Sourcing Manager || Kidswear || Bangalore

Role Overview

We are looking for a highly driven, execution-oriented Sourcing Manager with strong expertise in apparel sourcing, vendor management, cost negotiations, and delivery execution, preferably in the kidswear industry.

The ideal candidate should have a strong understanding of kidswear products, fabrics, trims, garment construction, and manufacturing processes. The role requires an individual who can independently drive vendor cost closures, proactively track production and deliveries, and ensure timely inward of merchandise through rigorous follow-ups and effective vendor coordination.

This role demands a strong sense of ownership, urgency, negotiation skills, and a relentless focus on execution.

Key Responsibilities1. Cost Negotiation & Closure

• Drive timely cost negotiations and closures with vendors to achieve target costs and planned margins.
• Have a strong understanding of garment costing, including fabric, trims, processing, stitching, finishing, and packaging.
• Negotiate aggressively with vendors to ensure competitive pricing without compromising product quality.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities through fabric optimisation, construction changes, and sourcing alternatives.
• Ensure all product costs are finalised within agreed timelines to avoid delays in order placement and production.
• Delivery Follow-up & Execution
• Take complete ownership of order execution, from order placement to final delivery and warehouse inward.
• Maintain daily follow-ups with vendors on productio, Raw material readiness, cutting, stitching, finishing, packing, and dispatch.
• Proactively identify delivery risks, bottlenecks, and production delays, and drive corrective actions with vendors.
• Ensure vendors adhere to committed delivery timelines and escalate potential delays well in advance.
• Maintain accurate production trackers, delivery plans, and vendor-wise order status reports.
• Drive timely dispatches and ensure adherence to agreed delivery and inward schedules.
• Product Understanding – Kidswear
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of kidswear products across categories such as tops, bottoms, dresses, sets, nightwear, and seasonal collections.
• Understand fabric types, garment construction, trims, prints, embroidery, washes, and other value additions.
• Evaluate product specifications, construction complexity, and cost implications to ensure commercially viable sourcing.
• Work closely with Design,buying , fit -Quality, and Production teams to resolve product-related issues.
• Ensure vendors clearly understand product requirements, technical specifications, and quality expectations before production.
• Vendor Management & Follow-up Discipline
• Build strong working relationships with vendors while maintaining clear accountability for cost, quality, and delivery commitments.
• Be highly proactive and persistent in vendor follow-ups, ensuring every open action has a clear owner and closure timeline.
• Maintain close communication with vendors through calls, messages, and regular status reviews.
• Challenge vendor commitments when required and drive timely resolution of pending issues.
• Monitor vendor performance on cost competitiveness, production capacity, quality, responsiveness, and delivery adherence.
• Develop a strong execution culture across the vendor base through regular reviews and performance tracking.
• Cross-functional Coordination
• Coordinate with Category, Design, Quality, Planning, and Warehouse teams to ensure smooth execution.
• Ensure timely resolution of sampling, costing, approvals, production, and dispatch-related bottlenecks.
• Provide regular updates on cost closures, order status, delivery risks, and expected inward.
• Escalate critical issues with clear facts, impact assessment, and proposed corrective actions.
  
  

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong negotiation and vendor cost-closure skills.
• Excellent understanding of apparel products, especially kidswear.
• Exceptional follow-up and delivery execution capabilities.
• High sense of urgency, accountability, and ownership.
• Strong vendor management and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple styles, vendors, and delivery timelines simultaneously.
• Good working knowledge of Excel, MIS reporting, and production tracking.
• Strong communication, coordination, and escalation management skills.
  
  

Experience & Qualifications

• 8-12 years of experience in apparel sourcing, preferably in kidswear.
• Experience working with garment manufacturers, buying houses, or fashion e-commerce/retail brands.
• Practical knowledge of garment costing, vendor negotiations, production processes, and delivery management.
• Graduate in Fashion, Apparel, Textiles, or a related discipline preferred.
  
  

Success Metrics (KPIs)

• Timely cost closure and adherence to target costs.
• On-time delivery and warehouse inward performance.
• Reduction in production delays and missed delivery commitments.
• Vendor responsiveness and issue-resolution turnaround time.
• Cost savings and margin improvement.
• Accuracy of production tracking and delivery forecasting..
  
  

Skills: management,vendors,kidswear,sourcing