Principal Global Sourcing Analyst, Apparel

Columbia Sportswear Company; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia Sportswear Company is seeking a Principal Global Sourcing Analyst to shape and advance global sourcing strategy for Outerwear and Technical Apparel. The role drives alignment with enterprise priorities for profitability, speed, resilience, and compliance.

The position is a senior contributor who leads cross-functional initiatives, translates business objectives into actionable sourcing strategies, and evolves sourcing capabilities with regional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, or related field.
• 8+ years of professional experience and mastery of relevant technical or business skills.
• Experience developing and influencing sourcing strategy across regions or product categories.
• Deep knowledge of global manufacturing, costing, and vendor capability evaluation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to translate data into clear business recommendations.
• Proven ability to influence without authority and align cross-functional stakeholders.
• Travel up to 15% (international).

Responsibilities

• Lead development of category-level and multi-season sourcing strategies aligned to enterprise financial and operational goals.
• Translate long-range business plans into clear sourcing direction across regions, vendors, and capabilities.
• Drive vendor segmentation and allocation strategies to optimize cost, capability, and risk balance.
• Identify and evaluate shifts in trade, geopolitical, and macroeconomic dynamics; recommend sourcing adjustments.
• Act as a trusted advisor to cross-functional partners (Product, Planning, Finance, Quality, Compliance).
• Lead alignment across stakeholders on sourcing trade-offs, clearly articulating impacts to cost, margin, speed, and risk.
• Influence sourcing decisions through structured analysis, scenario modeling, and insights.
• Lead high-impact, cross-regional initiatives with limited direction and high ambiguity.

Skills

Sourcing strategy

Cross-functional collaboration

Vendor segmentation

Risk management

Analytical thinking

Influence without authority

Global trade knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, or related field

Tools

Sourcing analytics tools

Planning tools

Scenario modeling

Job description

This position is designated as a hybrid role based out of our headquarters near Portland, Oregon. The current expectation is for employees to work onsite four days per week, subject to change based on business needs. This in-office requirement may be adjusted at the discretion of the company.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Principal Global Sourcing Analyst plays a critical role in shaping and advancing global sourcing strategy across key product categories. This role operates as a senior individual contributor, driving alignment between long-range sourcing direction and enterprise priorities for profitability, speed, resilience, and compliance.

As a recognized subject matter expert, this role influences portfolio-level decisions, leads complex cross-functional initiatives, and provides strategic guidance to leadership and regional teams. The position is accountable for translating business objectives into actionable sourcing strategies, while continuously evolving sourcing capabilities and frameworks.

This role focuses on Outerwear and Technical Apparel and requires deep expertise in vendor segmentation, regional optimization, and risk management.

HOW YOU’LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Source Strategy & Long Range Planning

• Lead development of category-level and multi-season sourcing strategies aligned to enterprise financial and operational goals
• Translate long-range business plans into clear sourcing direction across regions, vendors, and capabilities
• Drive vendor segmentation and allocation strategies to optimize cost, capability, and risk balance
• Identify and evaluate shifts in trade, geopolitical, and macroeconomic dynamics; recommend sourcing adjustments

Cross-Functional Leadership & Influence

• Act as a trusted advisor to cross-functional partners (Product, Planning, Finance, Quality, Compliance)
• Lead alignment across stakeholders on sourcing trade-offs, clearly articulating impacts to cost, margin, speed, and risk
• Influence sourcing decisions through structured analysis, scenario modeling, and insights
• Lead high-impact, cross-regional initiatives with limited direction and high ambiguity

Risk, Compliance & Sustainability

• Ensure sourcing strategies align with global compliance, responsible sourcing, and sustainability standards
• Identify emerging risks and recommend mitigation strategies across regions and vendors
• Partner with Compliance and regional teams to address issues and drive resolution plans
• Contribute to continuous improvement of responsible sourcing practices

Capability Building & Operational Excellence

• Develop and refine tools, frameworks, and best practices to elevate sourcing strategy and execution
• Drive consistency and discipline in sourcing processes and decision-making
• Share expertise and provide informal mentorship across the team
• Identify opportunities to improve sourcing models, vendor engagement, and cost management approaches

YOU HAVE

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, or related field
• 8+ years of professional experience and mastery of relevant technical or business skills required to accomplish the job.
• Demonstrated experience developing and influencing sourcing strategy across regions or product categories
• Deep knowledge of global manufacturing, costing, and vendor capability evaluation
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to translate data into clear business recommendations
• Proven ability to influence without authority and align cross-functional stakeholders
• Working knowledge of global trade environments, compliance standards, and sourcing risks
• Ability to operate independently in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment
• Travel up to 15% (international)

Preferred Skills

• Experience in Outerwear and Technical Apparel sourcing and construction
• Demonstrated experience in vendor strategy (segmentation, consolidation, or capability development)
• Familiarity with sourcing analytics, planning tools, and scenario modeling approaches
• Understanding of sustainability frameworks and responsible sourcing practices
• Experience supporting or leading sourcing transformation or process improvement initiatives

#Hybrid
#LI-LC1

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position’s scope and function in the company.

Columbia Sportswear Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. Columbia Sportswear is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12.pdf. If you need reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please notify your recruiter.

• At Columbia Sportswear Company, we’re proud to offer regular full-time employees a benefits package that includes a variety of services and products to help make your life and work more rewarding.
• Our benefit programs contribute to overall employee well-being by aligning those programs with the fundamental elements of well-being: physical, social/emotional, financial, career and community.
• Benefits that can protect your family’s financial future and help you save money through our 401k plan plus a generous company match.
• Columbia offers medical, dental, vision, life Insurance, disability, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, and an assortment of voluntary benefit offerings (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and legal services).
• In addition, Columbia offers EAP + which is free and confidential 24/7/365 counseling services.
• We have extensive wellness benefits, employee discounts and a generous time off program available.

If you need an accommodation/adjustment to successfully complete and submit your application, please reach out to [e-mail] with the Subject: Applicant Assistance Requested.