Sr. Manager - Sourcing, Accessories

Responsibilities & Key Deliverables The Senior Manager - Sourcing & Procurement (Lifestyle & Merchandise) will lead end-to-end sourcing, vendor development, procurement, and supply chain execution for apparel, lifestyle merchandise, corporate gifting, travel gear, accessories, and promotional products. The role is responsible for building a robust supplier ecosystem, driving cost competitiveness, ensuring product quality, managing production readiness, and delivering products on time and within budget. Working closely with Product Development, Merchandising, Marketing, Quality, and Operations teams, the incumbent will drive category growth from product concept through commercial launch. Key Responsibilities include: Strategic Sourcing & Category Management • Develop and execute sourcing strategies for apparel, lifestyle products, travel accessories, gifting solutions, and merchandise categories. • Translate business plans into sourcing roadmaps, procurement plans, budgets, and category targets. • Support category expansion, new product introductions, and supplier diversification initiatives. • Balance quality, cost, lead time, and scalability requirements across categories. Vendor Development & Supplier Management • Identify, evaluate, onboard, and develop manufacturers, fabric mills, merchandise suppliers, printing partners, and packaging vendors. • Build a strong supplier ecosystem capable of supporting growth, innovation, quality, and delivery requirements. • Conduct supplier assessments covering capability, capacity, quality, compliance, cost, and delivery performance. • Manage supplier scorecards, reviews, audits, and improvement programs. • Develop alternate sourcing options to mitigate supply risks. Commercial Negotiation & Cost Optimization • Lead negotiations for pricing, MOQs, payment terms, lead times, and commercial agreements. • Develop costing models, supplier comparisons, and sourcing benchmarks. • Drive cost reduction, value engineering, and procurement savings initiatives. • Monitor market and commodity trends impacting apparel and merchandise categories. Production Planning & Execution • Manage sourcing activities from sampling, costing, vendor selection, and production planning through final delivery. • Coordinate with suppliers to ensure adequate capacity and timely production. • Ensure material availability and smooth flow from raw material procurement to finished goods. • Drive OTIF (On-Time In-Full) delivery performance and resolve supply bottlenecks proactively. Product Development & Quality Management • Support product development through supplier selection, sample approvals, material sourcing, and production readiness. • Collaborate with Design, Merchandising, and Quality teams to ensure products meet brand standards. • Monitor product quality, packaging, trims, finishing, and manufacturing consistency. • Drive corrective actions for quality, delivery, and supplier performance issues. Inventory & Supply Chain Management • Develop procurement and replenishment plans aligned with demand forecasts. • Optimize inventory levels while minimizing stock-outs, excess inventory, and obsolescence. • Coordinate closely with operations, warehousing, logistics, and planning teams to ensure supply continuity. Governance & Performance Management • Maintain sourcing dashboards, supplier scorecards, procurement trackers, and cost reports. • Monitor KPIs related to quality, delivery, cost, supplier performance, and inventory. • Ensure compliance with procurement policies, contractual obligations, ethical sourcing standards, and audit requirements. • Provide regular updates on sourcing performance, business risks, and improvement opportunities. Education Qualification Essential Bachelor's Degree in Textile Engineering, Fashion Technology, Apparel Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration or related discipline. Preferred MBA / PGDM in Supply Chain, Operations, Procurement, Retail, Marketing, or General Management. Professional certifications in Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Lean, or Six Sigma. General Experience 12-15 years of experience in sourcing, procurement, vendor management, supply chain, category management, or manufacturing operations. Strong hands-on experience in apparel sourcing, particularly across Shirts, Jackets, Trousers, and related lifestyle categories. Proven expertise in vendor development, sampling, costing, negotiations, production planning, and supplier performance management. Strong understanding of garment manufacturing, trims, fabrics, quality systems, factory operations, and supply chain processes. Experience managing capacity planning, OTIF delivery, inventory optimization, and cross-functional operations. Demonstrated success in building supplier ecosystems and driving cost efficiencies within branded apparel, retail, or lifestyle organizations. Preferred Industries Apparel & Fashion Brands Lifestyle & Consumer Product Companies Corporate Merchandise & Promotional Products Retail & E-commerce Organizations Travel Gear & Accessories Companies D2C Consumer Brands Private Label Manufacturers Import / Export Houses Buying Houses Sourcing Agencies or Third-Party Procurement Service Providers