Sourcing Manager

** Sourcing Manager, Merchandise Sourcing and Product Development*
* The Sourcing Manager, Merchandise Sourcing and Product Development drives product development and sourcing strategies for the confectionary and packaged consumables category portfolio for Parks Product Development and Retail with a dedicated focus on domestic Theme Parks & Resorts.  The Sourcing Manager is an independent driver for developing short and long-range supplier strategies to support distribution of product lines while balancing the need for localization and speed-to-market.  

Strategies must balance meeting key financial strategies and seasonal merchandise/design objectives while driving progress on key sourcing initiatives such as sustainability and source country diversification.

The Sourcing Manager will shepherd the product development and sampling process from concept through Final Line Review in close partnership with Product Design and Merchandising. Key responsibilities include confectionery vendor and ingredient innovation; feasibility assessments; recommendations on formulation, sourcing, packaging, and flavor profiles for manufacturing; cost analysis and estimates; supplier negotiations; managing vendor communication; and overseeing the sampling process through final approved development samples, final cost, and vendor placement by Final Line Review.

This individual must have deep, hands-on expertise in the candy/confectionery industry, including significant experience in product development, sourcing, supplier management, flavor and ingredient considerations, packaging, labeling, and food safety requirements. The ideal candidate brings a strong understanding of confectionery market trends, related commodities, and the global supplier landscape, with the ability to translate that knowledge into compelling, high-quality consumer products.

This position reports to the Senior Manager, Merchandise Sourcing and Product Development, and requires domestic and/or international travel.

** RESPONSIBILITIES:*
* ** Sourcing Strategy*
* + Execute short- and long-range supplier strategies in partnership with the Merchandise Strategy and Product Development teams.  Complete the annual Supplier Scorecard and Evaluations with input from cross-functional partners and hold collaborative business planning and performance review meetings with suppliers.

+ Partners with Trade Compliance, Product Integrity, Food Safety, and Sourcing & Procurement to ensure compliance with applicable laws and safety requirements.

+ Support and execute all Sourcing initiatives, including:

+ Sustainability:
Achieve materials and Scope 3 emissions targets.

+ Elevated product quality:
Adhere to regulatory requirements and monitoring labeling and product composition changes to ensure products consistently meet established standards and regulations.

+ Cost Control and Profitability:
Leverage extensive confectionery industry expertise to proactively monitor and mitigate macro-economic, geo-political, agricultural, and ingredient-related cost or delivery impacts to the business, including sugar, cocoa, dairy, nuts, flavorings, colors, labor rates, packaging inputs, trade agreements and disputes, and regulatory or environmental policy changes.

+ Supplier Diversification:  Identify the strategic need for new suppliers and manufacturers as applicable, working with internal and external partners to explore and vet potential new suppliers, including leading costing and sampling exercises and supplier onboarding.

+ International Labor Standards:
Collaborate with TWDC Global Product & Labor Standards to ensure all compliance policies are met.

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Innovation: Proactively seek new opportunities, ideas, techniques, and materials to drive product innovation with both new and existing suppliers. Organize vendor innovation meetings to review market and manufacturing innovation on a seasonal basis.  Attend industry trade shows annually to stay current on Packaged Consumables trend and identify potential new suppliers and resources.

** Product Development and Costing*
* + Actively identify opportunities for new products.

+ Drive material recommendations for sustainable product ingredients or packaging engineering solutions to ensure sustainability goals are met.

+ Partner with Product Design to manage packaging and labeling finalization including final development samples, costing, and vendor placement to ensure on-time delivery by established launch dates.

+ Optimize merchandise productivity and profitability by identifying and mitigating cost drivers.

+ Complete preliminary costing and final business placement rollup, inclusive of country-of-manufacture distribution, margin by channel, and vendor loads.

+ Approve finalized costing and vendor placement, including all variant costing or sourcing for all adopting regions' quantities.

+ Partner with Trade Compliance on Tariff Engineering, if applicable, to implement solutions that benefit domestic and international distribution.

+ Direct any re-costing or…