Sr. Sourcing Manager - Sustainable Materials & Packaging

Senior Sourcing Manager, Sustainable Materials & Packaging

The Senior Sourcing Manager, Sustainable Materials & Packaging drives product development and sourcing strategies for a category or portfolio of product categories across all markets and distribution channels worldwide (Disney stores, shopDisney.com, Theme Parks & Resorts and global Shop-In-Shop retail partners). The Senior Sourcing Manager is responsible for establishing short and long range global, omni-channel supplier strategies to support distribution of a global product line while balancing the need for localization and speed-to-market. Globally focused strategies will be developed to meet/exceed key financial targets for all O&O and SIS business units, as well as adhere to seasonal merchandise/design objectives. The Senior Sourcing Manager leads Sourcing Managers and teams to action against strategies and drive progress on key sourcing initiatives such as sustainability and source country diversification.

The Senior Sourcing Manager, Sustainable Materials & Packaging is responsible for ensuring that the development and sampling process from concept through Final Line Review is fully executed to achieve the goals of Product Design and Merchandising. The Senior Sourcing Manager participates in all vendor and material innovation, feasibility assessments, suggestions on design for manufacturing, cost analysis and estimates, supplier negotiations, managing and synthesizing vendor communication, and managing the sampling process to drive to a final, approved development sample and final cost and vendor placement by Final Line Review.

The Senior Sourcing Manager is responsible for approving all costing roll-ups, vendor allocations and country of diversification metrics with accountability for achievement of all business segments KPIs on profitability, cost containment, speed-to-market, duty/tariff mitigation and on-time delivery.

This individual will have a detailed knowledge of the product categories, intimate understanding of global retail and sourcing market trends, a passion for product and the development process, and a drive to maximize quality and value to the consumer while meeting internal financial and strategic objectives.

This position reports to the Director, Global Sourcing and Product Development, and requires international travel.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Sourcing Strategy

• Establish and communicate short and long-range Supplier strategies in partnership with DGS and Production/Responsible Sourcing teams. Ensure that Annual Supplier Scorecard/GMDE/SWOTS process is completed with input from cross-functional partners. Presents results to cross-functional leaders, holds business strategy and planning meetings with key stakeholders. Communicates findings to the Supplier Community along with development objectives to drive continuous improvement against all metrics.
• Reviews and vets and approves all requests for new suppliers as applicable, partnering with DGS and Responsible Sourcing.
• Understands and upholds all governing TWDC Global Product & Labor Standards to ensure compliance policies are met by all Suppliers – directly addresses concerns on International Labor Standards (ILS) with Suppliers and monitors corrective action plan progress with Suppliers or Facilities of concern.
• Consistently monitor macro-economic, and geo-political impacts to cost and delivery. Provides teams with regular guidance on how to manage currency fluctuations, commodity rates, labor rates, trade agreements and disputes, COVID policies, environmental policies, etc.
• Anticipates the impact of regulatory changes on the global marketplace. Outlines action-plans to adhere to new regulations while controlling cost and maintaining business continuity.

Product Development and Costing

• Directs teams, as needed, on all Supplier shifts or production changes necessary for re-development/bid/re-costing process of any relist items as needed.
• Establish goals for material platforming in collaboration with sustainable materials teams to ensure TWDC Scope - 3 goals are met.
• Approves all final costing and business placement roll for assigned scope – inclusive of COO distribution, margin by channel, and vendor loads.
• Established quarterly/bi-annual strategy framework with Responsible Sourcing, Production, and Trade Compliance. Presents the seasonal Sourcing Kick-off presentation inclusive of macro-economic/trade updates and costing forecasts and mitigation plans (where applicable).
• 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.
• Articulate TWDC, O&O and SIS priorities to Sourcing and cross-functional teams as well as Suppliers. Obtain Suppliers support to achieve priorities and perform against KPIs (Cost, Margin, Quality, etc.)
• Communicates to all internal teams the Costing and Engineering options in support of merchandise productivity and profitability by identifying and recommends cost mitigation options.
• Partner with Product Design to manage product finalization including final development samples, costing, and vendor placement to ensure on-time handoff to Production to support established in-store and online launch dates.
• Partner with Trade Compliance on Tariff Engineering opportunities with a global distribution mindset.

Productivity and Process

• Oversee all aspect of Sampling and approvals up until an approved pre-pro sample. Regularly reports to cross function leadership on the progress of development and sampling against key milestone dates through daily/weekly maintenance of the Development Tracking Report. Proactively addresses any sampling challenges and provides recommendations on how to mitigate sampling delays or execution issues. Provides financial context for any sampling risk.
• Responsible for ensuring products meet established standards for safety and quality in all intended sale markets, including monitoring quarterly Product Review Requests (PRRs) with product integrity partners.
• Monitors all processes and tasks to improve efficiency for all teams, identifies barriers and make recommendations to streamlines ways of working.
• Troubleshoots workload challenges for Sourcing teams and escalates risk to Sourcing leadership and cross-functional partners.

Collaboration and Communication

• Build trust and foster effective collaboration with cross-functional partners and Suppliers
• Develop and cultivate strong partnerships with best-in-class suppliers and across TWDC and in particular with the global merchant, Design, Production, Buying and Planning teams as they pertain to the sourcing and development of best-in-category Disney-branded merchandise.
• Develop holistic understanding Company’s products and needs of diverse stakeholders to better leverage Supplier resources to the benefit of Disney and Supplier.
• Present business results during quarterly Supplier meetings
• Drive content for quarterly strategy meetings and establish actionable sourcing strategies around key initiatives.

Leadership

• Present to internal stakeholders progress on all aspects cost negotiation, placement, product development, product safety/quality and on-time deliveries.
• Motivate and inspire employee engagement through a demonstrated commitment to diversity.
• Represent the Sourcing organization both internally and externally through presentations, business meetings and international site and Supplier visits.
• Promote the Sourcing organization by showcasing results and reinforcing the value proposition of the global Sourcing teams
• Foster a culture of collaboration and organizational vibrancy.
• Develop high performing teams and bench to support organizational growth needs.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

• Strong presentation and negotiation skills.
• Successful experience working in a highly matrixed company structure; Ability to work collaboratively with multiple design, merchandising, and channel commercial partners.
• Detailed understanding of Disney O&O and SIS market structure and value proposition.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to influence a diverse audience including experience working with external partners and business owners to bring product and assortments to the market.
• Effective Leader with an inclusive management style.
• Working knowledge of the omni-channel retail marketplace globally with experience in Sourcing and/or Product Development of multiple product categories. Relevant category experience in a Sourcing, Product Development, or Merchandising role is a MUST.
• 5-8 years of progressive experience in Product Development/Design, Merchandising, or Sourcing for specialty retail or consumer products in a global, omni-channel environment.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including with manufacturers and global teams.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience leading and developing high performing teams with multiple direct and indirect reports
• Flexibility and willingness to adapt to changing priorities.
• Command of manufacturing processes, materialization, and the key drivers of cost in development.
• Passion for product creation and item detail.
• Schedule flexibility to accommodate global time zones.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to drive execution against a financial plan.

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 5-8 years of related experience.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

• 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
• Reports to: Director, Merchandise Sourcing and Product Development
• Leads: Manager, Sourcing; Sourcing Manager; Associate Sourcing Manager; Assistant Sourcing Manager; Sourcing Specialist