Senior Materials Sourcing Manager

GENERAL FUNCTION

Reporting to the VP of Global Materials, the Leather Materials Manager owns the management of all aspects of Upper leather and lining materials sourcing and supply for Wolverine brands, including aligning material capabilities with product performance requirements, ensuring quality consistency, compliance, and on-time delivery whilst optimizing cost efficiency on development and production materials. The role is accountable for critical relationships across Wolverine Worldwide Brands, Sourcing teams, shoe factories, and approved material vendors, ensuring alignment with Global Sourcing Strategy on localized supply and holding vendors accountable to their commitments within the bounds of actionable Service Level Agreements.

PRIMARY DUTIES

Drive the 3-year Materials strategy aligned with overall Sourcing Strategy in collaboration with Sourcing Leadership, Asia Product Operations, Planning, Quality, and Costing teams to meet brand expectations and targets.

Responsible for all activities that occur within sourced manufacturing locations including but not limited to new supplier on-boarding, risk auditing/dual sourcing, prioritized localization, migration of materials, color quality tools, RSL testing and compliance.

The role requires engagement and close collaboration with Product Operations, Technical, Quality, Costing and Planning teams, Vendor teams, T1 factory management, on time performance management, supplier scorecards, seasonal forecasts, contingency planning, quality consistency and seasonal price negotiation.

Set and enforce supplier Service Level Agreements for quality and on-time delivery.

Collaborate and guide teams in leather quality and characteristics, performance attributes and limitations with the objective of fostering a design to manufacturing mindset.

• Build a pipeline of talent in leather expertise and skillsets, providing day-to-day leadership in performance, individual development, mentoring and coaching. Engage and persuade others to change opinions or actions in a desired direction to meet corporate and brand ASP targets.

Supplier Management

• Build strong partnerships with preferred supply base to ensure best capacity, delivery, lead time and consistent quality is achieved in sample and production shipments.

• Agree and set Service Level Agreements for capacity, OTP and quality commitments for each supplier in line with demand plan schedules.

Facilitate timely seasonal forecasts and monthly updates to vendors for capacity prioritization and time in full delivery of samples and production orders.

Facilitate timely return of seasonal price requests and other compliance requirements.

Oversee quality claim solutions between brand, factory and supplier as necessary, ensuring materials are fit for purpose.

Co-ordinate development of replacement leathers between supplier, brand and product teams to meet localization, dual source and cost targets.

Ensure that standard and compliance protocols are agreed and strictly observed, together with procedural and material quality standards, including SATRA grading.

• Oversee on-boarding process for new suppliers, including leading vendor compliance audits, quality assessments and sustainability goals.

Oversee maintenance and operating efficiency of leather color quality tools and library.

Bi-annual scorecards and KPI metrics for assigned vendors.

End to End Process

• Drive team initiatives and targets to support strategic goals of the company and brands.

Review seasonal brand product allocation and demand plans with sourcing teams.

Lead team in collaborating in cross functional activities to verify and validate appropriate materials to solve potential pre-production/production issues including Tear Down reviews, consumption alignment, vendor capacity and production capability.

• Partner with the Costing and Procurement teams to meet brand seasonal guidance and costing timelines. Apply fact-based data to optimize value in seasonal price negotiations and to proactively identify cost and process improvement opportunities.

• Work closely with Planning teams to ensure OTP targets are met and proactively address perceived risks and put in place contingencies to ensure brand delivery expectations are met consistently.

• Promote close collaboration with Product Operations and Quality teams to ensure proactive and technical solutions on seasonal product.

• Perform other duties as required/assigned by Materials Director.

KEY COMPETENCIES

8+ yrs experience in leather materials manufacturing or sourcing within a matrix organization.

Thorough knowledge of Leather characteristic/quality grading/manufacturing (Bovine, Pig, small skins).

Seasoned knowledge of Restricted Substance and physical property standards for leather.

Decisive. Strong problem-solving skills and bias for results.

Effective communicator with ability to foster collaborative relationships at all levels within a cross-cultural organization and with external partners.

• Proven people leader able to lead, coach, mentor, develop, motivate and inspire teams to reach their full potential.
• Is a role model demonstrating strong ethics, integrity, transparency and collaboration in line with Wolverine Worldwide values.
• Operates as a leader in DE&I holistically, is fair and reasonable in the treatment of peers and subordinates, and inclusive of team members with different backgrounds and cultures.

Strong organizational & negotiating skills.

Must be fluent in written & spoken English.

Computer literate, MS Office applications and MS Outlook.

LOCATION & TRAVEL

• Based at one of the Wolverine offices situated in factory environment (as assigned).
• Approx 40% of time requires travel to local factories/suppliers strategic meetings as needed.
• Foreign travel may be required.