Sr Mgr-Merchandise Sourcing & Development - Apparel - Full-time / Part-time

Please note that this position will require you to be at the office 4 days a week (Monday to Thursday).About the Role & Team

The Senior Sourcing Manager, Merchandise Sourcing & Development - Apparel drives product development and sourcing strategies for a category or portfolio of product categories across all markets and distribution channels worldwide (Disney stores, shopDisney.com, Theme Parks & Resorts and global Shop-In-Shop retail partners). Is responsible for establishing short and long range global, Omni-channel supplier strategies to support distribution of a global product line while balancing the need for localization and speed-to-market.

This role will be responsible for the Sourcing Managers and teams to action against strategies and drive progress on key sourcing initiatives such as sustainability and source country diversification.

What You Will Do

Sourcing Strategy

• Establish and communicate short and long-range Supplier strategies in partnership with Global and Responsible Sourcing teams.
• Ensure that Annual Supplier Scorecard/GMDE/SWOTS process is completed with input from cross-functional partners. Communicates findings to the Supplier Community along with development objectives to drive continuous improvement against all metrics.
• Consistently supervise macro-economic, and geo-political impacts to cost and delivery. Provides teams with regular mentorship on how to lead currency fluctuations, commodity rates, labor rates, trade agreements and disputes, environmental policies, etc.
• Reviews and vets and approves all requests for new suppliers as applicable, partnering with DGS and Responsible Sourcing.
• Understands and upholds all governing TWDC Global Product & Labor Standards to ensure compliance policies are met by all Suppliers – directly addresses concerns on International Labor Standards (ILS) with Suppliers and monitors corrective action plan progress with Suppliers or Facilities of concern.

Product Development and Costing

• Established quarterly/bi-annual strategy framework with Responsible Sourcing, Production, and Trade Compliance. Presents the seasonal Sourcing Kick-off presentation inclusive of macro-economic/trade updates and costing forecasts and mitigation plans (where applicable).
• Proactively seek new opportunities, ideas, techniques and materials to drive product innovation with both new and existing suppliers. Organize vendor innovation weeks to review market and manufacturing innovation on a seasonal basis.
• Establish goals for material platforming in collaboration with sustainable materials teams to ensure TWDC Scope - 3 goals are met.
• Partner with Product Design to manage product finalization including final development samples, costing, and vendor placement to ensure on-time handoff to Production to support established in-store and online launch dates.
• Communicates to all internal teams the Costing and Engineering options in support of merchandise productivity and profitability by identifying and recommends cost mitigation options
• Partner with Trade Compliance on Tariff Engineering opportunities with a global distribution mindset.

Productivity and Process

• Regularly reports to cross function leadership on the progress of development and sampling against key milestone dates through daily/weekly maintenance of the Development Tracking Report.
• Responsible for ensuring products meet established standards for safety and quality in all intended sale markets, including monitoring quarterly Product Review Requests (PRRs) with product integrity partners.
• Develop and cultivate strong partnerships with best-in-class suppliers and across TWDC and in particular with the global merchant, Design, Production, Buying and Planning teams as they pertain to the sourcing and development of best-in-category Disney-branded merchandise.
• Develop holistic understanding Company’s products and needs of diverse stakeholders to better leverage Supplier resources to the benefit of Disney and Supplier.

Leadership

• Develop high performing teams and bench to support organizational growth, encouraging a culture of collaboration and organizational vibrancy.
• Motivates and encourage employee engagement through a proven dedication to diversity.
• Leads teams through change, builds excitement and helps teams navigate through ambiguity during times of change while maintaining efficiency., and builds commitment to change.
• Creates an environment that encourages creative thinking and supports risk-taking. Takes risks and handles them thoughtfully.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• 5+ years of dynamic experience in Product Development/Design, Merchandising, or Sourcing for specialty retail or consumer products in a global, Omni-channel environment.
• At least 3 years of experience leading and developing high performing teams with multiple direct and indirect reports
• Solid understanding of the Omni-channel retail marketplace globally with experience in Sourcing and/or Product Development of multiple product categories.
• Command of manufacturing processes, materialization, and the key drivers of cost in development.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to drive execution against a financial plan.
• Strong presentation and negotiation skills.
• Successful experience working in a highly matrixed company structure; Ability to work collaboratively with multiple design, merchandising, and channel commercial partners.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to influence a diverse audience including experience working with external partners and business owners to bring product and assortments to the market.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising/PD/Design, Retail Management, General/International Business, Supply Chain, or 5-8 years of related experience.

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