Manager, Sourcing Operations, Apparel, Equipment & Packs

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Manager, Sourcing Operations, Apparel, Equipment & Packs based in India.** This leadership role oversees production operations across a portfolio of Tier 1 factories within an assigned region. You will lead a team of specialists while driving performance across quality, on-time production, and social and environmental compliance. Acting as a key escalation point, you will troubleshoot complex production challenges and coordinate solutions with factory partners and cross-functional teams. The role combines operational leadership with continuous improvement, data-driven performance management, automation, and lean manufacturing. You will influence factory performance, strengthen operational excellence, and help ensure products consistently meet quality and brand expectations. Working across multicultural teams and international manufacturing networks, you will build strong partnerships and champion a culture of accountability and innovation. Frequent travel to factory sites is an important part of the role and provides direct exposure to production environments and operational challenges. ### Accountabilities - Lead, coach, and develop a team of specialists, providing constructive feedback, supporting performance management, and creating opportunities for professional growth. - Manage a portfolio of Tier 1 factories within the assigned country, ensuring operational KPIs are consistently achieved or exceeded across quality, on-time production, and compliance. - Participate in risk assessment and pre-production meetings, identifying potential risks and recommending actions to protect product quality, performance, and production readiness. - Promote an open “speak-up” culture that encourages teams and factory partners to raise risks, issues, and opportunities for improvement. - Own the resolution of production challenges such as material delays, capacity constraints, low output, and other operational issues in collaboration with functional teams and factory partners. - Participate in root-cause analysis and corrective action plans for quality claims, partnering with quality management teams to implement actions and verify their effectiveness. - Support social and environmental compliance initiatives, including corrective action plans and relevant sustainability programs and assessments. - Co-lead automation initiatives with commercialization teams and support factories in adopting lean manufacturing methods, process improvements, and best-in-class operational practices. - Leverage data and analytics to identify performance gaps, improve factory efficiency, and support informed operational decision-making. - Serve as a key point of contact for operational escalations, maintaining strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external factory partners. - Monitor industry developments, manufacturing innovations, material trends, and emerging best practices to identify opportunities for improvement. - Promote a culture of compliance, accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and shared success across teams and factory relationships. - Translate broader organizational goals into operational priorities, ensuring day-to-day activities contribute to strategic business outcomes. - Anticipate and prevent issues that could affect team or factory performance while proactively identifying and implementing solutions. - Build effective partnerships across functions and geographies through clear, transparent, and constructive communication. ## Requirements - Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field; an MBA is a plus. - 8–10 years of professional experience in production operations, manufacturing, sourcing, or a related field, including at least 3 years in a managerial or team leadership position. - Deep understanding of the relevant product category, including manufacturing processes, materials, construction methods, and factory operations. - Proven experience leading, coaching, and developing teams, ideally within multicultural or international manufacturing environments. - Experience managing overseas factories and working with geographically distributed factory management teams. - Strong leadership and stakeholder-influence skills, with the ability to drive business objectives through cross-functional collaboration. - Demonstrated ability to lead and facilitate change, promote continuous improvement, and encourage innovation. - Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage complex situations and competing priorities under pressure. - Excellent organizational and analytical skills, with the ability to prioritize and successfully execute multiple projects and operational initiatives. - Product development or technical expertise is an advantage. - Proficiency in Microsoft Office, PLM systems, and production planning or operational management tools. - Strong data-analysis capabilities and the ability to use performance information to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities. - Excellent written and verbal English communication skills; additional languages such as Vietnamese, Khmer, or Mandarin are an advantage. - High level of personal and professional integrity, ethics, accountability, and cultural awareness. - Consumer-focused mindset with a genuine passion for products, manufacturing excellence, and operational performance. - Creative, energetic, curious, and positive approach, with a growth mindset and commitment to continuous learning. - Willingness and ability to travel extensively to factory sites within the assigned region. ## Benefits - Leadership opportunity with significant responsibility across a portfolio of international manufacturing operations. - Opportunity to lead and develop a specialist team while building strong global stakeholder relationships. - Exposure to multicultural factory environments and international sourcing and production networks. - Opportunity to drive automation, lean manufacturing, operational excellence, and continuous improvement initiatives. - Direct impact on product quality, production performance, efficiency, and social and environmental compliance. - Collaboration with cross-functional teams spanning manufacturing, quality, commercialization, sourcing, and other business functions. - Exposure to evolving manufacturing technologies, material innovations, and industry best practices. - Extensive opportunities for professional growth through leadership, operational, and cross-functional responsibilities. - Full-time role with frequent travel to factory sites across the designated region.