Senior Manager, Global Procurement – Footwear

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Take ownership of and enhance cost structures and savings specifically for the Footwear category.

• Develop and implement the commercial roadmap along with the vendor distribution strategy for designated categories.

• Set both short- and long-term procurement objectives that align with business growth.

• Achieve outstanding product costs without compromising on quality or ESG considerations.

• Collaborate with the technology team to integrate procurement capabilities and guidelines into Vendor Portal and Product Catalog tools.

• Aim to achieve a 700 basis points reduction in product costs within the next year.

• Organize and manage competitive, comprehensive bidding processes with manufacturing partners.

• Oversee the entire RFP process from vendor identification to award.

• Achieve product cost savings through effective negotiation and establish repeatable negotiation frameworks.

• Develop an AI agent to systematically manage RFPs by 2026 and support scenario analyses.

• Create and utilize component-level clean sheets to enhance pricing transparency.

• Review, approve, and optimize costs for purchasing events within assigned categories.

• Ensure scalability and clean-sheet costing with finished-goods manufacturers, negotiating upstream with material suppliers.

• Lead margin reviews of buy plans to meet company margin objectives.

• Collaborate with the material sourcing team to guarantee transparent and competitive pricing.

• Negotiate launch costs and set schedules for renegotiating scale pricing.

• Provide merchandising with realistic scale-costing targets.

• Work alongside the Material Manager, Sourcing Teams, and Tier 1 and Tier 2 vendors to incorporate material benefits into finished-goods costing.

• Integrate upstream material availability into product design and development processes.

• Identify and pursue supply-chain value creation opportunities that extend beyond traditional sourcing, including verticalization and volume consolidation.

⛳️ Requirements

• A minimum of 8 years of experience in global procurement, sourcing, or supply chain management within a retail apparel context.

• Demonstrated success in managing competitive RFP processes with international manufacturing partners.

• Practical experience in building and utilizing clean sheets for cost negotiations.

• Strong analytical abilities and comfort with data-driven decision-making.

• Experience collaborating cross-functionally with merchandising, materials, and production teams.

• Technical proficiency in employing AI-powered platforms, such as LLMs, for scenario analysis and automating intricate procurement tasks.

• Exceptional negotiation skills and strong commercial acumen.

• Experience in apparel, soft goods, or home goods is highly preferred.

• A Bachelor’s degree is required.

• An MBA or advanced degree is a plus.

• Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background check.

🏝️ Benefits

• Bonus opportunities may be available for eligible positions.

• Equity options may be offered for qualifying roles.

• Reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified individuals with disabilities.

• Engage in mission-driven work that contributes to a more sustainable and accessible future.

• Background checks will be conducted in accordance with applicable laws.