Identify Suppliers that meet the Business Innovation and Sustainability targets.
Conduct Supplier Engagement, Communication and Performance Management
- Lead end-to-end Supplier onboarding, engagement, and communication processes.
- Create and issue requests for samples (only for Concept and Development Samples before costs are confirmed, and for In-Season Trade / Trend Updates)
- Mitigate any issues that may arise on the request and receipt of physical samples.
- Conduct Supplier Performance conversations, identify performance issues and implement corrective actions
- Evaluate Supplier compliance with sustainability and ethics standards.
Conduct Costing and Supplier Negotiation
- Conduct product costings based on Tech Pack inputs from Technical Product Development
- Ensure an in-dept understanding of the Product aesthetic and technical requirements.
- Manage Requests for Quote
- Conduct Supplier negotiations to ensure the achievement of required financial KPIs – partner up with Buying on new Product Concepts / Volume Inputs / Inputs
- Finalise cost, obtain approval on quotes and handover Formula / Development Style with Preferred Quote to Buying
Perform Capacity Planning and Management throughout the Season
- Consolidate the required inputs from Planning.
- Perform Capacity Planning and ensure that volume flows and drops are successfully communicated with Suppliers
- Continuously engage with Suppliers, track shipment and ensure that adjustments and updates are executed on during trade.
Manage Strategy Execution and Issue Resolution
- Implement and manage Seasonal Trading Plans in conjunction with Planning and Buying, and work with Suppliers to revise and update production plans.
- Monitor Supplier Strategy Execution, identify deviations from strategy, address issues with Supplier, Planning and Buying Teams
- Oversee order management and product tracking, promptly communicating changes or delays to Group Planning and Buying Teams to achieve On-Time-In-Full (OTIF) targets
- Participate in relevant Trade Meetings to gain insights into trading actions that need to be executed.
Minimum requirements
- 8 years or more Buying/Sourcing/Technical retail experience in a Clothing environment and/or
- Relevant business degree / diploma in Textiles, Fashion, Clothing product management
- Understanding of the International and South African clothing industry.
- Proven experience in Supplier negotiations
- Ability to travel both locally and internationally
- Supplier Management & Understanding of Imports and Supply Chain Logistics
- Production Management
- Negotiation Skills
- Commercial Acumen
- Order/contract management
- Project Management (running multiple seasons, priorities, WMC, Critical Path)
- Customer Centric
- Analytical
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- Results Orientated
- Judgement & Decision Making
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Strong Communication
- Highly Numerate & Analytical