Footwear Sourcing Specialist

The below listing of essential functions is not an inclusive listing of all duties that may be requested to be performed by supervisor or manager.

Job Type Full-time

The Footwear Sourcing Specialist is responsible for supporting and executing global sourcing strategies, supplier development, footwear product development, commercialization, and production activities in alignment with the company’s mission, values, quality standards, cost objectives, and business goals.

This role partners cross-functionally with Merchandising, Footwear Product Development, Quality Assurance, Marketing, and international manufacturing partners to ensure footwear products are developed and produced on time, at the right cost, and to established quality, fit, performance, construction, and durability standards.

The below listing of essential functions is not an inclusive listing of all duties that may be requested to be performed by supervisor or manager.

• Support the development and execution of global sourcing strategies aligned with footwear product requirements, cost targets, quality standards, capacity needs, and business objectives.
• Research, analyze, and evaluate prospective footwear factories and suppliers, assessing capabilities, core competencies, footwear construction expertise, capacity, quality systems, compliance, commercial terms, and overall strategic fit.
• Assist in the selection and onboarding of footwear factories that meet sourcing requirements, including target costs, quality standards, minimum order quantities, lead times, certifications, capacity, and compliance requirements.
• Monitor and evaluate supplier performance using established metrics and business objectives; identify opportunities for improvement and drive timely resolution of issues.
• Build and maintain strong, collaborative business relationships with footwear factories, suppliers, coworkers, and management.
• Monitor current and emerging footwear sourcing markets and provide market intelligence and recommendations to support sourcing decisions.
• Identify opportunities to diversify footwear sourcing, mitigate supply chain risk, and improve cost, quality, capacity, and lead-time performance.

• Partner with Merchandising and Footwear Product Development to understand product requirements and translate those requirements into clear manufacturing expectations for footwear suppliers.
• Support footwear development from initial concept through commercialization, including material selection, component development, construction, fit, sample development, testing, costing, approvals, and production readiness.
• Coordinate footwear development and manufacturing timelines to ensure prototypes, development samples, fit samples, photo samples, production samples, and finished goods are delivered according to established milestones.
• Coordinate milestone meetings throughout the footwear development process, ensuring samples, costing, specifications, fit comments, approvals, and other required information are complete and ready for review.
• Manage footwear Tech Packs and fit processes for new and carryover styles, ensuring accurate and timely communication of product specifications, construction details, materials, components, measurements, and fit requirements.
• Coordinate the introduction of new and existing footwear products, including identifying appropriate materials, components, manufacturing capabilities, equipment, construction methods, and production requirements.
• Support footwear fit and wear evaluations by communicating fit, comfort, construction, and performance feedback to factories…