Materials Sourcing Manager

The Inside Job; Metropolitan Borough of Solihull; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A global fitness retail leader is looking for a proactive Materials Sourcing Manager in Solihull, England. The role involves managing supplier relations for raw materials while ensuring cost-effective and sustainable sourcing aligned with product strategies. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in materials sourcing, strong technical knowledge of textiles, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment. The position requires a minimum of four days onsite, making collaboration key to delivering world-class products.

Qualifications

• Extensive material sourcing experience in an apparel/retail business is essential.
• Strong technical knowledge of fibres, yarns, knits, and fabric testing.
• Experience in global sourcing, understanding cultural practices across regions.

Responsibilities

• Manage and execute material timelines within the defined critical path.
• Lead and develop a team of material Sourcing Executives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors.

Skills

Strong technical knowledge of materials

Understanding of apparel design and development

Experience in global sourcing and supply chain

Problem-solving mindset

Attention to detail and project management skills

Communication and presentation skills

Interpersonal and stakeholder management skills

Tools

Microsoft Office

PLM systems

Job description

We’re looking for a proactive and strategic Materials Sourcing Manager to join our team, taking ownership of our raw materials supplier base and playing a vital role in securing the materials needed for production. In this role, you’ll ensure materials are sourced efficiently, cost‑effectively, and sustainably, aligning with our overall Product and Sourcing strategy.

You’ll be responsible for meeting the aesthetic, functional, and commercial requirements of our materials, helping to deliver world‑class products to the Lifting Community.

This role is for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced environment and knows how to get the best out of a team.

FIND THE GYMSHARK WAY

Gymshark has grown rapidly from humble beginnings in a Solihull garage to become a global leader in fitness retail. We now have operations and outlets all over the world and a value in excess of a billion dollars. In such a dynamic, respected, high‑growth business, we can offer exciting careers with real opportunity to make your mark and achieve success as a team member and individual. From day one, our mentality has been ambitious, agile and disruptive. If you share the Gymshark mindset, join us for the ride – our growth will be your growth.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

As the Materials Sourcing Manager, you will manage and execute the material timelines within the defined critical path, establishing key milestones to drive newness. Key responsibilities include:

• Collaborating cross‑functionally with partners in Material and Product Development, Design, and Sourcing to deliver a range and product structure incorporating core, seasonal and newness material portfolio.
• Leading, coaching and developing a team of material Sourcing Executives to reach their full potential.
• Being the key material sourcing contact to a wide range of product stakeholders for all material sourcing related questions.
• Collaborating with the Head of Sourcing to manage an efficient end‑to‑end sourcing process across garment and materials.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with vendors to ensure consistent delivery and quality standards, whilst adhering to the Gymshark policies and sustainability commitments.
• Executing costing initiatives to drive costing excellence across raw materials to hit financial business targets.
• Managing risk within the supply chain by mitigating risks associated with the sourcing process, such as supply chain disruptions, geopolitical factors, or changes in material costs.
• Managing rationalisation and consolidation from Fibre, fabric to optimise our supply base and drive consistency globally and increase material efficiency across core, seasonal and newness categories.
• Overseeing the material procurement for all raw materials to ensure development and production timelines are met and optimise levels of inventory.
• Executing the regionalisation material sourcing strategy using data to make informed decisions surrounding vendor strategy and sourcing locations.
• Using data in various settings including quality and performance measurement, presentations, commercial based decisions and KPI measuring.
• Keeping completely up to date with the fluctuations in the market regarding market material costs, inflations, energy costs and exchange rates that feeds into the overall seasonal strategies.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

It is essential that you already have extensive material sourcing experience in an apparel/retail business. We are also looking for:

• Strong technical knowledge of materials – including fibres, yarns, knits, wovens, fabric construction, and fabric performance testing.
• Solid understanding of apparel design, development, and production timelines, along with garment construction expertise.
• Experience in global sourcing and supply chain – understanding cultural and business practices across regions, with strong analytical skills to assess costs, trends, and supplier performance.
• Problem‑solving mindset – ability to anticipate issues with materials, offer solutions, and adapt in a fast‑paced, ever‑changing environment.
• Excellent attention to detail, organisational and project management skills, with proficiency in Microsoft Office and PLM systems.
• Strong communication and presentation skills – both written and verbal, with the ability to engage effectively across various business levels.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills – able to build relationships and work collaboratively within a team‑oriented culture.
• Previous experience in a global brand and line management is desirable, along with the flexibility and willingness to travel as required.

Due to the hands‑on and collaborative nature of the work in our Product & Supply Chain team, we have a minimum expectation of four days per week onsite at Gymshark HQ. This helps us innovate, problem‑solve, and deliver world‑class products together.

DISABILITY CONFIDENT EMPLOYER

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer and want to encourage anyone with a disability to apply for a role at Gymshark. We offer an interview to candidates with disabilities or long‑term conditions who meet the minimum criteria for the role.

We’re committed to finding reasonable adjustments for candidates with specific needs or have a disability during our recruitment process, and all applicants will be considered fairly and equally. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. If you’d like to request a reasonable adjustment please email [e-mail].