Purpose:

• Drive and monitor execution of the Sourcing Allocation strategy within the Development season: ensure development of high-quality products by optimally utilizing supplier capabilities, and continuously optimize for product availability, landed costs, risk balancing, etc.
• Drive long/mid-term capacity management in-line with the Sourcing strategy, considering individual BU plans and outcomes of Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process
• Support the Director Allocation on the operational and strategic planning process; and in identifying/implementing initiatives that enhance the capabilities, efficiency, effectiveness and collaboration within the Sourcing organization

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive Development allocation via allocation guidelines to stakeholders including products with sustainable materials; ensure optimal leverage of the centralized development approach incl. subsequent transfers / multiple-sourcing options
• Manage Development allocation process via own analyses and discussions with LOs, BU Planning, to optimally execute the Sourcing allocation strategy and to achieve optimal service levels to the company
• Monitor Development capacity and projected fulfilment performance, through ownership of a development capacity tool and drive dialogue with relevant stakeholders using a fact-based assessment
• Work closely with suppliers and country management to provide the required capacities; work with functional and LO teams to communicate issues that may impact product creation or Group delivery performance; identify and drive improvement actions jointly with all relevant stakeholders
• Monitor and drive analysis of yearly/seasonal allocation, category mix, volume efficiency, model mix, etc. and (as needed/required) communicate findings to relevant stakeholders and initiate changes to secure consistency of the Sourcing allocation strategy
• Holistically support the end-to-end planning process of the Allocation and Planning team and maintain a strong link between teams to ensure effectiveness of the team
• Liaise with Material and Costing Sourcing teams on key strategic allocation decisions for upcoming seasons to drive a synthesized risk assessment
• Support the operational and strategic planning process (capacity and capability requirements), and implementation of improvement actions across the supply base.
• Suggest improvement opportunities to the Sourcing allocation strategy
• Manage selected projects as defined by Director, Allocation
• Proactively work across functions to identify and resolve issues that are posing obstacles to the business.

Key Relationships: 

• Stakeholders within the Allocation & Planning team including Delivery Performance Management and Planning Capacity and Business Analytics teams
• Product Operation (POPS) teams including BU Planners and Development teams
• Material and Costing Sourcing functions
• LO Planning and Product Creation Managers
• Global product supply
• other GOPS functions including Logistics, Customs, etc.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Strong analytical and quantitative skills
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, able to communicate at senior management level
• Understands trade and macro economic trends (costs, import duties, FTA, trade barriers) affecting imports from key source base countries into major markets
• Good knowledge of the sporting goods industry and manufacturing methods a plus
• Good knowledge of standard Software applications (Excel, PowerPoint, PowerBI)
• Project management skills a plus

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications: 

• Undergraduate university degree
• Minimum of 7 years working experience in a Sourcing role or operations
• Fluency in English, knowledge of another an advantage.