Principal Associate - Sourcing

Principal Associate - Sourcing
Roles and Responsibilities
1. Brand Strategy & Product Alignment
● Internalize Brand DNA: Deeply understand the target consumer demographic, price
architecture (margin limitations), and aesthetic expectations for the brand.
● Maintain Fit Consistency: Master the brand’s product categories and standardized Fit
Blocks to ensure global fit integrity is delivered to the end consumer.
2. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication
● Lead the Design Handshake: Review design tech packs to ensure all technical
information is comprehensive, accurate, and clearly translated for vendors and the COE
(Center of Excellence).
● Stakeholder Alignment: Establish seamless communication channels across Sourcing,
Design, Brand Management, and internal leadership.
● Facilitate COE Operations: Act as the liaison between the COE and vendors, ensuring
accurate delivery of critical assets (size specs, reference samples, patterns, and
markers).
● Weekly T&A (Time & Action) Reviews: Conduct weekly alignment meetings with
stakeholders to review the Buy Plan and accurately forecast sample volumes for the
upcoming weeks and months.
3. Technical Design & Sample Management
● PLM & Spec Management: Develop accurate size specifications for every style, upload
them to the PLM system, and ensure vendors fully comprehend the technical
requirements.
● Lead Sample Reviews: Facilitate cross-functional sample review sessions (Proto and Pre-
Production/Gold Seal) alongside the Design team.
● Strict SLA Adherence: Consolidate design and technical comments, communicating
them to vendors and updating the PLM system within a strict 48-hour window.
4. Calendar & Timeline Management
● Action Calendar Execution: Manage the product development timeline, mapping Proto
requirements and size specs against the line assortment strategy.
● Buy Plan Management: Drive the Pre-Production (PP) / Gold Seal approval process,
ensuring timelines are managed and resolved within a 3-day SLA.
● Production Readiness: Ensure all PP samples are fully approved at least 45 days prior to
the ex-factory delivery date.
● System Updates: Ensure timely management of size specs (style-level and seasonal
master charts), style attributes, and routine system updates (e.g., Dexter/PLM).
5. Quality Assurance & KPI Reporting
● First-Time Right (FTR) Metric: Monitor Proto and PP rejection rates. Conduct thorough
root-cause analyses to continuously improve the FTR hit rate.
● Master Data Tracking: Maintain an up-to-date sample tracker detailing brand/style IDs,
sample types, and approval statuses. If rejected, clearly categorize the root cause:
○ Design/Fit adjustments
○ Spec/Pattern inaccuracies
○ Workmanship/Out-of-tolerance issues
● Return Rate Optimization: Analyze customer return data to formulate and execute
actionable plans that reduce fit and quality-related returns.
● Vendor Pattern Auditing: Collaborate with the COE to audit and validate the accuracy of
vendor patterns.
● Weekly Reporting: Flash key metrics (Proto/PP counts, system updates, spec statuses)
and report pending action items to the Line Manager/Team Lead.
6. Continuous Professional Development
● 360-Degree Feedback: Participate in a comprehensive stakeholder feedback loop every
quarter (3 months). Work in agreement with the Team Lead to develop and execute
targeted performance improvement plans based on these insights.
Qualifications & Experience:
● 10+ years of experience with Fashion Background.
● Familiarity with Fits process/ Size & graded spec/ Size attributes
● Understanding of Pattern making/ Garment construction/ Risk assessment
● Ability to communicate with vendors/ cross functional teams
● Comfortable with Timeline/ Data management