Join our community

What We Offer:

• Growth! Here at Talbots our goal is to give you the tools to grow beyond this position and into the next. 

• Condensed Work Week! If we have no work obligations, our Life-Work balance approach allows for us to start our weekend at 1pm on Fridays.

• Complete Benefit Package! Our benefits kick off the first day of the month after your start date! Discover more about our full benefits package here. We have competitive time off, including paid time to volunteer within the community.

• Merchandise Discounts! 50% off Talbots and our Haven Well Within brand as well as local business discounts (where applicable)!

What You’ll Do:

Cost Negotiation and Metrics

• Maintain detailed product cost sheets that will support activity based costing

• Responsible for negotiating program pricing and delivery and take a proactive approach of prices and offer up cost competitive alternatives during development

• Responsible for achieving area IMU, on-time delivery and quality goals

• Actively participate in the development of the Sourcing three year plan, providing input and perspective on plant capacity and capabilities

• Identify suppliers capabilities to support and react to quick response programs to that supports ongoing market needs

• Quarterly, analyze capacity and utilization of suppliers (textile mills and garment vendors)

• Monitor adherence to purchase order commitments to both textile mill and garment factories

• Work with suppliers and Merchandising to maintain adherence to orders while remaining flexible to changing business needs

• Direct and facilitate seasonal negotiations. Conduct pre/post seasonal analysis and present to the Global sourcing team and Merchandising, including key performance metrics; IMU improvement, on-time delivery and quality analysis

• Be an expert in development of lead-times globally and use data to challenge vendors, working to reduce when possible

• Create time-action calendar based on multiple lead-times, requirements and monitor adherence.

• Develop yearly projections by supplier, monitor actual bookings on a regular basis and make adjustments accordingly

• Quality, Compliance, and Product Responsible for directing area time and action calendar, including fit approval samples, lab dips, test reports

• Ensure all products are in compliance with all applicable international/U.S. laws and regulations are evaluated in accordance with Talbots Inc. vendor code of conduct

• Direct execution of presentation samples

• Ensure order projections, commitments, and purchase order are issued to suppliers accurately and in a timely basis

• Identify present and develop new potential suppliers that will support future growth plans while achieving IMU, on-time delivery and quality goals

• Ensure Merchandising are informed of potential production shipment delays and quality issues

Relationship/Communication

• Supervise a close interface between PD, Design and R&D teams to ensure deadlines are met.

• Create mutually acceptable solutions to resolve unanticipated shipment delays or quality issues to maintain on-time delivery

• Manage and develop relationships with suppliers who are aligned with the regional sourcing strategy

• Establish and execute relationships with Merchandising and vendors

Who You Are:

• College degree or equivalent

• 8 years directly related experience

• Knowledge of apparel retail industry

• Strong problem solving skills that allow for a proactive approach to the business

• Results and service orientated

• Effective time management in order to prioritize multiple projects and meet deadlines

• Team player

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Detail oriented

• Strong interpersonal skills; comfortable and effective in dealing with conflict

• Flexible, adaptable, ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously

• Proven ability to manage and develop teams