As Head of Sourcing you will lead Represent's global sourcing strategy to secure the right product, from the right partners, at the right cost, quality and lead-time, while maintaining ethical and responsible sourcing practices. The role owns vendor strategy, negotiations, capacity alignment and QC.
Represent produces mainline and apparel, requiring strong, reliable factory partnerships, disciplined sourcing, ethically verified supply chains and a robust critical path. Based at Head Office in Horwich, Bolton, reporting to the COO.
Key Responsibilities
Define and deliver a robust, rolling 3–5 year sourcing strategy aligned to Represent's four-category sourcing framework.
Maintain an optimum production portfolio across geographies, with a focus on country of origin strategy and duty arbitrage opportunities.
Ensure the COO and leadership team are fully informed of new and emerging manufacturing technologies, innovations and opportunities.
Lead supplier negotiations and relationship governance, driving FOB cost improvement against benchmark.
Ensure the continuous development of QC functions and maintain product quality and compliance standards.
Lead the translation of range plans into optimum seasonal sourcing commitments for raw materials and finished goods.
Deliver cost optimisation across materials, manufacture and logistics, reducing supply chain cost while enabling growth.
Drive dual-sourcing strategies to manage and mitigate strategic supply risk across the vendor base.
Align sourcing strategy across business units to ensure a consistent, coherent approach to strategic partnerships.
Optimise logistics Opex through efficient routing, consolidation and carrier management.
Ensure efficient alignment with and delivery to the critical path.
Through excellent leadership and management, build and develop a high performing team and culture, coaching talent and fostering a culture of accountability and brand alignment.
What you'll need
Proven track record in the development and implementation of sourcing strategy within a premium or luxury apparel environment.
Direct and extensive experience of sourcing in Asia and managing global vendor networks.
Strong commercial negotiation capability with a demonstrable track record of FOB and cost improvement.
Proven experience managing key stakeholders across cross-functional teams.
HRDD, Fair Wear and responsible sourcing compliance understanding.
Experience building and leading high performing sourcing teams.
Confident, resilient and assertive leader with the gravitas to influence at senior leadership level.
Commercially strong, decisive and data-led in decision making.
You have
Significant experience in a senior sourcing or procurement leadership role within apparel or fashion.
Direct, hands-on experience managing factory relationships in Asia.
A strong track record of delivering cost savings and supply chain efficiencies at scale.
Experience leading and developing cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment.
High integrity, accountability and a collaborative approach to leadership.
We would ideally like you to
Have experience within a premium or luxury branded environment.
Bring an established network of factory and supplier relationships across key sourcing regions.
Be comfortable operating as both a strategic leader and a hands-on practitioner when the business requires it.
Own the role and make things happen.
Be flexible and open to evolving business needs and priorities.
Our Values
Family
Quality
Progressive
Accountability
Relentless
Sustainable
Benefits
25 days holiday per year increasing with length of service
Annual leave purchase scheme
Wellbeing day
Company bonus scheme
Staff discount
£1,000 annual company gift card
Electric vehicle scheme
Pension
Life assurance
Private medical insurance
Working Pattern
4 days in office, 1 day WFH
Travel as required both domestic and international, including to key sourcing regions.
Location
Head Office, Unit 1 - 3, Northgate Close, Horwich, Bolton, BL6 6PQ
