Associate Sourcing Manager - Merchandise Sourcing And Development, Headwear

The Associate Sourcing Manager (ASM), Global Sourcing develops and manages partnerships with best-in-class suppliers and internal stakeholders as they pertain to the sourcing and production of best-in-category Disney-branded merchandise. In partnership with Sourcing Manager, Global Sourcing, s/he is responsible for executing Sourcing strategies across categories and/or departments. The Associate Sourcing Manager, Global Sourcing will develop, collaborate and produce results with regard to product quality, time/cost efficiency and revenue growth.

The Associate Sourcing manager supports the development of the seasonal line from conception to delivery. They work cross-functionally and are key partners to Designers, Merchants, Technical Designers, and the Regional Office in developing product to realize the global vision. They will support the Product Design teams to ensure that all designs meet the margin goals objectives and are in alignment with the category sourcing strategy.

This person possesses the knowledge of successful global sourcing and product development strategies to drive margins and improve efficiencies across global markets and distribution channels Owned & Operated (O&O) retail and Shop-in-Shop (SIS).

This position reports to Sourcing Manager, Global Sourcing and Product Development. The ASM provides support and assistance with operational and organizational functions to develop and source merchandise under the strategic guidance of the Sourcing Manager within a given department and/or sub-category of product. This position requires some Domestic and International travel for cost negotiations, product placement and on-site factory visits.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Sourcing Strategy

• Evaluate quotes and placement decisions to achieve optimal costing end ensure production efficiency for program groups.
• Execute Sourcing strategies that maximize profitability and minimize risk with a goal of year-over-year improvement.
• Partner on vendor strategy, product costing/placement, vendor communication and sample management related to assigned product categories.
• Aware of industry trends to help inform Sourcing strategies. Knowledge of commodity, manufacturing and category level trends for Softlines and/or Hardlines
• International Labor Standards (ILS) Work with TWDC Global Product & Labor Standards to ensure compliance policies are met.
• Monitor and track proto, line adoption, sell-in, ecommerce and commercialization samples to calendar milestone dates and all sample, fabric and CAD development tracking.
• Assist the Sourcing Manager in merchandise sourcing, costing and development of select product categories for O&O and SIS retail locations.
• Innovation: Proactively seek new opportunities, ideas, techniques and materials to drive product innovation with both new and existing suppliers. Organize vendor innovation weeks to review market and manufacturing innovation on a seasonal basis.
• Sustainability – achieving materials and Scope 3 emissions targets.
• Elevated product quality, including adherence to global regulatory requirements. Monitor global labeling and product composition changes to ensure product consistently meet standards for the global marketplace.
• Proactively seek new opportunities, ideas, techniques and materials to drive product innovation with both new and existing Suppliers.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams such as Merchants, Product and Technical Design to cost engineer development to meet gross margin objectives; recommend alternative construction, material and manufacturing.
• Responsible for ensuring products meet established standards for safety and quality including monitoring quarterly Product Review Requests (PRRs) with product integrity partners.
• Cost Control and Profitability: Stay current on the macro-economic and geo-political impacts to cost and delivery – currency fluctuations, commodity rates, labor rates, trade agreements and disputes, COVID policies, environmental policies, etc.
• Support and execute all Sourcing initiatives, including:
  • Sustainability – achieving materials and Scope 3 emissions targets.
  • Elevated product quality, including adherence to global regulatory requirements. Monitor global labeling and product composition changes to ensure product consistently meet standards for the global marketplace.
  • Cost Control and Profitability: Stay current on the macro-economic and geo-political impacts to cost and delivery – currency fluctuations, commodity rates, labor rates, trade agreements and disputes, COVID policies, environmental policies, etc.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams such as Merchants, Product and Technical Design to cost engineer development to meet gross margin objectives; recommend alternative construction, material and manufacturing.
  • Evaluate quotes and placement decisions to achieve optimal costing end ensure production efficiency for program groups.
  • Country of Origin (COO) Diversification: Identify needs for new suppliers as applicable, partner with DGS and Responsible Sourcing to identify and vet potential new partners, including leading costing and sampling exercises.
  • International Labor Standards (ILS) Work with TWDC Global Product & Labor Standards to ensure compliance policies are met.
  • Innovation: Proactively seek new opportunities, ideas, techniques and materials to drive product innovation with both new and existing suppliers. Organize vendor innovation weeks to review market and manufacturing innovation on a seasonal basis.
  • Monitor and track proto, line adoption, sell-in, ecommerce and commercialization samples to calendar milestone dates and all sample, fabric and CAD development tracking.
  • Send out counter samples for resource and costing exercises; quarterly and when vetting new Supplier relationships.
• Support and implement Sourcing strategies that support global distribution while balancing localization and/or parallel sourcing and speed-to-market needs.
• Send out counter samples for resource and costing exercises; quarterly and when vetting new Supplier relationships.
• Country of Origin (COO) Diversification: Identify needs for new suppliers as applicable, partner with DGS and Responsible Sourcing to identify and vet potential new partners, including leading costing and sampling exercises.

Product Development and Costing

• Execute, under direction of Sourcing Manager, re-costing/re-development activities based on production challenges that impact item aesthetic.
• Adhere to all costing and development milestones as outlined by the Product to Market (PTM) Calendar
  • Tired data inputs into PLM
  • Sample completion and approvals by Final Line Presentation
  • Follow-up with Suppliers regarding any outstanding issues, troubleshoot action plans resolve routine issues, and reinforce deadlines that Suppliers are required to achieve.
• Sample completion and approvals by Final Line Presentation
• Maintain all data points within Product Lifecycle Management tool (PLM)
• Tired data inputs into PLM
• Maintain the Development Tracking Report (DTR) for all open projects – tracking and reporting weekly on costing and sampling progress.
• Contact vendors to follow-up and verify the accuracy of provided data, resolve routines issues and ensure vendor alignment with Disney processes and procedures.
• Partner with Trade Compliance on all Supplier-related documentation and facility set-ups
• Follow-up with Suppliers regarding any outstanding issues, troubleshoot action plans resolve routine issues, and reinforce deadlines that Suppliers are required to achieve.
• Review and finalize final project allocation to Suppliers; formally communicate awards to Suppliers.

Productivity and Process

• Tracks all samples approvals up until an approved pre-pro sample. Accountable for monitoring progress of development and sampling against key milestone dates; communicate development and sampling status Sourcing manager and cross-functional partners
• Assist in preparation of any ad-hoc reports as requested (time & action calendars, status updates, etc.).
• Attend weekly cross-functional team meetings.
• Consult with Product Integrity to ensure standards for safety and quality in all intended sale markets, including monitoring quarterly Product Review Requests (PRRs) with product integrity partners. Report testing concerns to Sourcing Manager and cross-functional teams
• Complete data entry tasks including PLM, item setups, financial roadmaps, and invoicing.

Collaboration and Communication

• Actively engage in Sourcing team organizational vibrancy, collaboration, and team activities. Embrace diversity to advance a culture of inclusion.
• Attend weekly cross-functional meetings and quarterly product line review meetings to understand key sourcing issues and action items.
• Communicate costing and development status to global and regional partners via email or team meeting updates, as well as during local weekly cross-functional meetings as required.
• Build strong collaborative relationships with internal and external partners.
• Prepare standard any ad-hoc reports as requested (Time and Action Calendars, production timelines, status updates, etc.)

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

• Ability to work collaboratively with multiple design and development partners, a team player
• 3+ years related experience preferably in specialty retail or consumer products.
• Ability and desire to be flexible, adapt to change and grow with organization
• Knowledge of Flex PLM system
• Ability to manage multiple SKU’s an timelines in a fast-paced environment
• Technical understanding of fabrics and garment manufacturing processes
• Exposure to Sourcing & Production of multiple product categories
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally.
• Proven track record of effectively communicating with cross-functional partners and Suppliers/Manufacturers
• Schedule flexibility to accommodate global time zones.

This role is considered hybrid, which means the employee will most of their time (usually 4 days, Monday-Thursday) on-site from a Company designated location in Central Florida and the remainder of their time remotely.

REQUIRED EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising/Product Development/Design, Retail Management, General/International Business, Supply Chain, or equivalent professional experience

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

• Reports to: Manager, Sourcing, Merchandise Sourcing and Product Development
• Key Partners: Merchandising, Product Design, Packaging, Responsible Sourcing and Production, Operations, Merchandise Planning, DTCR Global Buying/Parks Location Strategy, Sustainability/CSR, Materials Sourcing, International Labor Standards, Product Integrity, Disney Global Sourcing and Agent partners, Manufacturing suppliers