Head of Footwear Sourcing Strategy

Role Overview

This position focuses on enhancing the connection between global footwear sourcing and development to ensure that sourcing serves as a strategic enabler from the initial stages. By cultivating robust partnerships across various teams, including Innovation, Creation, Quality, Supply Chain, and Sustainability, you will promote a culture of learning that significantly boosts quality and timely delivery. Your ability to craft a comprehensive sourcing roadmap is vital for the seamless execution of our product portfolio, striking a balance between cost, quality, and delivery objectives.

Team Environment

You will become an integral part of the Product Organization, recognized as the innovation engine dedicated to the design, development, and sourcing of pioneering products.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Alignment: Foster close collaboration between the footwear sourcing organization, predominantly located in Vietnam, and the broader footwear product organization based in Switzerland.
• Integrate Sourcing Considerations: Ensure that sourcing requirements are strategically woven into the product roadmap, making certain all projects are ‘sourcing ready’ by the time of product freeze.
• Stakeholder Management: Serve as a strategic partner across cross-functional teams including Innovation, Creation, Quality, Supply Chain, and Sustainability.
• Learning Culture: Embed a learning culture and corresponding processes in our product development framework to systematically enhance quality and punctual delivery.
• Portfolio Execution: Develop a sourcing roadmap that facilitates the flawless execution of the product portfolio while maintaining a balance between cost, quality, and delivery goals.

Candidate Profile

• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in strategic footwear sourcing and production operations.
• Strong understanding of the footwear product development lifecycle, from inception to commercialization, with emphasis on sourcing integration points, including upstream product strategy, innovation, product creation, and quality management.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, connect insights across functions, and adapt to shifting priorities seamlessly.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities to manage a portfolio of cross-functional projects effectively.
• Proven track record of transforming strategic objectives into actionable plans and ensuring successful execution within complex organizational frameworks.
• Experience working in a global environment, with proven ability to foster collaboration amongst geographically dispersed teams across Europe and Asia.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build and sustain strong relationships with various internal stakeholders, influencing decisions and fostering consensus.
• A commitment to continuous improvement, having implemented methodologies that promote a learning-oriented atmosphere.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, capable of evaluating complex trade-offs and developing effective solutions, while simplifying intricate issues.
• Excellent communication skills, with an aptitude for conveying complex ideas effectively and persuasively to diverse audiences, engaging and aligning with senior leadership.