Responsibilities & Key Deliverables

The Manager – Sourcing & Procurement (Apparel) will be responsible for building, managing, and scaling the sourcing and vendor ecosystem for apparel, merchandise, and lifestyle products. The role will drive end-to-end procurement, vendor development, commercial negotiations, quality assurance, production coordination, and inventory planning. Working closely with business leaders and manufacturing partners, the incumbent will establish sourcing processes, strengthen supplier relationships, and support the growth of the Accessories Business.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Sourcing & Procurement

Manage sourcing of apparel and merchandise categories including T-shirts, oversized tees, hoodies, sweatshirts, jackets, polos, caps, tote bags, bottles, mugs, corporate merchandise, and future product lines.
Develop sourcing strategies to optimize quality, cost, speed-to-market, and scalability.
Ensure timely procurement and production readiness for launches and ongoing requirements.
Support category expansion and new product introductions.

2. Vendor Development & Ecosystem Management

Build and manage a network of apparel manufacturers, fabric mills, exporters, private label manufacturers, printing partners, packaging suppliers, and merchandise vendors.
Identify, evaluate, onboard, and develop suppliers meeting quality, capacity, and commercial requirements.
Develop alternate sourcing options to mitigate supply risks and support business growth.

3. Supplier Relationship Management

Establish long-term partnerships with key suppliers and manufacturing partners.
Monitor supplier performance through scorecards covering quality, cost, delivery, flexibility, responsiveness, and production capability.
Conduct regular supplier reviews and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
Resolve supply chain, quality, and operational issues proactively.

4. Commercial Negotiation & Cost Optimization

Lead negotiations on pricing, MOQ, payment terms, lead times, and commercial agreements.
Develop costing models and supplier comparisons to support procurement decisions.
Identify and implement cost optimization opportunities while maintaining quality standards.
Drive procurement savings and support budgeting and purchase planning activities.

5. Quality Control & Product Compliance

Coordinate with Product Development and Quality teams to ensure products meet brand standards.
Review and approve development samples before bulk production.
Monitor key quality parameters including fabric GSM, composition, shrinkage, stitching, colour fastness, print quality, embroidery, and packaging.
Manage supplier corrective actions and ensure consistency across production batches.

6. Production Planning & Inventory Management

Coordinate with Product, Operations, Warehousing, and Logistics teams on procurement and delivery schedules.
Manage purchase orders, production timelines, and inventory planning.
Ensure timely deliveries and minimize stock-outs.
Track orders from sourcing through final delivery.

7. Supplier Audits & Reporting

Conduct factory visits and supplier assessments covering manufacturing capability, capacity, quality systems, compliance, and scalability.
Drive supplier development initiatives.
Maintain vendor databases, costing sheets, procurement dashboards, and supplier scorecards.
Generate procurement reports and analytics to support business decisions.

Education Qualification

Essential

Bachelor's Degree in Textile Engineering, Fashion Technology, Apparel Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Commerce, or related discipline.

Preferred

MBA / PGDM in Supply Chain, Operations, Procurement, Retail or Marketing.
Diploma or Certification in Textile Technology, Apparel Manufacturing, Sourcing, Procurement, or Supply Chain Management.

General Experience

6-12 years of experience in sourcing, procurement, vendor management, or supply chain roles.
Prior experience in:
- - Apparel Manufacturing
  - Export Houses
  - Buying Houses
  - Private Label Manufacturing
  - D2C Brands
  - E-commerce Businesses
  - Corporate Merchandise Companies
  - Sportswear or Outdoor Apparel Brands
Demonstrated experience in vendor development, cost negotiations, and supplier relationship management.
Proven track record of managing multiple product categories and sourcing projects simultaneously.
Experience in startup, high-growth, or entrepreneurial environments is highly preferred.

Preferred Industries

Apparel & Fashion Brands
D2C Consumer Brands
Textile & Garment Manufacturing
Export Houses
Buying Houses
Corporate Merchandise Companies
Sportswear & Activewear Brands
Outdoor Lifestyle Brands
Private Label Manufacturing

Manager - Sourcing, Accessories

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