Sourcing Manager; Maternity Cover - FTC)

The Role

We are looking to recruit an experienced Sourcing Manager to oversee our category management for sustainable sourcing and enable us to achieve our ambition to be ‘The most sustainable listed global fashion brand on the planet by 2030’.

This exciting role will involve working closely with peers in the Merchandising, Brand Business Management QT and Design teams to transition and further build on our already heavily sustainable focused product range. Reporting to the Head of Sourcing, you will be managing all elements of the supply base to ensure our market leading designs are manufactured to a high sustainable standard and delivered on time.

This role will suit an experienced Sourcing professional from within the apparel industry, who has extensive knowledge of Product Sourcing and extremely high level of price negotiating. You will understand the most effective ways to communicate with overseas suppliers and how best to deliver great quality to budget whilst also considering ethical standards, procedures, and supplier conditions.

• Support the strategic objectives of the business/department by maintaining and developing an effective supplier recruitment and induction process
• Ensure that we are able to deliver our goals in the relevant categories by having in place an appropriate network of high quality, capable suppliers
• Secure cost efficiencies through effective negotiation with suppliers by accurately analysing benchmark costings with existing and potential suppliers
• Research supplier innovations, sustainable credentials and support the Design team in the development of new product categories
• Take responsibility for analysing global demands, market development and forecasted needs to ensure that commercial opportunities are identified and capitalized on
• Visit factories as necessary throughout the cost negotiation, development and production stages to assess adherence to our ethical and technical compliance standards
• Manage sourcing projects within deadlines and in-line with the strategic direction of the department
• Manage budgets as well as assessing factory capacities
• Deliver both country and supply base mixed in line with seasonal plans

• A highly experienced Sourcing Manager or Senior Manager with a strong background in the fashion industry
• Experienced and knowledgeable about product, suppliers and factories, with a strong and well developed network of contacts
• Actively interested in sustainability and keen to make a tangible impact to support our journey
• Equipped with advanced knowledge of product construction, the critical path, costing, manufacturing and calendar management
• Knowledgeable about trends in market conditions, pricing, future markets and delivering sustainability initiatives
• An excellent organizer, with project management and planning skills as well as the proven ability to prioritise multiple projects while maintaining attention to detail and accurate work in a fast paced and changing environment
• Able to think through the details and contingencies of plans and make sound business decisions
• A strong written and verbal communicator with the ability to influence and establish credible relationships with suppliers, customers and employees
• A strong negotiator with the ability to find pragmatic solutions that work for all parties
• Able to fully understand the department strategy set out by the Sourcing and Sustainability Director and drive the strategic objectives on a daily basis through your team
• Willing to travel internationally to visit suppliers as required.
• Equipped with good computer skills including proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint & Word
• Based within easy commuting distance of Cheltenham, or willing to relocate

• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, we also offer a holiday buying scheme
• An additional day off to celebrate your Birthday
• Family is massively important to us, so we have a broad range of family-friendly working policies in place, including enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
• Company Pension scheme
• All employees are covered by our Life Assurance policy whilst working  feel it’s important to…