Sourcing: Senior @Home at TFG (The Foschini Group)

Key Responsibilities:

Cost savings and improved GP: 

• Build meaningful and strategic relationships with key mills 
• Achieve percentage reduction in fabric costs compared to previous periods through negotiations and sourcing strategies by sourcing direct 
• Improve cost per unit of fabric sourced over time using market benchmarks. 

Quality Assurance: 

• Ensure that fabric shipments meet the Company’s quality percentage tolerance standards
• Report to the Company and resolve any quality standards not being met.

Improved Supplier Performance: 

• Manage the Company’s supplier on-time delivery rate
• Identify and quantify the Company’s onboarded suppliers and reliable suppliers 
• Document supplier performance in writing via Microsoft Excel or such other data management program required by the Company. 

Lead Time Reduction: 

• Improve average lead time over specified periods set by the Company from order placement to delivery targeting. 

Sourcing Efficiency:

• Identify and vet new fabric sources ensuring best quality sourced from most reputable and cost-effective partners 
• Sourcing of natural- and synthetic fill, Bedroom textiles, Bathroom textiles, home furnishing textiles and potentially upholstery textiles in future

Sustainability: 

• Ensure that a percentage of the Company’s fabric is sourced from sustainable and/or ecofriendly sources and are following environmental and social responsibility standards. 

Inventory Management and waste reduction:

• Reduce fabric overstock and stockouts.
• Monitor accuracy of fabric inventory levels. 

Market Trend Analysis:

• Analyse the frequency and accuracy of market trend reports
• Implement market insights, product performance data and Trend information into the Company’s sourcing strategies. 

Risk Management:

• Identify and quantify any supply chain disruptions.
• Document the impact thereof in line with the Company’s implementation plan & strategy to mitigate risk. 

Compliance and Certification: 

• Ensure that the Company’s suppliers comply with industry standards and certifications and pass all audits against the Company without major issues.
• Rectify and report to the Company any identified non-compliance with industry standards not being met. 

Qualifications and Experience:

• Diploma, Graduate Degree, or Post Graduate Degree 
• Have experience in Fabric sourcing and manufacturing (5+ years essential) 
• Integral understanding of the fabric critical path from various sources internationally and locally and how that integrates with manufacturing and Retail buying timelines
• A good working knowledge of the current computer software packages (knowledge of Excel, Word & E-mail would be preferable).