Procurement Manager

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

We are seeking a highly strategic, analytical, and results-driven Procurement Manager to take ownership of multiple product categories and drive the entire procurement and costing process for vendors within those categories. This role is integral to achieving our margin targets, leveraging supplier competition, and aligning procurement strategies with overall business objectives.

The Procurement Manager will be responsible for requesting and reviewing quotations, conducting deep-dive analyses, developing negotiation strategies, leading vendor negotiations with a robust fact base, and evaluating and awarding business to suppliers. While this role does not require building should-cost models from scratch, a strong understanding of them and how to leverage them in negotiations is essential.

Success in this position means securing competitive costs and making data-driven decisions to ensure sustainable and profitable procurement strategies. This role requires strong analytical abilities, negotiation skills, and technological proficiency to effectively manage and optimize procurement processes.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Procurement Category Management:

• Own and manage procurement strategy and execution for multiple categories, ensuring competitive cost structures and supplier performance.
• Lead the end-to-end vendor quotation-to-award process, from requesting quotations to awarding business and determining volume allocations between multiple suppliers.
• Conduct thorough evaluations of potential supplier quotations, assessing cost competitiveness, and taking into consideration inputs around quality, operational reliability, and strategic fit.
• Develop and execute negotiation strategies supported by detailed cost analytics and fact-based insights.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Merchandising, Sourcing, and Finance, to align procurement objectives with business goals.

Quotation Review & Cost Analysis:

• Analyze supplier quotations and understand/challenge the breakdown of cost structures, including materials, trims/hardware, crafting, packaging, and overhead costs.
• Compare supplier costs against internal should-cost models to identify cost reduction opportunities and negotiation strategy.
• Provide actionable insights into vendor pricing discrepancies and cost trends.
• Lead fact-based negotiations with vendors to drive cost savings and the best value pricing for products.

Cost Efficiency & Business Impact:

• Identify and implement procurement strategies that drive cost efficiencies without compromising quality and supply chain stability.
• Track and monitor cost trends in raw materials, labor, and other relevant factors impacting procurement pricing; be able to adjust strategies accordingly.
• Support budgeting and financial planning efforts by providing accurate cost forecasts and scenario analyses.
• Support other margin improvement projects driving reductions in product cost.

Technology & Data Management:

• Use procurement and cost-tracking tools to maintain up-to-date records on supplier pricing, cost variances, and negotiation outcomes.
• Continuously improve processes by supporting the Technology Enablement team to automate/improve procurement workflows.
• Work with data visualization tools to present insights, strategies, and recommendations effectively to senior leadership.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Proven negotiation expertise – Experience in vendor negotiations with a focus on cost optimization and strategic sourcing.
• Strong procurement strategy & analysis skills – Ability to assess cost structures, identify cost drivers, and leverage data to build and execute robust procurement strategies.
• Project management – Demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate, and deliver cost-savings projects on time, effectively managing resources, risks, and cross-functional stakeholders
• Industry knowledge – Understanding of procurement processes within manufacturing for consumer goods, retail, and/or apparel sectors.
• Technological proficiency – Highly skilled in Excel/Sheets, experience with procurement or cost-tracking systems, and ability to adapt to new technology quickly.
• Excellent communication skills – Strong ability to collaborate across multiple teams and present data-driven insights.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.

Preferred:

• Advanced degree in supply chain, business, or a related field.
• Familiarity with digital procurement tools and supplier management software.
• Multilingual skills – Proficiency in a secondary language (Mandarin, Hindi, etc.) is highly valuable.