Apparel Sourcing Manager

About Us

We are a fashion-centric organization dedicated to providing top-quality apparel products through strategic sourcing, strong supplier partnerships, innovation, and responsible supply chain management. Our teams span Apparel Design, Product Development, Merchandising, Procurement, Supply Chain, Quality Assurance, Sustainability, Retail, E-commerce, Finance, and Executive Leadership to craft competitive apparel collections that align with both customer needs and business goals.

Role Overview

We seek an experienced Apparel Sourcing Manager to lead our apparel sourcing strategies, oversee supplier development, coordinate production, and optimize supply chain initiatives. This role includes managing supplier relationships, product sourcing, cost and quality control, production scheduling, and collaborating cross-functionally to ensure efficient, ethical, and sustainable sourcing operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute apparel sourcing strategies, supplier frameworks, and procurement plans consistent with brand goals, product specifications, cost goals, and market trends.
• Manage the entire apparel sourcing process including supplier selection, vendor evaluation, product development, pricing, sampling, production tracking, and delivery coordination.
• Collaborate effectively across departments including Design, Product Development, Merchandising, Procurement, Supply Chain, QA, Sustainability, Retail, E-commerce, Finance, and Executive Leadership to deliver successful apparel lines.
• Identify, assess, and maintain strong relationships with apparel manufacturers, fabric and trim suppliers, factories, agents, and strategic sourcing partners.
• Negotiate pricing, production capabilities, payment terms, lead times, MOQs, and contracts with suppliers.
• Oversee product development activities such as fabric choices, technical specs, sample approvals, prototyping, fit verification, production readiness, and quality standards.
• Track supplier performance in production efficiency, timely delivery, quality compliance, ethical sourcing, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.
• Develop sourcing timelines, production schedules, supplier scorecards, risk assessments, and supply chain enhancement plans.
• Work closely with factories and internal teams to address production obstacles, material shortages, quality issues, delays, and delivery risks.
• Ensure adherence to industry standards, ethical sourcing rules, labor laws, sustainability goals, product safety, and internal policies.
• Perform supplier audits, factory reviews, market research, sourcing trips, competitive benchmarking, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Monitor KPIs such as sourcing cost reductions, supplier performance, on-time delivery, quality rates, lead times, compliance, inventory efficiency, and profitability.
• Manage sourcing budgets, contracts, external partners, material programs, production resources, and strategic supply chain projects.
• Champion digital transformation through AI-driven sourcing analytics, predictive supply chain insights, supplier performance intelligence, automated costing analysis, workflow automation, and BI tools.
• Utilize PLM systems, SAP, Oracle, Centric PLM, Lectra, Gerber, Microsoft 365, Power BI, Tableau, ERP, supplier management, sourcing platforms, and analytics software to optimize sourcing and generate actionable insights.
• Prepare executive dashboards, sourcing reports, supplier evaluations, cost analyses, production updates, risk assessments, and recommendations for senior leadership.
• Lead, mentor, and develop sourcing specialists, product coordinators, procurement experts, and cross-functional teams, promoting a culture of quality, collaboration, innovation, sustainability, and continuous improvement.

Candidate Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising, Apparel Management, Textile Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Procurement, or a related discipline.
• Master's degree in Fashion Business, Supply Chain Management, MBA, International Business, or related fields is highly preferred.
• Professional certifications such as Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Textile Management, Lean Six Sigma, Project Management (PMP), or equivalents are advantageous.
• Minimum of 5 years experience in apparel sourcing, garment manufacturing, fashion supply chain, product development, merchandising, procurement, or related roles.
• At least 2 years managing apparel sourcing programs, supplier relations, production teams, or global manufacturing partnerships is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of apparel manufacturing processes, textiles, garment construction, costing, supplier management, quality control, production planning, sustainability, and international trade.
• Experience with PLM systems, SAP, Oracle, Centric PLM, Lectra, Gerber, Microsoft Office, Power BI, Tableau, ERP platforms, supplier management tools, and sourcing technologies.
• Familiarity with AI-driven sourcing platforms, digital product development, predictive supply chain analytics, automated costing tools, sustainable sourcing technologies, and advanced supplier intelligence is a plus.
• Proven leadership, communication, negotiation, supplier management, stakeholder engagement, analytical, project management, budgeting, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to simultaneously manage multiple sourcing projects balancing cost, quality, production timelines, supplier capacity, sustainability, and business objectives.
• Effective remote working skills collaborating with distributed teams, suppliers, factories, manufacturers, logistics partners, executives, and global stakeholders. Willingness to occasionally travel for factory inspections, supplier meetings, trade shows, quality reviews, and sourcing negotiations.

Employee Benefits

• Fully remote work with flexible collaboration within global fashion, sourcing, and supply chain teams.
• Attractive compensation including performance-related incentives.
• Comprehensive health and wellness programs.
• Opportunities for professional growth and leadership development in sourcing.
• Exposure to AI-driven fashion technology, digital sourcing platforms, sustainable supply chain practices, and next-gen apparel production processes.
• A collaborative culture committed to innovation, quality, sustainability, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Chance to influence global apparel lines by creating strategic supplier alliances and delivering ethical, cost-effective, and quality sourcing solutions.