Technical Raw Material Sourcing Manager

Position Details

Title: Technical Raw Material Sourcing Manager

Department: Sourcing, South Korea

Reports to: Sr. Manager, Raw Material Sourcing

Location: Seoul, South Korea

Job Classification: Onsite

FLSA Status: Exempt

Job Band: Professional

Job Summary

The Technical Raw Material Sourcing Manger role will have primary responsibilities to identify and manage the technical raw material sourcing network for the assigned business category(ies); owning the business relationship with representative mills. This includes coordinating the development, manufacture and delivery of technical raw materials to be consistent with the business units needs and in-line with the corporate sourcing strategy as set by the VP of Sourcing, Asia and Director of Sourcing, Asia. This function will lead the strategic alignment of a global sourcing network, for both the immediate season’s needs and the long-term strategy of the business unit. Build trust with product development, design, fabric development, quality, planning, and other Carhartt departments.

Associate Responsibilities

Identify gaps, research options and make recommendations for new suppliers, working with the Sr Manager Raw Materials Sourcing for implementation of regional sourcing solutions. 

Develop a toolbox of suppliers’ capabilities, capacities and innovations that are aligned with the EH Sourcing strategy.

Negotiate costs with raw material suppliers on behalf of the assigned business unit per Carhartt’s requirements of target costs and margins.  Advise business on cost savings by being involved in the development process and working with cross-functional departments on savings opportunities.

Partner with Sr Manager Raw Materials Sourcing, Director Sourcing Asia and Field Sourcing Managers to implement and manage shortened lead times for raw materials to meet inventory turn targets.

Collaborate with sourcing and planning teams to forecast raw material greige commitments and track raw material usage against PO’s. 

Monitor and track fabric development in partnership with the Raw Material Development team to ensure timelines are met.

Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of textiles and apparel manufacturing as it relates to the assigned area of responsibility including researching and traveling to vendors as needed and evaluating these opportunities.

Maintain awareness of the key performance of all assigned suppliers ensuring they meet Carhartt’s strategy of “best in class” and can satisfy the requirements of the product category regarding quality, price, delivery and Social Compliance; troubleshoot and implement corrective actions as needed.

Work with assigned Business Unit and/or Merchandising staff to understand their development needs and align a sourcing network to fulfill these requirements.  Attend Development meetings on a regular basis to integrate Sourcing into the product development process and provide insight regarding manufacturing options.

Serve as the liaison between the Carhartt development departments and manufacturing base to communicate and demonstrate our corporate culture and core values and business requirements.  Own onboarding of new suppliers as necessary and trouble shoot problems with the supplier chain.

Demonstrate ownership with product being developed and produced.  Make and own decisions when appropriate to the job level, recognizing which issues to elevate and communicate at higher levels.

Build technical expertise and industry trends related to the textile and apparel industry including new technologies and with a focus on how these changes and/or trends can influence and support divisional and company strategies.

Required Education

Bachelor's degree in textiles, apparel, operations, supply chain, or related field; or equivalent years of related experience in lieu of degree.

Required Skills & Experience

Minimum of 7 years of direct experience in raw material development or sourcing within the Apparel or Textile industry. 

Fluent in both writing and speaking English, and Korean.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills with proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Time Management and proven track record of problem solving and strong analytical expertise, including data mining, reporting and ability to monitor key performance metrics.

Must be able to work independently

Knowledge of Carhartt product and strategic direction of the business and how to support with a sourcing supply chain

Clear understanding of supplier mill network for assigned area

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Typical office environment; cubicle/office setting. Extended periods of time sitting, standing, typing on a computer.

Light lifting may be required. 10 LBS.

Willing to work some weekends as necessary.

International travel required (up to 30%). Must have or be eligible to obtain a passport.

This position has an On-Site location: Associate will work on-site for all work-related activities.

Carhartt is a tobacco free workplace.