Sourcing Manager

Crate & Barrel; Northbrook (IL); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Crate & Barrel in Northbrook, IL is seeking a Sourcing Manager to lead a team responsible for category strategy, vendor relationships, and cost optimization. The on-site role includes a Monday-Thursday schedule with remote Fridays.

You will drive supplier negotiations, oversee pre-production, monitor timelines, and develop performance metrics while collaborating with Design, Buying, Planning and Quality teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in Sourcing or Product Development.
• 3 years of relevant management experience.
• College degree required.

Responsibilities

• Lead vendor strategies and manage a vendor matrix to support development and buying strategies.
• Negotiate first costs aligned to targets and adjust for design/material direction.
• Oversee pre-production activities to meet deadlines in the calendar.
• Track sampling, flag delays, and ensure samples review deadlines.
• Analyze procurement costs and recommend expenditure reductions.
• Monitor PO milestones and escalate approvals as needed.
• Identify and track vendor capabilities and innovations in design/production.
• Improve vendor reliability and performance; achieve margin goals.
• Supervise associates and help achieve savings targets; recruit and train staff.
• Participate in training on technology upgrades and new systems.

Skills

Vendor management

Negotiation skills

Financial analysis

People management

Calendar management

Communication (English)

Travel overseas

Education

College degree

Job description

The Sourcing Manager will lead a team responsible for managing a class or sub class-level category. The associate will be responsible for cultivating cross-functional and vendor relationships to optimize cost strategy and vendor network.

This is an on-site position (Monday through Thursday) based out of our Northbrook, IL office with the flexibility to work remotely on Fridays.

A day in the life as a Sourcing Manager...

• Executes and advise on vendor strategies utilizing a vendor matrix to support Product Development and Buying strategies (including vendor allocation)
• Negotiates favorable first costs based on targets provided by Merchant team and effectively ensures design and materials are aligned to either first cost target or makes adjustments based on design and material direction
• Develop and monitor pre-production activities (sample development, quotes, packaging, etc) to ensure all are completed in a timely manner
• Responsible for tracking sampling of product, escalating potential delays and ensuring that samples are available for review by deadlines set in product development calendar
• Analyze and calculate costs of procurement and suggest methods to decrease expenditure
• Monitor purchase order milestones to ensure development is approved prior to ordering and any outstanding approvals are escalated to senior management
• Responsible for identifying and tracking vendor capabilities, including:
• Innovation in design and production (materials and techniques)
• Value - Cost and quality
• CSR
• Assess and analyze vendor capacities and partner with planning teams to utilize projections and forecasts
• Close working partnership with Design, Buying, Planning, and Quality and Compliance
• Improve vendor reliability through the management of vendor performance
• Achieve margin goals
• Assess, react, and communicate to appropriate business units on missed production or purchase order deadlines
• Assist the Sourcing leadership team on products and tasks
• Supervise an associate and help them achieve their individual savings targets
• Recruit, hire, train staff, evaluate performance, and recommend or initiate promotions, transfers, and corrective action
• Participate in ongoing training regarding technology upgrades and new systems applicable to the position

What you’ll bring to the table…

• Excellent reading and written language skills (English), multi-cultural awareness and respect, basic arithmetic, interpersonal skills, telephone presence, data entry skills
• Intermediate to advanced understanding of manufacturing processes for assigned categories
• Ability to manage and develop direct reports
• Ability to manage a timing and action calendar
• Effective email communication with overseas vendors and agents
• Negotiating skills
• Strong financial reporting and quantitative analysis skills
• Ability to be agile and flexible in a changing environment
• Ability to travel overseas

We’d love to hear from you if you have…

• A minimum of 5 years in Sourcing or Product Development role
• 3 years relevant management experience
• College Degree required