Souring Lead - D2C Fashion Business

Description:

The Lead Sourcing will lead end-to-end sourcing and vendor strategy for a fast-growing D2C mens shirts brand. The role will be responsible for fabric and finished goods sourcing, vendor development, cost negotiation, quality control, and ensuring timely supply aligned with brand positioning and growth plans.

Key Responsibilities:

Sourcing Strategy & Vendor Management

- Develop and execute sourcing strategy aligned to brand growth and margin targets

- Identify, evaluate, and onboard fabric mills and garment manufacturers

- Build strong partnerships with key vendors to ensure scalability and flexibility

- Diversify vendor base to mitigate supply risk

Fabric & Product Sourcing

- Source premium fabrics (cotton, linen, blends, specialty weaves)

- Collaborate with design and merchandising teams on seasonal collections

- Ensure fabric quality, consistency, and innovation in line with brand positioning

Costing & Negotiation

- Lead commercial negotiations to achieve target margins

- Optimize cost without compromising quality

- Monitor raw material price trends and suggest strategic buying decisions

Production & Supply Planning

- Ensure on-time production and delivery as per demand forecasts

- Work closely with planning and operations teams to manage inventory levels

- Improve lead times and production efficiency

Quality & Compliance

- Implement strong quality control processes

- Ensure compliance with brand standards and statutory norms

- Manage audits and quality checks at vendor facilities

Process & Systems

- Establish SOPs for sourcing and vendor evaluation

- Track KPIs OTIF, cost variance, rejection rates, and lead time

- Build scalable sourcing processes to support rapid growth

Qualification & Experience:

- 5+ years of experience in sourcing/apparel manufacturing

- Strong exposure to mens woven shirts preferred

- Experience working with D2C or fast-fashion brands is a plus

- Strong commercial negotiation and vendor management skills

- Deep understanding of fabrics, garment costing, and supply chain dynamics