Global Sourcing Manager – Softline Products

Most companies claim to have the best people. We say to them, "Keep dreaming." Our people are second to none. They set us apart with their entrepreneurial spirit and ambition.

They come to us from the likes of Amazon, Microsoft, Nordstrom, Starbucks and the sports world, bringing energy, bold ideas and a willingness to dive into the unfamiliar.

It's our people that make BDA the top global Merchandise Agency to work for.

JOB SUMMARY

The Global Sourcing Manager, Apparel & Accessories, is responsible for leadership of BDA’s Softline sourcing team, proactively vetting new manufacturers to meet our business needs, and managing our current vendor matrix.

Your leadership is critical to the success of the team. You will work in collaboration with Merchandising, Design, Sales, Compliance, and our China Offices to deliver the best quality products at the best cost, meeting margin target expectations.

You will ensure all products meet quality, safety, and delivery requirements. It is critical in this role that you utilize negotiating skills and costing expertise in your category to ensure the best cost-value relationship.

Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain management, operations or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 3+ years leading a Sourcing team with proven people and project management skills
• 7+ years of sourcing and product development experience in apparel and accessories at moderate to value price points
• Exceptional management and people leadership skills, with a proven record of effectively leading in a collaborative, team-oriented environment
• Exemplary negotiation skills and ability to communicate clearly and effectively with manufacturers, managing critical issues regarding deliverables
• Proficient at reading technical specs for apparel and accessories
• Expert Microsoft Office Suite user (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Job Skills & Traits

• Strong presentation and communication skills
• Customer service mindset and elevated level of professionalism with a proven ability to collaborate with team members and cross-functional partners
• Excellent people skills that inspire and build trust resulting in effective working relationships across the organization
• Attention to detail in planning, organization, and execution of tasks
• Excellent listening skills and conceptual understanding
• Understanding the big picture, ability to identify business-driving initiatives and how all the pieces fit together and impact one another
• Continuous improvement mindset, always assessing manufacturers, products, and processes
• Ability to manage complex responsibilities and prioritize effectively
• Proactivity and flexibility in a growing business, comfortable in ambiguous environment
• Willingness to dive in and help where needed

Duties & Responsibilities

• Work in a cross-functional team including Sales, Design and Merchandising to turn ideas into merchandise for our clients and online channels, ensuring product and price exceeds their expectations
• Coordinate with Logistics, Compliance, and our Fulfillment Center to ensure we deliver safe, quality products on time
• Manage the sourcing and development process from end-to-end, setting up new suppliers, sending specifications, negotiating costs, reviewing samples, supervising production, and coordinating with our internal logistics team for transportation
• Report development and sampling progress to cross-functional team, communicating costing and engineering options in support of merchandise productivity and profitability.

Identify recommendations and cost mitigation options.

• Drive margin results for your category, communicating costs with Sales or Merchandising partners
• Proactively work with sales partners and merchants to build a line of BDA products to sell to multiple clients, creating scalability
• Establish sourcing strategies to balance long lead times with the need for speed-to-market
• Understand company objectives and develop a roadmap to achieve them
• Research and develop new partnerships with suppliers to support our strategic objectives, supporting globally balanced vendor matrix that meets our financial plans
• Develop and cultivate strong partnerships, resolve issues, conduct final negotiations, and work on Scorecard corrective action plans with manufacturers
• Identify areas for process efficiency and cost improvement
• Create and maintain departmental tools for tracking Supplier Scorecards, RFQs, margin, order processing and shipment schedules
• Develop a high-performing team to support organizational growth
• Motivate and encourage engagement through dedication to diversity
• Lead through change, build excitement and help team navigate through ambiguity while maintaining efficiency. Build a commitment to change and improve processes.
• Take risks and manage them thoughtfully. Create an environment supporting creative solutions and risk-taking.

We are pleased to share the base salary for this position is $125,000 - $140,000 a year. If you are hired at BDA, your compensation will be determined based on factors that may include geographic location, skills, education, and experience.

In addition to these factors, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity of our current team members as a part of any offer.

In the spirit of pay transparency, the range listed is the full base salary range for the role and hiring at the top of the range would not be typical, in order to allow for future salary growth.

The range listed is just one component of BDA’s total compensation and rewards programs, which includes : robust PTO; vacation, a paid volunteer day, holidays and summer Fridays, Benefits;

medical, dental, vision, life, and AD&D insurance, 401k; tuition reimbursement, mental health and financial wellness programs and professional development opportunities including tuition reimbursement.

Certain revenue-generating positions may be eligible for incentive compensation.

Job Description Conclusion :

BDA is more than a workplace - it’s a family. For more than three decades we’ve promoted a vibrant and welcoming culture that not only accepts but demands you to be different.

The quirky, the bold, the creative and the unique make up the foundation of a company that the most iconic brands in the world look to help tell their story through the power of merchandise.