Senior Sourcing Specialist: Knit and Knitwear Jet at TFG (The Foschini Group)

Key Responsibilities:

• The Purpose of the role is to ensure synergistic financial benefits across the key commodities within the portfolio.
• Support purchasing/product strategies to achieve improved operational profitability, Lead time, OTIF, Sell Through, Quality, Cost for Jet.
• To strategically position the brand to increase market share in Knit and Knitwear Commodities by ensuring effective engagement with all key stakeholders.
•  To effectively manage the vendor base (local, Regional and Import) to ensure sustainable and compliant source of supply.
• Monitor performance and capabilities of suppliers and ensure that effective remedial plans are implemented to address any performances below set KPI’s.
• Work strategically with the local vendors task force to ensure Jet success and growth in market share and sales.
• Product development in line with cost requirement.
• Develop and implement strategic global sourcing strategies and business partnerships ie. Growth on local sourcing, Reducing exposure to China, South East Asia.
•  Effective mapping of the sourcing footprint to ensure risk management and operational effectiveness:
• Lean Supply chain management
• Tracking of key cost drivers (Fabric and components)
• Consolidation of group requirements to offset inflationary drivers and simultaneously ensure individual brand requirements are still met. 
• Facilitating the pre-selection and approval of international and local suppliers and ongoing vendor matrix management
• Working with all buying teams to identify key opportunities and implement in line with their requirements as well as brand requirement.
• To facilitate key strategic supply chain objectives: 
• leverage group scale, 
• Increased stock efficiencies
• Margin optimization
• Provide an objective assessment of suppliers when making sourcing decisions.
• Ensuring that suppliers are aligned with buying strategies.
• Effective critical path management and effective order management.

Qualifications and Experience:

• A relevant Diploma.
• Have experience as a Buyer or Sourcing Specialist (5+ years essential).
• Knit and knitwear product development is essential.
• Integral understanding of the clothing retail Cycle and Buying Process.
• A good working knowledge of the current computer software packages (knowledge of Excel, Word & E-mail would be preferable).