Footwear Purchase Specialist

About Frido

Frido is a fast-growing consumer brand focused on innovation, quality, and

operational excellence. As we scale our warehouse and factory operations, we are

looking for a strong Factory HR professional who can anchor compliance, employee

relations, and people governance at the ground level.

Role Overview

We are looking for a Footwear Purchase Executive to manage end-to-end sourcing,

vendor coordination, and procurement operations for our footwear category. This

role requires strong commercial acumen, vendor management skills, and an

understanding of footwear materials, costing, and production cycles.

Key Responsibilities

Vendor Management

o Identify, onboard, and manage footwear manufacturers and material

suppliers

o Build strong relationships to ensure reliability, quality, and scalability

Sourcing & Procurement

o Execute purchase orders based on demand forecasts and inventory

plans

o Negotiate pricing, MOQs, and payment terms with vendors

o Ensure cost efficiency while maintaining product quality

Product & Material Understanding

o Work closely with design and product teams on material selection

(fabrics, soles, trims, etc.)

o Ensure samples meet required specifications before bulk production

Inventory Planning

o Coordinate with planning teams to maintain optimal stock levels

o Avoid stock-outs and overstocking

Quality & Compliance

o Ensure products meet quality benchmarks and brand standards

o Coordinate QC checks and resolve production issues

Production Coordination

o Track order status from sampling to final delivery

o Ensure adherence to timelines and escalate delays proactively

Data & Reporting

o Maintain purchase records, vendor performance metrics, and cost

sheets

o Analyze procurement data to identify cost-saving opportunities

Mandatory Skills (Non-Negotiable)

1. Category Understanding

Strong understanding of footwear construction (uppers, soles, lasts,

materials)

Knowledge of sourcing hubs (Agra, Ranipet, China, Vietnam etc.)

2. Vendor Management & Negotiation

Proven ability to negotiate pricing and commercial terms

Experience managing multiple vendors simultaneously

3. Costing & Commercial Acumen

Ability to break down product costing (material, labor, logistics, margins)

Strong focus on cost optimization

4. Supply Chain & Planning

Understanding of procurement cycles, lead times, and inventory planning

Ability to align supply with demand forecasts

5. Quality Control Awareness

Familiarity with QC processes, sampling stages, and defect identification

6. Execution Rigor

Strong follow-ups and ownership of timelines

Ability to handle multiple SKUs and orders simultaneously

7. Data & Tools

Proficiency in Excel / Google Sheets (must-have)

Ability to manage trackers, POs, and basic data analysis

Preferred Skills (Good to Have)

Experience in D2C or e-commerce brands

Exposure to ERP systems

Understanding of import/export processes

Basic design sensibility (helps in vendor discussions)

Role Overview

We are looking for a Footwear Purchase Executive to manage end-to-end sourcing,

vendor coordination, and procurement operations for our footwear category. This

role requires strong commercial acumen, vendor management skills, and an

understanding of footwear materials, costing, and production cycles.

Key Responsibilities

Vendor Management

o Identify, onboard, and manage footwear manufacturers and material

suppliers

o Build strong relationships to ensure reliability, quality, and scalability

Sourcing & Procurement

o Execute purchase orders based on demand forecasts and inventory

plans

o Negotiate pricing, MOQs, and payment terms with vendors

o Ensure cost efficiency while maintaining product quality

Product & Material Understanding

o Work closely with design and product teams on material selection

(fabrics, soles, trims, etc.)

o Ensure samples meet required specifications before bulk production

Inventory Planning

o Coordinate with planning teams to maintain optimal stock levels

o Avoid stock-outs and overstocking

Quality & Compliance

o Ensure products meet quality benchmarks and brand standards

o Coordinate QC checks and resolve production issues

Production Coordination

o Track order status from sampling to final delivery

o Ensure adherence to timelines and escalate delays proactively

Data & Reporting

o Maintain purchase records, vendor performance metrics, and cost

sheets

o Analyze procurement data to identify cost-saving opportunities

Mandatory Skills (Non-Negotiable)

1. Category Understanding

Strong understanding of footwear construction (uppers, soles, lasts,

materials)

Knowledge of sourcing hubs (Agra, Ranipet, China, Vietnam etc.)

2. Vendor Management & Negotiation

Proven ability to negotiate pricing and commercial terms

Experience managing multiple vendors simultaneously

3. Costing & Commercial Acumen

Ability to break down product costing (material, labor, logistics, margins)

Strong focus on cost optimization

4. Supply Chain & Planning

Understanding of procurement cycles, lead times, and inventory planning

Ability to align supply with demand forecasts

5. Quality Control Awareness

Familiarity with QC processes, sampling stages, and defect identification

6. Execution Rigor

Strong follow-ups and ownership of timelines

Ability to handle multiple SKUs and orders simultaneously

7. Data & Tools

Proficiency in Excel / Google Sheets (must-have)

Ability to manage trackers, POs, and basic data analysis

Preferred Skills (Good to Have)

Experience in D2C or e-commerce brands

Exposure to ERP systems

Understanding of import/export processes

Basic design sensibility (helps in vendor discussions)

Ideal Candidate Profile

3–4 years of experience in footwear/apparel sourcing or buying

Prior experience with manufacturers or D2C brands preferred

Highly detail-oriented, structured, and execution-focused