Senior Specialist Local Sourcing Coordinator - EM South

adidas; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

adidas is seeking a Senior Specialist Local Sourcing Coordinator to develop and coordinate locally manufactured ranges aligned with global standards. You will work with suppliers, manage NAC and local production, and ensure timely delivery of approved articles for seasonal activations.

The role requires 5–7 years in apparel manufacturing, a fashion design/design construction background, and strong CAD/Illustrator skills to drive cost-effective local sourcing and quality outcomes.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years experience in an apparel manufacturing environment.
• Degree or Diploma in Fashion design & Garment construction.
• Fabric knowledge and material specification experience.
• Proficient in MS Office; advanced Excel and data handling.
• Strong presentation, communication and influencing skills.
• Proactive approach and ability to drive change under pressure.
• Team player with the ability to work across functions.

Responsibilities

• Work with the local Category Manager to decide which global inline articles are sourced locally.
• Develop and source the defined local range to meet standards and deadlines.
• Create, develop, and maintain tech packs with specs, labels and packaging.
• Manage NAC uploads and ensure articles flow through the system for ranging.
• Brief suppliers on tech packs and manage cost, samples, and 3D CADs.
• Ensure CAD accuracy and upload CADs to NOVA.
• Monitor supplier pre-production trackers for timely, quality production.
• Coordinate local samples (SMS, FIT, PPS, shipment) with QC support.
• Lead fit sessions and present range to stakeholders seasonally.
• Drive range enhancements with suppliers to meet local needs affordably.

Skills

CAD

Adobe Illustrator

MS Office

Advanced MS Excel

Presentation/communication

Proactive/change management

Team player

Education

Degree or Diploma in Fashion design & Garment construction

Tools

CAD software

Adobe Illustrator

MS Office Suite

Job description

Senior Specialist Local Sourcing Coordinator - EM South

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization

Development, sourcing, and co-ordination of the locally manufactured range to meet global standards and local requirements including seasonal deadlines.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with the local Category Manager to define which global inline articles will be sourced locally
• Developing and sourcing the defined range
• Create, develop, and maintain tech packs in line with global and local requirements, including specifications, labels, and packaging
• New Article Creation (NAC)– upload all models and liase with global BU for approval. Manage the E2E process, ensuring all articles filter through the system correctly for ranging and for sales & purchasing order capture.
• The briefing of tech packs to suppliers and manage the acquisition of costs, samples, strike-offs, and 3D CADs in line with required specifications and timelines
• 3D CAD accuracy and upload of CAD’s to NOVA
• Monitor and maintain supplier pre-production trackers to ensure timely and quality production
• Manage all local samples (SMS,FIT, PPS, shipment), including strike-off and trims, to ensure they fully meet the brief, fit, and quality standards, with the support of the QC team
• Manage fit sessions and present range to relevant stakeholders on a seasonal basis
• Proactively drive range enhancements that meet local needs by working closely with suppliers to deliver these improvements as cost-effectively as possible
• Seasonal analysis of product assortment; cost & GIM
• Coordinate the branding of global products during seasonal brand activations
• Responsible for the E2E process for all in season local article requests for brand activations and or SMU articles
• Supporting the integration of new manufacturers, printers, or third-party vendors during onboarding
• Supporting LO functions linked to global system sourcing
• Responsible for updating Score Cards on seasonal range build, including NAC, samples, strikes, 3D CADs, quality control, and providing ad hoc reporting as needed
• Continuously seek improvements in systems and processes to optimize the performance of the local sourcing department

Key Relationships

• Manager Local Sourcing EM South (Line Manager)
• CTC Director; Category Managers; MOPS
• Global BU’s – NAC; Label & packaging; GBS
• Manufactures & Printers
• Quality Controller
• DTC Team
• Brand Events Managers
• Sales and Customer service team

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• CAD / Adobe Illustrator
• Fabric knowledge
• MS Office software; advanced MS excel skills critical
• Strong presentation/communications and influencing skills
• To be proactive in your approach and drive change where applicable
• Experience in working under pressure to meet deadlines and conflicting priorities
• Team Player

Requisite Education & Experience

• 5-7 years experience in an apparel manufacturing environment
• Degree and or Diploma in Fashion design & Garment construction

AT ADIDAS WE HAVE A WINNING CULTURE. BUT TO WIN, PHYSICAL POWER IS NOT ENOUGH. JUST LIKE ATHLETES OUR EMPLOYEES NEED MENTAL STRENGTH IN THEIR GAME. WE FOSTER THE ATHLETE’S MINDSET THROUGH A SET OF BEHAVIORS THAT WE WANT TO ENABLE AND DEVELOP IN OUR PEOPLE AND THAT ARE AT THE CORE OF OUR UNIQUE COMPANY CULTURE: THIS IS HOW WE WIN WHILE PLAYING FAIR.

• COURAGE:Speak up when you see an opportunity; step up when you see a need..
• OWNERSHIP:Pick up the ball. Be proactive, take responsibility and follow-through.
• INNOVATION: Elevate to win. Be curious, test and learn new and better ways of doing things.
• TEAMPLAY: Win together. Work collaboratively and cultivate a shared mindset.
• INTEGRITY: Play by the rules. Hold yourself and others accountable to our company’s standards.
• RESPECT: Value all players. Display empathy, be inclusive and show dignity to all.

At adidas, we strongly believe that embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into our culture and talent processes gives our employees a sense of belonging and our brand a real competitive advantage.
– Culture Starts With People, It Starts With You –
By recruiting talent and developing our people to reflect the rich diversity of our consumers and communities, we foster a culture of inclusion that engages our employees and authentically connects our brand with our consumers.