ASSOCIATE SOURCING MANAGER JOB DESCRIPTIONS

Managing a vendor base that spans agents, factories, and wholesale partners across multiple countries is harder than it sounds. Seasonal windows close fast, and a missed sample milestone or a country-of-origin gap in the Product Partner Matrix can ripple into late deliveries and margin shortfalls. The Associate Sourcing Manager owns that execution layer - translating category strategy into vendor negotiations, production calendars, and cost worksheets that keep retail and wholesale channels on schedule. Not every sourcing role carries direct accountability for the Product Partner Matrix scorecard; this one does.

As the Associate Sourcing Manager, you will manage the sourcing and production execution for assigned product categories, negotiating costs, tracking development milestones, and ensuring vendor compliance across retail and wholesale distribution channels. You will report to a Sourcing or Merchandise Sourcing Manager and work daily with Buyers, Designers, agents, and overseas factories to keep product on time and within target margin.

Career Impact: Hands-on management of international vendor relationships and Product Partner Matrix decisions builds the category-level credibility that advances careers toward Sourcing Manager or Senior Sourcing roles in retail and consumer products.

Business Impact: When category cost targets and on-time delivery rates are met, retail buyers receive compliant product that protects margin and sustains wholesale account relationships - this role is the direct executor of those outcomes.

Growth Opportunity: Exposure to country-of-origin diversification planning, RFQ-based bidding, and global agent onboarding expands the scope of sourcing expertise that makes candidates competitive for broader category ownership.

• Lead vendor identification and selection for assigned product categories, evaluating cost, quality, delivery, and production capacity.
• Manage the Product Partner Matrix process, compiling scorecard data and presenting grow, maintain, or decline recommendations to the team.
• Negotiate product costs from design directives and compile costing worksheets for purchase order creation to achieve margin targets.
• Track development and production milestones against the seasonal calendar, escalating delays and coordinating mitigation plans with vendors and internal partners.
• Coordinate with agents, factories, and ticket and label suppliers to ensure labeling, packaging, and compliance requirements are met for on-time shipment.
• Monitor sample progress and test status across assigned categories, alerting cross-functional partners to risks before market deadlines.
• Prepare production status reports, time and action calendars, and ad-hoc updates for weekly cross-functional and quarterly product review meetings.

• Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Fashion, Business, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 2 or more years of international sourcing or buying experience, with direct engagement with agents or factories in a retail or consumer products environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage production timelines across multiple product categories simultaneously.
• Strong negotiation skills applied to vendor cost discussions, bidding processes, and contract terms.
• Proven organizational skills with a track record of maintaining accuracy across costing worksheets, tracking reports, and compliance documentation.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills for daily interaction with overseas vendors, internal design teams, and wholesale partners.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally for vendor visits and product placement negotiations.

• Experience in home goods, apparel, textile, or seasonal product categories, with knowledge of relevant construction or production techniques.
• Familiarity with country-of-origin risk management and global sourcing base diversification strategies.
• Prior exposure to a US or European retail business model, including retailer compliance requirements and charge-back risk.
• Proficiency in reading and communicating design specifications, product engineering details, and labeling instructions to in-country teams.

• On-time delivery rate across managed product categories, measured against the seasonal production calendar.
• Cost achievement rate against target margin per category, tracked through seasonal costing worksheets.
• Product Partner Matrix scorecard accuracy, reflecting the timeliness and completeness of vendor evaluations submitted.
• Sample milestone hit rate, measuring how frequently development samples arrive before market review deadlines.
• Vendor compliance rate on labeling and packaging requirements, reflecting charge-back avoidance across wholesale accounts.
• Typical tools: spreadsheet and data management software (commonly Microsoft Excel with pivot tables and VLOOKUP); product lifecycle management platforms (commonly PLM or WEB PDM systems).

• Base Salary Range: $55,000 to $80,000 annually, depending on experience and market.
• Bonus: Annual discretionary bonus of 5 to 10 percent of base salary.
• Equity: Not typical at this level in retail sourcing roles.
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; employer contributes to premiums.
• PTO: 15 to 20 days annually, plus company holidays.
• Common Perks: Travel reimbursement for vendor visits; employee product discount programs common in retail and consumer goods employers.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Background check completion is a condition of employment for this role, as vendor and financial data access requires verified eligibility. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations are provided to individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process upon request. Candidates must hold current authorization to work in the United States.

The Associate Sourcing Manager owns the end-to-end product development and commercialization process, leading cost meetings, managing seasonal tracking reports, and delivering product that meets quality, aesthetic, and price requirements in collaboration with Design, Merchandising, Raw Materials, and vendor partners. The role shapes sourcing decisions across cross-functional teams and directly supports margin improvement and on-time product adoption outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Drives the product development and commercialization process, working in collaboration with the internal / external cross functional partners (Design, Merchandising, Raw Materials, Technical Design, Hubs, Vendors & factories) to deliver product that meets business requirements for quality, aesthetic and price.
• Manage category strategy aligned with supply chain and business goals, driving organizational metrics.
• Engage hub teams and vendors on sample execution and costing throughout development.
• Proactively identify and resolve issues with cross-functional teams; escalate open issues to upper management with recommended solutions.
• Initiate pre-season development inquiries, follow up on samples and wash trials, and execute flash costing exercises to assess cost feasibility.
• Drive strategic product allocation and maintain seasonal tracking reports and cost files including comparisons and cost engineering options.
• Lead cost meetings with Merchandising and Design teams; ensure cost data accuracy via XPC system maintenance.
• Communicate daily with internal teams and overseas hubs and vendors; assess salesman sample delivery and develop mitigation plans.
• Collaborate with Design and Raw Materials teams on new product R&D, sustainability, and sourcing opportunities.
• Support management meeting projects and provide sourcing inputs to brand, sample review, adoption, and line finalization meetings.

Required Qualifications

• Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel including pivot tables and formulas
• Knowledge of PLM, WEB PDM, and Adobe a plus.
• Must be analytical with strong understanding of supply goals and metrics.
• Strong judgment, decision-making, and root cause analysis skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, listening, and negotiation skills.
• Detail-oriented and resourceful with strong follow-up skills.
• Ability to collaborate across cultures, geographies, and time zones
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to manage competing priorities independently.
• Solution- and results-oriented, customer-focused, integrity-driven, and comfortable with ambiguity and constructive tension.

Embedded within the Greater China procurement community, the Associate Sourcing Manager / Sourcing Category Manager leads proactive category projects spanning sourcing, demand management, and process re-engineering to deliver global procurement targets and value contribution goals. Working closely with Finance, HR, Legal, and Compliance stakeholders, the role builds category pipelines, manages supplier performance, and ensures Supplier Relationship Management efforts translate into continuous improvement and innovation access.

Core Functions

• Collate supplier, market, category, and internal business data to provide regional input to the Category Strategy and communicate global strategies to relevant stakeholders.
• Build a pipeline of category initiatives covering savings, productivity, risk management, and innovation using market intelligence, benchmarking, and business partner knowledge.
• Serve as Business Partner to assigned business group; support meeting and event requests per compliance and procurement policy; conduct sourcing and bidding processes including RFI, RFP, RFQ, price, and contract negotiation.
• Monitor contract volumes and KPI achievement; resolve issues during daily operations to drive supplier performance improvement.
• Develop strong relationships with key stakeholders, finance, HR, legal, and compliance to ensure appropriate inputs to sourcing strategies and implementation plans.
• Support global development and standardization of category management infrastructure including processes, systems, and tools to improve efficiency and compliance.

Qualifications & Experience

• 5 years of pharmaceutical or medical device industry experience required.
• Must have indirect spend procurement experience in sales and marketing categories such as MICE and Travel for the China region; demonstrated knowledge of the supplier landscape with working relationships with key suppliers.
• Hands-on experience shaping and executing category-specific sourcing strategies including contract shaping.
• Ability to work effectively across time zones and cultures; unquestionable commitment to procurement ethics and compliance.
• Must be fluent in English.

Reporting to the Manager of Merchandise Sourcing, the Associate Sourcing Manager develops and executes global sourcing and product development strategies to drive margins and improve efficiencies across owned and operated retail and wholesale distribution channels. Partnering with vendors, wholesale partners, and internal cross-functional teams, the role produces quality product placement outcomes and supports year-over-year profitability improvement.

Primary Duties

• Manage placement, production, and communication for single or multiple product categories including wholesale accounts and vendor relations.
• Ensure products meet safety and quality standards; track development and production cycles against key milestones via daily maintenance of the Development Tracking Report.
• Liaise with vendors, ticket and label suppliers, and wholesale partners to ensure compliance, on-time shipping, and retailer requirements are met.
• Prepare standard and ad-hoc reports including time and action calendars, production timelines, and status updates.
• Execute sourcing strategies that maximize profitability, minimize risk, and drive year-over-year improvement while supporting global distribution and speed-to-market.
• Proactively seek new suppliers, materials, and product innovations; communicate production status through weekly cross-functional and quarterly product review meetings.
• Build collaborative relationships with internal and external partners; align business goals across all functions.

Skills & Qualifications

• 3+ years of related experience, preferably in specialty retail or consumer products.
• Exposure to sourcing and production across multiple product categories.
• Detail-oriented with superior organizational and multi-tasking skills.
• Proven track record communicating with manufacturers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; collaborative team player.
• Flexible, adaptable, and willing to grow with the organization.

Sitting at the intersection of supplier management and procurement operations, the Associate Sourcing Manager sources low-to-medium-complexity product categories, negotiates and implements contracts, and delivers cost savings initiatives that improve quality, service, and innovation for assigned business units. Operating across the Strategic Sourcing Department and cross-functional teams including Legal Counsel, the role advances organizational savings goals while ensuring full adherence to SOX policies and procedures.

Duties

• Source products and categories of low to medium complexity using standard sourcing processes adopted by the Strategic Sourcing Department.
• Serve as direct contact to Business Units and suppliers; identify new suppliers and manage supplier relationships.
• Develop, negotiate, and implement contract terms; interface with Legal Counsel on legal terms as needed.
• Gather bid data, analyze supplier proposals, and present award recommendations and financial summaries to business unit and senior management.
• Analyze inventory liabilities on discontinued product and conduct industry trend analysis.
• Facilitate cross-functional teams supporting business unit initiatives; identify and execute cost savings initiatives improving quality, cost, service, and innovation.
• Support Own Brands Innovation sourcing projects and supplier transitions by monitoring liabilities, enabling setup, and ensuring documentation accuracy.
• Adhere to Sourcing department SOX policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business or Logistics preferred.
• 4–6 years of experience including 4+ years negotiating contracts, managing supplier alliances, and buying or sourcing.
• Strong negotiation, contract execution, meeting management, and facilitation skills.
• Working knowledge of contract law, government policies, and regulations for the food and drug industry.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Good knowledge of sourcing systems and e-sourcing technology; intermediate to advanced proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access; ability to work with multiple enterprise systems.
• Excellent oral, written, and presentation communication skills; strong relationship-building, collaboration, and interpersonal skills; high energy with creative problem-solving ability and sense of urgency.

A key member of the procurement team, the Associate Sourcing Manager ensures adequate supply of raw and packaging materials to production facilities while participating in sourcing strategy development, supplier management, and company-wide savings initiatives. Collaborating across internal business partners and external supplier networks, the role advances supply chain resiliency and sustainability plan implementation to meet company objectives.

Functions

• Participate in development and execution of sourcing strategies for raw and packaging materials to ensure adequate supply to production facilities.
• Conduct RFPs and lead supplier management activities including regular evaluation meetings, project reviews, and innovation sessions; set performance goals and drive continuous improvement.
• Identify and assist with company savings initiatives; support risk management by implementing ESM audit plans, maintaining contract coverage, and executing supply disruption mitigation plans.
• Develop understanding of market dynamics for assigned materials; identify cost risks and opportunities and ensure alignment with business partners.
• Support local teams in resolving material quality and service issues; build networks with internal and external partners to drive growth through innovation.
• Perform other assigned duties and comply with all policies and standards; continue developing through training, coaching, and information sharing.

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or Engineering.
• At least 1 year of experience in Business, Supply Chain, or Procurement.
• Knowledge of supply chain standard methodologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong time-management and organizational skills.
• Proficient in spreadsheet, presentation, and word processing software.
• Proficient in procurement e-tools including Ariba and SAP.
• Ability to work cross-functionally to meet business needs.

Margin improvement and on-time delivery across international product categories depend on the Associate Sourcing Manager, who serves as the liaison between Buyers and Designers and agents and factories while partnering with the Sourcing and Product Development Manager to build category-level sourcing strategies. Based within a cross-functional sourcing organization, the role manages the Product Partner Matrix process, drives cost negotiations, and ensures vendor compliance with design specifications and production timelines.

Accountabilities

• Lead Product Partner Matrix discussions for assigned responsibility; compile and analyze scorecard data and make grow, maintain, or decline recommendations.
• Identify matrix gaps and present recommendations; assist in balancing global risk with country of origin diversification plans; support onboarding of new agents and factories.
• Drive margin savings through cost negotiations; identify cost improvement opportunities via bidding; negotiate costs from design directives and compile costing worksheets for PO creation.
• Clarify and communicate design specs, product engineering details, labeling, and packaging instructions to in-country sourcing teams and vendors.
• Execute, manage, and report on production; resolve issues to ensure on-time delivery.
• Build collaborative relationships with business and support teams; perform other duties as assigned by manager.

Technical Qualifications

• 4-year related degree preferred.
• Minimum 1–3 years of experience in international sourcing and/or buying, preferably in home goods, working directly with agents and factories.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; prior experience in a US or European retail business model is a plus.
• Strong organizational, project management, and multitasking skills; highly detail-oriented and meticulous.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; superior teamwork skills.

As the Associate Sourcing Manager, this role identifies and sources vendors based on cost, quality, delivery, and capacity while overseeing sampling, test readiness, and price negotiation to deliver cost-optimized product on schedule. The vendor management and product development teams rely on this work to maintain seasonal order plans, improve supplier capabilities, and achieve liability control targets across China and Far East Asia sourcing bases.

Activities

• Identify and source vendors based on cost, quality, delivery, and capacity; oversee sampling delivery to meet product, quality, and timeline requirements.
• Monitor test status to ensure product quality readiness; plan orders and capacity with vendors based on seasonal forecasts and business needs.
• Analyze over and under capacity utilization; work with key stakeholders to maintain agreed dates and timelines.
• Assess and evaluate overall vendor capabilities and performance including development, bulk execution, quality, and CSR rating; make recommendations to management.
• Support price negotiation and provide market intelligence to deliver cost optimization; partner with technical and product development teams to improve vendor capabilities and reduce lead times.
• Manage liability verification and cross-check eligibility to achieve liability control goals.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Textile, Fashion, or related field.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in product development and sourcing.
• Solid experience in global sourcing environments with sourcing bases in China and Far East Asia; experience with USA and China markets is an advantage.
• Knowledge of lifestyle, functional, sports, and printing techniques preferred.
• Strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills; excellent project management, communication, time management, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient in MS Office including Excel (VLOOKUP) and PowerPoint.
• Highly motivated and independent; able to define, plan, and implement tasks in a team environment; willingness to travel.
• Excellent written and spoken command of English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.

Associate Sourcing Manager builds supplier relationships for assigned commodity categories, presenting category strategies to company leadership and conducting spend analysis, RFQs, and supplier business reviews to identify cost savings and innovation opportunities. The work directly supports supply chain process improvement through TQM philosophy application across a regulated industry environment spanning Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals, and Aviation.

Operational Focus

• Serve as the face of the organization for suppliers of assigned commodities; present sourcing initiatives and category strategies to company leadership.
• Conduct spend analysis, supplier segmentation, and supplier evaluation and selection processes.
• Design and implement regular RFQs; identify cost savings opportunities and negotiate pricing, terms, and commercial issues with suppliers.
• Manage supplier performance through routine business reviews; collaborate with suppliers to identify innovation and joint cost improvement opportunities.
• Embrace TQM philosophy to improve processes throughout the supply chain.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 2–3 years of experience in a Procurement or Sourcing role; experience in Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals, Aviation, or a similarly regulated industry preferred.
• Experience sourcing finished medical devices and electronic assemblies; familiarity with regulatory systems, compliance, and quality concepts a plus.
• Supply market knowledge and research capability; knowledge of consulting or Fortune 500 sourcing environments a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office with solid understanding of ERP systems and sourcing tools; strong analytical, data analysis, and benchmarking skills.
• Strong project management, organizational, communication, and presentation skills; ability to lead multiple projects simultaneously and influence without direct authority.

The Associate Sourcing Manager oversees day-to-day global sourcing operations, maintaining seasonal production calendars, fabric commitment schedules, and product cost tracking for specific categories to achieve financial targets and on-time delivery. The role produces reliable cross-functional coordination outcomes by advancing costing and negotiation capabilities and identifying improvements to sourcing process efficiency across overseas office and vendor networks.

Key Deliverables

• Serve as a key liaison for day-to-day global sourcing operations and work effectively with cross-functional partners at overseas offices and vendors.
• Maintain seasonal production calendar to ensure deadlines are met; maintain commitment schedule for fabric reservations and long lead times.
• Develop negotiation and costing skills; achieve financial targets for a specific category; maintain product cost updates and communicate costing options with overseas offices.
• Align tasks to ensure on-time delivery and quality product approval; maintain product tracking for specific categories.
• Expedite and monitor sample development progress; alert appropriate partners of delays or issues.
• Identify opportunities to improve sourcing process efficiency and present findings to manager.

Professional Experience

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 3+ years of experience in a related role; retail industry experience preferred.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office; detail-oriented with ability to work independently on tasks and functions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to build cross-functional relationships and interact with all levels of the organization.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines with shifting priorities in a fast-paced, high-urgency environment.

Embedded within a global procurement structure, the Associate Sourcing Manager / Sourcing Category Manager develops local market intelligence and manages regional supplier relationships to support global category strategies spanning supplier selection, contract negotiation, and on-site supplier development. Working closely with senior Category Managers based in the USA and Germany, the role advances category management outcomes through Business Review Meetings, tender coordination, and local supplier assessment visits.

Areas of Ownership

• Provide local market knowledge to Global Sourcing including industry, supplier, and regulatory intelligence; identify potential local and regional suppliers to support global strategies.
• Execute local and regional vendor pre-assessment visits evaluating capabilities, infrastructure, quality, and EHS.
• Facilitate communication between Global Sourcing and local suppliers; coordinate and support quotations, tenders, and requests for proposals.
• Prepare and bundle tenders and quotations for review and approval by Category Managers; evaluate local supplier contract terms against global templates and facilitate negotiation.
• Organize and run local Business Review Meetings; provide on-site monitoring and development support for local and regional suppliers.
• Support implementation of overall category strategies at the local and regional level.

Background & Experience

• 5 years of sourcing experience in category management.
• Experience in demand management and market and supplier analysis.
• Experience in negotiation and total cost of ownership, savings, and NPV analysis.
• Strong project management skills with a track record of delivering against commitments.
• Dedicated to mastering and building solutions that fit customer needs.

Reporting to senior engineering leadership, the Associate System Engineer triages and resolves server, network, desktop, and software issues for clients while assisting Senior Systems Engineers on projects including system migrations, virtual server configurations, and firewall installations. Partnering with vendors and internal teams at Medicus IT, the role advances client security, infrastructure reliability, and operational standards through hands-on technical support and after-hours on-call coverage.

Role Responsibilities

• Triage, troubleshoot, and resolve server, network, desktop, and software issues; diagnose system emergencies and persevere until resolved.
• Assist clients with installation, configuration, and ongoing usability of desktop computers, mobile devices, peripheral equipment, and software.
• Install and upgrade Microsoft Operating Systems, software, patches, and updates on desktops, laptops, and servers; perform virus detection and removal.
• Configure and install firewalls to best practice standards; resolve backup issues and perform restore testing.
• Manage network switch and server room cable management; conduct physical setup of new computers.
• Review security parameters with clients and make recommendations per Medicus IT's standards; follow all defined processes and standards.
• Actively assist Senior Systems Engineers on projects including system migrations, virtual server configurations, server and firewall installations, VPN tunnels, and SAN setups.
• Participate in project planning, solution delivery, and mentoring; take part in after-hours on-call rotation as needed.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in IT or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Required certifications: MS Windows 70-687 plus one elective.
• 1–2 years of experience in Microsoft Environments; 1–2 years of hands-on experience with Windows 2016/2012/2008 servers, Active Directory, SQL, SharePoint, Exchange, Backup Technologies, Internet, DNS, and email.
• MSP-specific experience strongly desired.
• Knowledge of VMware, Citrix, VPN, Terminal Services, VoIP, voicemail, analog systems, and vendor-specific hardware and software.
• Excellent problem-solving, client relationship, verbal, and written communication skills; ability to learn and retain new technology skills; team player who remains calm and professional in high-stress situations.
• Alignment with core values of Doing the Right Thing, Taking Ownership and Delivering Results, Cultivating Positivity, and Encouraging Improvement and Innovation.

Sitting at the intersection of technical engineering and customer engagement, the Associate System Engineer completes three months of intensive academic training at Juniper Networks' EMEA HQ before collaborating in onsite customer presentations, proof-of-concept configurations, and Channel and Partner workshops. Operating across customer accounts and internal technical teams, the role refines troubleshooting, presentation, and solution-building skills to serve customer networking and infrastructure needs.

Job Functions

• Collaborate in onsite customer presentations and engagements.
• Prepare technical responses to customer proposals and RFPs.
• Participate in development and delivery of proof-of-concept test configurations based on test plans.
• Deliver training and workshops as part of Channel and Partner engagements.
• Acquire technical troubleshooting skills including problem identification, reporting, and critical issue management.

Minimum Qualifications

• Recent graduate with a Master's or Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Engineering.
• Knowledge in one or more of the following areas: IP networking, virtualization, cloud orchestration, network automation, security, or management solutions.
• Strong communications and interpersonal skills; deeply curious and committed to developing technical and professional skills.
• Fluent in English and the local language of the permanent position.
• Right-to-work in the program country is essential; relocation is not available.

A key member of the shipboard systems integration team, the Associate System Engineer supports configuration, installation, and technical support of computer programs on surface combatant ships and land-based test sites, including media load cycles and build anomaly resolution. Collaborating with Navy stakeholders across domestic and international locations, the role advances AEGIS Baseline 9/10 installation outcomes and contributes to SOP development and process improvement.

What You'll Do

• Assist in configuration and system light-off of laboratories at land-based test sites; support computer program production, test, and installation on surface combatant ships.
• Perform computer program shipboard installation, technical support, media load cycle, and verification; assist in resolving build and installation anomalies.
• Develop and maintain build and installation documentation; implement new technology within the build and installation process.
• Develop presentations and prepare reports summarizing ship and site build and installation results; generate media load cycle and verification reports.
• Support process definition, improvement, and development of SOPs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an associated discipline with at least 4 years of related experience, or equivalent experience and education with 6 years of related experience.
• United States Navy experience required; active secret clearance required; United States citizenship required.
• Knowledge of the Navy's AEGIS Baseline 9/10.
• Experience with UNIX and Linux operating systems; experience in software CM production and installation processes.
• Travel required within the continental United States, Hawaii, Spain, and Japan.