Sourcing Category Lead

lululemon; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 81,000 - 107,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent performance apparel company is seeking a Sourcing Category Lead in Vancouver. The successful candidate will deliver sourcing strategies for Men's Tops, manage vendor relationships, and ensure product cost and margin targets are met. They will play a crucial role in the apparel production process, requiring 3-5 years of experience and strong analytical skills. This position offers a salary range of $81,500 – $107,000 along with a comprehensive benefits package, promoting personal growth and well-being.

Benefits

Extended health and dental benefits

Paid time off

Savings and retirement plan matching

Generous employee discount

Fitness & yoga classes

Parenthood top-up

Development course offerings

Mentorship programs

Qualifications

• 3-5 years’ experience working with off-shore manufacturers.
• Experience visiting off-shore factories.
• Strong analytical skills and passion for numbers.

Responsibilities

• Deliver category-level sourcing strategy.
• Translate long-range strategies for seasonal costing.
• Build relationships with vendors and teams.

Skills

Relationship building with manufacturers

Apparel manufacturing process knowledge

Data analysis and cost breakdowns

Project management

Proficient in Excel

Knowledge of Power BI

Knowledge of Smartsheet

Job description

Company Overview

lululemon is an innovative performance apparel company for yoga, running, training, and other athletic pursuits. Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional design, we create transformational products and experiences that support people in moving, growing, connecting, and being well. We owe our success to our innovative product, emphasis on stores, commitment to our people, and the incredible connections we make in every community we're in. As a company, we focus on creating positive change to build a healthier, thriving future. That includes creating an equitable, inclusive, and growth‑focused environment for our people.

About This Team

We are the Sourcing Department. We manage the relationship with our Raw Material and Finished Goods vendors & ensure that lululemon has best in the world manufacturers. We work cross‑functionally across the entire product team to ensure product meets our business strategy, quality & cost goals. We then work with our vendors to make those products a reality. Reporting to the Sr Manager, Sourcing, the Sourcing Category Lead will be the category expert in sourcing, costing and delivering margins against our Mens Tops products, which include Base Knit/Woven Layers, Hoodies, Lightweight Woven Jackets with technologies like Bonding, Laser‑cutting, garment dyed etc. The Sourcing Category Lead will deliver category level sourcing strategy and translate long‑range strategies to drive seasonal costing priorities. They will ensure cost and margin for assigned category meets target. Sourcing Category Lead develops factory relationships aligned with their product category to commercialize products in a timely, consistent manner. They will develop plans and strategies that will address category specific margin goals.

A Day in the Life

• Deliver Category level sourcing strategy based on long range plans.
• Translate long range strategies to drive seasonal costing and allocation priorities.
• Build strong relationships with vendors and cross functional teams to help foster partnership and trust.
• Elevate opportunities and risks to influence strategy and support decision making.
• Ensure cost and margin for assigned category meets target.
• Analyze and monitor margins.
• Develop action plans to mitigate margin risk and proposals to reduce cost working closely with cross functional partners.
• Give guidance for vendor cost negotiations to our LLO Merch team where applicable.
• Manage data analysis of product cost and margin, including data updates in costing systems where applicable.
• Track all GTM Calendar by‑whens and ensure that all sourcing seasonal calendar timelines are met.
• Vendor Allocation data maintenance, validation and communication of projections to category vendor.
• Support sourcing of and onboarding of new vendors successfully working closely with supply chain onboarding team.

Qualifications

• You have 3-5 years’ experience working closely & building relationships with off‑shore manufacturers.
• You have visited off‑shore factories & are versed in the apparel manufacturing process.
• You are well versed in apparel cost breakdowns and have a passion for numbers and can analyze data.
• You are a multi‑task master & can handle multiple projects working with a variety of cross‑functional partners.
• You are confident in your strengths, always open to challenges and prefer negotiating face to face.
• You love to travel.
• You are an expert in Excel and you have knowledge of Power BI and Smartsheet.

Must Haves

• Acknowledges the presence of choice in every moment and takes personal responsibility for their life.
• Possesses an entrepreneurial spirit and continuously innovates to achieve great results.
• Communicates with honesty and kindness and creates the space for others to do the same.
• Leads with courage, knowing the possibility of greatness is bigger than the fear of failure.
• Fosters connection by putting people first and building trusting relationships.
• Integrates fun and joy as a way of being and working, aka doesn’t take themselves too seriously.

Additional Notes

Authorization to work in Canada is required for this role.

Compensation and Benefits Package

lululemon’s compensation offerings are grounded in a pay‑for‑performance philosophy that recognizes exceptional individual and teamperformance. The typical hiring range for this position is from $81,500 – $107,000 annually; the base pay offered is based on market location and may vary depending on job‑related knowledge, skills, experience, and internal equity. As part of our total rewards offering, permanent employees in this position may be eligible for our competitive annual bonus program, subject to program eligibility requirements.

At Lululemon, Investing In Our People Is a Top Priority. We Believe That When Life Works, Work Works. We Strive To Be The Place Where Inclusive Leaders Come To Develop And Enable All To Be Well. Recognizing Our Teams For Their Performance And Dedication, Other Components Of Our Total Rewards Offerings Include Support Of Career Development, Wellbeing, And Personal Growth.

• Extended health and dental benefits, and mental health plans
• Paid time off
• Savings and retirement plan matching
• Generous employee discount
• Fitness & yoga classes
• Parenthood top‑up
• Extensive catalog of development course offerings
• People networks, mentorship programs, and leadership series (to name a few)

Note: The incentive programs, benefits, and perks have certain eligibility requirements. The Company reserves the right to alter these incentive programs, benefits, and perks in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.

Workplace Arrangement

• Hybrid: In‑person collaboration and connection is important to our culture. Work is performed onsite, minimum 4 days per week.