lululemon is an innovative performance apparel company for yoga, running, training, and other athletic pursuits. Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional design, we create transformational products and experiences that support people in moving, growing, connecting, and being well. We owe our success to our innovative product, emphasis on stores, commitment to our people, and the incredible connections we make in every community we're in. As a company, we focus on creating positive change to build a healthier, thriving future. That includes creating an equitable, inclusive, and growth-focused environment for our people.

SOURCING CATEGORY LEAD

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Sourcing, the Sourcing Category Lead will be the category expert in sourcing, costing and delivering margins against our Women’s shorts and skirts. The Sourcing Category Lead will deliver category level sourcing strategy and translate long range strategies to drive seasonal costing priorities. They will ensure cost and margin for assigned category meets target. Sourcing Category Lead develops factory relationships aligned with their product category to commercialize products in a timely, consistent manner. They will develop plans and strategies that will address category specific margin goals.

ABOUT THIS TEAM

We are the Sourcing Department. We manage the relationship with our Raw Material and Finished Goods vendors & ensure that lululemon has best in the world manufacturers. We work cross-functionally across the entire product team to ensure product meets our business strategy, quality & cost goals. We then work with our vendors to make those products a reality.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

• Deliver Category level sourcing strategy based on long range plans.
• Translate long range strategies to drive seasonal costing and allocation priorities.
• Build strong relationships with vendors and cross functional teams to help foster partnership and trust.
• Elevate opportunities and risks to influence strategy and support decision making.
• Ensure cost and margin for assigned category meets target.
• Analyze and monitor margins.
• Develop action plans to mitigate margin risk and proposals to reduce cost working closely with cross functional partners.
• Give guidance for vendor cost negotiations to our Lululemon Liaisons Offices and Merchandising team where applicable.
• Manage data analysis of product cost and margin, including data updates in costing systems where applicable.
• Track all GTM Calendar by-whens and ensure that all sourcing seasonal calendar timelines are met.
• Vendor Allocation data maintenance, validation and communication of projections to category vendor.
• Support sourcing of and onboarding of new vendors successfully working closely with supply chain onboarding team.

QUALIFICATIONS

• You have 3-5 years’ experience working closely & building relationships with off-shore manufacturers.
• You have visited off-shore factories & are versed in the apparel manufacturing process.
• You are well versed in apparel cost breakdowns and have a passion for numbers.
• You are a multi-task master & can handle multiple projects working with a variety of cross-functional partners.
• You are confident in your strengths, always open to challenges and prefer negotiating face to face.
• You love to travel.
• You are an expert in Excel and you have knowledge of Power BI and Smartsheet.