Central Purchasing International Co., Ltd Shanghai Representative is seeking a Senior Sourcing Specialist to join our growing Global Sourcing Team in Shanghai. He/she should be a product and factory expert in key HFT categories. He/she will base in Shanghai, but spend much of the time evaluating factories in China, finding products, meeting with vendors. He/she should have an understanding of quality as it relates to evaluating vendor viability, production line set up, and the products themselves to meet company requirements. He/she work collaboratively with the Shanghai quality team as well as the US Sourcing manager to hit targets and deadlines. Specific hardline product experience, product development, sourcing and manufacturing is necessary to be successful in this role. This individual must be deadline oriented and collaborate with all members of the team in achieving departmental goals. This role requires dynamic involvement with multiple groups throughout our business, provides a chance to make a big impact, and offers opportunity for career growth.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities * Build a strategic vendor base for prioritized HFT categories * Assess a vendor’s ability to ship on time, provide quality goods, and to produce their products at costs that meet the economic requirements of HFT * Find, evaluate, and select vendors to supply products that are sold in HFT’s retail stores * Drive product line transitions from sourcing of viable vendors through product costing, sampling, and quality testing in our own laboratories * Establish second sources that allow HFT to provide its customers with the same product from different vendors, while maintaining form, function, specifications, and cost. The product differences from second sources should be indiscernible to our customers. * Identify new products that would enhance the HFT mix * Provide competitor insight though discussions with vendors and first-hand knowledge * Complete all sourcing activities in a timely manner and driving efficiencies whenever possible * 40-60% travel * Collaborate closely with US sourcing manager team, shanghai quality team, vendor management team, and logistic.
Job Qualifications – Education and Experience * Minimum of 6+ years of relevant and progressive buying experience in retail industry or 5 years’ experience in project management and/or new product development role. * Bachelor’s Degree required * Experience in a product management or purchasing role with a demonstrated ability to drive product development. Knowledge of tool category will be a plus. * Experience with a fast-paced, high volume, efficient organization with emphasis on customer service and delivering results * Considerable attention to detail and sense of urgency to ensure value-added content in the purchasing process and confidence in the continuity of supply * Sourcing merchandise through new and existing vendors, trips and tradeshows * Strong English written and oral proficiency is a must * Must be proficient with computers and automated process and systems * Ideal candidate must be a self-starter, results driven. * Strong sense of urgency, collaborative team style, and ability to quickly adapt to changes in priorities