Sourcing Manager

**Your challenge and key responsibilities**:
**Global Strategic Sourcing**:

- Develop and implement a global sourcing strategy for **upholstery fabrics** that supports the company’s quality, cost, and sustainability goals.
- Identify and build strong relationships with key suppliers, including mills, finishing houses and other fabric-related vendors.
- Analyze market trends and emerging technologies to source innovative fabrics that meet design and functional requirements.

**Supplier Management**:

- Negotiate contracts, pricing, lead times and terms with suppliers to achieve the best value for the company.
- Monitor supplier performance, ensuring adherence to quality standards, delivery schedules, and ethical practices.

**Product Development**:

- Work closely with the sales and design teams to develop fabrics that align with product specifications and aesthetic goals.
- Ensure that new product development timelines are adhered to, coordinating with all relevant teams and hubs to manage and track progress.
- Act as central point of contact for all matters related to the product portfolio, including updates, changes, and article phase-outs.
- Provide technical expertise on fabric properties, including durability and sustainability.

**Cost Management**:

- Implement cost-saving initiatives through strategic sourcing, supplier consolidation, and supply chain optimization.

**Risk Management**:

- Identify and mitigate risks related to supplier dependency, geopolitical factors, and market volatility.

**Sustainability and Compliance**:

- Lead initiatives to source eco-friendly fabrics and work with suppliers to reduce environmental impact.
- Ensure all sourced materials comply with industry regulations and company policies, including sustainability and ethical sourcing standards.

**Inventory management**:

- Oversee inventory planning and optimization to ensure that stock levels meet demand without excess or shortages.
- A dedicated team member handles the daily operational tasks.

**Data management**:

- Supervise the accurate entry of all technical data and cost prices into the ERP systems, ensuring that all information is correctly inputted and up-to-date.

**Quality assurance / claim handling**:

- Oversee the evaluation of claims to determine their validity, ensuring thorough investigation and accurate decision-making.
- A dedicated team member handles the daily operational tasks. You step in in case of escalated claims and disputes, working to resolve issues in a manner that is fair to both the customer and the company.

**Team Leadership**:

- Manage and mentor a team of sourcing, inventory and quality professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and innovation.
- Set performance goals, provide regular feedback, and support professional development.
- Work together with peers in other hubs to standardize and improve.

**Your profile**:

- A minimum of 10-15 years of experience in global sourcing, supplier management, inventory management, and quality assurance within the têxtile, upholstery, or a related industry.
- Proven track record of successfully leading cross-functional teams and managing complex global supply chains.
- Extensive experience in negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, and implementing cost-saving initiatives.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and negotiation skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a focus on continuous improvement.
- Proficiency in data management.Ability to travel internationally as required by the role: 4-6 trips to Asia (mainly China) per year (Averagely 7-10 days), 1-2 trips to USA per year (Averagely 5-7 days), 2-4 shorter trips to (trend) shows within Europe (Averagely 2-5 days)