Sourcing Manager, Footwear and Apparel

Who We Are:

At Brooks, we believe movement is the key to feeling more alive. That’s why we’re driven to create gear and experiences that take people to the place that makes them feel more alive — whether it’s a headspace, a feeling, or a finish line.

Everyone who works at Brooks is propelled by a company culture that sparks excitement, fuels collaboration, inspires creativity, and ignites innovation.

Our brand values help bond us together and drive our success:

·       Runner First  

We act in the best interest of the runner

·       Word is Bond 

We do what we say we’ll do

·       Champion Heart  

We give our all in everything we do  

·       There is no “I” in Run

We stay generous with our humanity

·       Keep Moving

We find ways to move every day, because joy is kinetic!

We welcome everyone from every walk of life looking to inspire others through the power of movement — because we’re all moving towards something. Let’s run there.   

Your Job:

As Sourcing Manager, Footwear and Apparel, your role is multifaceted and critical to driving and delivering Brooks’ sourcing plans. Collaborating closely with Sourcing senior management, you will manage the development and execute sourcing strategies tailored to our objectives, including ensuring quality, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. You will spearhead strategic partnerships in cross-functional initiatives, fostering collaboration and driving organizational change. A proactive approach to risk management and data-driven decision-making will unlock opportunities across our sourcing and supply chain to help drive our runner-centric business model.

The ideal candidate excels at communication and is an expert at comprehending technical information, assisting in developing creative ways to deliver timely information to stakeholders. An ability to bring synergy between our business objectives and product best practices is critical to this position’s success.

This position is based in Seattle, with frequent travel to vendors and suppliers around the world, including Asia and Europe. Our working language is English though proficiency in foreign languages is a plus.

• Sourcing Strategy Development
• Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and execute sourcing strategies aligned with company objectives, focusing on footwear and apparel categories to enhance our runner-centric business model
• Represent the Sourcing team in Portfolio Review meetings, ensuring seamless alignment between the Innovation, Product Line, and Sourcing strategies
• Collaborate with Sourcing and Product senior leadership in USA and Asia to identify new sourcing opportunities and evaluate potential suppliers, all aimed at resonating with the needs of our runners
• Ensure timely communication with global Sourcing teams and collaborate with them to actively contribute to translating Brooks’ product ambition into actionable plans with contingency measures
• Champion the Sourcing team in process improvement initiatives throughout the entire product development and production lifecycle, ensuring the most efficient timelines to meet our runners' needs

• Sourcing Landscape Management
• Collaborate cross-functionally to identify and scale R&D and manufacturing opportunities, informing on trends which enable Brooks to build and execute a successful footwear and apparel product line to compete at the highest level
• Primary liaison in product decision-making forums such as Go-to-Market meeting, driving timely and effective communication with relevant Sourcing counterparts
• Proactively anticipate, address, and deliver critical information to prevent challenges and disruptions in our supply chain and enabling seamless operations

• Supplier Relationship Management
• Help to cultivate strong partnerships with key suppliers and vendors, fostering collaboration, innovation, and mutual growth
• Drive regular partners meetings and the refinement of supply contracts and agreements

• Data Analysis and Reporting
• Create and utilize data analytics tools to measure seasonal vendor performance and provide regular reports with metrics and analysis to senior management
• Use data-driven approaches to drive decision-making and improvements in our allocation process to achieve our Footwear R&D and Runtopia goals
• Utilize existing KPI metrics to collaboratively enhance and refine our KPIs alongside the leadership team

• Risk Management
• Identify and elevate potential risks within our supply chain, such as geopolitical instability, labor disputes, and natural disasters
• Develop contingency plans to minimize disruptions, ensuring supply chain continuity

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of experience
• 7+ years of related experience, ideally in a product development or sourcing environment
• 3 years of management experience preferred
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and make strategic recommendations
• Expert in defining, building, and deploying analytical tools used in process and program management and providing business key performance indicators
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Knowledge of sourcing best practices, supply chain principles, and industry trends
• Experience working in a cross-functional and cross-cultural environment
• Experience working with Sr. leadership and leadership teams
• Experience with Microsoft Office required
• Excellent interpersonal skills that inspire and build trust resulting in effective working relationships across the company
• Ability to anticipate how a decision made can affect our customers, our partners, our products, or other departments’ operations and/or morale; “connecting the dots”
• Proven ability to communicate and influence in a collaborative, team oriented and complex global environment
• Embraces and lives the Brooks values!

Compensation: The pay range for this position, based out of the Brooks Seattle HQ, is $121,798 - $182,749 per year. Base pay offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.  

Other:

Brooks is proud to offer a robust benefits package to our employees and their families!

Benefits- including medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance, HSA and employer contribution, FSA, family & fertility assistance, 401K Savings Plan and match, employee assistance program, and transportation assistance.

Paid Time Off- Brooks offers generous time off including three to five weeks of paid time off, eleven paid holidays, paid sick and parental leave.

Bonus- in addition to base pay, Brooks employees may also be offered an annual bonus based on company performance.

Perks- including product discounts, a home office stipend, employee recognition, fitness discounts, volunteer and donation benefits.

Location- You will spend 3 days per week in our Seattle offices, as we believe our organization flourishes when connections, collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, and celebrations happen in person.

At Brooks, we celebrate diversity & equity. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment, and encourage people of all backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and skills to apply. Brooks is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, two-spirit identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, sensory, physical, or mental disability, marital status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), honorable discharge or military status, protected citizen status, actual or perceived victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, HIV or Hepatitis C infection, political ideology, use of a trained guide dog by a person with a disability, or on any other basis protected by federal, state or local law, or any other non-merit based factors.