Manager, Global Sourcing & Product Development

Company Description

Dedicated to telling stories and creating experiences, Indigo is always looking for bright, energetic and customer-focused people who can help bring our exciting mission to life in one of our more than 170 Indigo, Indigospirit, Chapters and Coles stores across Canada. We offer a variety of exciting opportunities at our retail stores, distribution centres, and home office for people who share our passions and want to be part of a dynamic and enriching culture.

WHO WE ARE

• We love books and all things beautiful
• We are Canada’s Cultural Department Store
• Books are our heart and our soul and Great Books are JUST the Beginning…

We play by the following rules:

• We exist to add joy to our customers’ lives each and every time they interact with us and our products
• Our job is to create joyful moments for our customers
• We treat each other the way we’d treat a valued friend
• We inspire each other to do our best work
• We seek to ignite creativity and innovation every day
• We give back to the communities in which we operate

Job Description

MISSION

The Manager, Global Sourcing & Product Development leads the development, sourcing, costing and production of Indigo proprietary product. This position collaborates cross-functionally to ensure production of life enriching products reflective of the Indigo brand and design aesthetic, while also driving margin and profitability. 

KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS

• Profit improvement & cost reduction
• Corporate calendar adherence
• On time delivery
• Adoption rate
• Production lead times
• Product integrity and quality

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Functional

• In partnership with merchant and design teams, set strategic product development and sourcing strategies aligned to category strategy
• Execute and deliver against key accountabilities of Global Sourcing & Product Development strategy
• Manage development of product to ensure they meet design vision and margin/cost parameters
• Develop and maintain a strategic relationship with supply base, seeking innovation and continued profitability
• Accountable for seasonal vendor allocations or on-boarding of new suppliers, ensuring balanced vendor loading
• Negotiate product cost with all vendors, ensuring target price and margin are achieved
• Drive efficiency and cost savings by owning all aspects of vendor contract negotiations, including defected goods and late deliveries
• Communicate revisions/changes to all relevant stakeholders and monitor production to ensure on-time delivery
• Ensure product quality by reviewing product components, samples and fabrics and comparing to pre-production and top of production line standards
• Facilitate formal technical pack handoff with design team to ensure critical data is communicated for accurate product sampling and costing
• Track sample development and adoption rates; review all received samples including facilitating review with design team
• Confirm and track all order placements with vendors, partnering to manage exceptions to calendar
• Coordinate all packaging needs with appropriate merchant partner to ensure costs are reflected in FOB costs
• Build strong, productive relationships with all vendors/suppliers
• Act as liaison between design and merchant groups and all vendors/suppliers
• Provide timely production updates to relevant merchant and design stakeholders
• Maintain up to date knowledge of relevant trade agreements in order to save duty costs and mitigate taxes and tariffs
• Ensure the completion of team deliverables and set/adhere to team budgets, as applicable
• Monitor new industry trends styles/techniques allowing us to bring appropriate vendors
• Act as an advocate for the customer by placing them at the forefront of all decision-making processes
• Proactively identify and anticipate customer expectations and needs
• Act as an advocate for the customer by placing them at the forefront of all design and decision-making processes
• Challenge the status quo by consistently identifying areas for improvement, diagnosing issues and working to resolve them

People

• Collaborate with others to drive flexible and iterative solutions, quickly and easily
• Bring out the best in others, empower and constructively stretch talent
• Give authentic feedback on performance and potential
• Ensure all team members understand where they stand and have clear performance objectives aligned with Indigo and team goals
• Collaborate with others to drive flexible and iterative solutions, quickly and easily
• Share technical knowledge with others and actively seek to learn from those more knowledgeable than yourself
• Help others see the impacts of their efforts and proactively engage other functions to get input
• Encourage others to freely share their point of view and be open to feedback
• Accountable for the overall engagement, productivity, turnover and bench strength of the team

Cultural

• Model Indigo’s beliefs and convey a positive image in everything you do
• Celebrate diversity of thought and have an open mindset
• Take an active role in fostering a culture of continual learning, taking risks without the fear of making mistakes
• Embrace, champion and influence change through your team and/or the organization

SCOPE

Reports to: Sr. Director, Global Sourcing, Quality Assurance & Sustainability

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Internal:

• Design
• General Merchandise
• Supply Chain
• Product Quality & Sustainability

External:

• Buying offices / Agents
• Vendors

Qualifications

Work Experience / Education / Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field, or a combination of education & work experience deemed equivalent
• Minimum 5-7 years’ progressive product development and sourcing experience in a retail environment
• Previous experience in sourcing and product development of home and apparel products across global markets required
• Previous experience negotiating product cost

Competencies / Skills / Attributes

• Thorough understanding of brand pricing strategy, margin expectations and SKU Plans
• In-depth knowledge of product sourcing, production and product development processes
• Intermediate skills in Web PDM, Word and Excel
• Knowledge of design spec package
• Proven organizational capabilities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to negotiate effectively with external vendor partners

Other (travel, Bilingual, etc.)

• International travel up to 10% of the time

Additional Information

At Indigo, all applications submitted are reviewed in detail by our HR team. In certain aspects of the hiring process artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used, specifically for screening and assessments. These tools support our team and are used to help bring relevant criteria to the foreground and do not replace human judgment. We are committed to using AI responsibly, fairly, and in compliance with applicable employment and anti-discrimination laws. We regularly review these tools to help prevent bias or discrimination.

At Indigo, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility are core to our values. We integrate these principles into our training, policies, and hiring practices and continuously evolve to reflect the needs of the communities we serve. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and lived experiences, including but not limited to individuals who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and persons with disabilities. If you require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at talent@indigo.ca.

This posting is for a current opportunity within Indigo.