Sourcing & Sustainability Manager

Role:Sourcing & Sustainability Manager

Function: Product | Business Development

Responsibility: Be the strategic manager for the Sourcing & Sustainability department 

Reports to: Head of Production & Design

Location: Manchester Head Office 

Compensation: DOE

 

WHO WE ARE 

NADINE MERABI is Luxury Ready To Wear, unmistakable pieces to inspire lasting moments. Celebrating details in statement design and empowering those who wear and create our products.

NADINE MERABI was designed out of necessity and created by a woman with a vision. Nadine is a self-taught seamstress, driven by the desire to create luxury, forward-thinking and conscious fashion where she saw a space in the industry. From the initial spark of inspiration to the very final stitch, our team ensures that every woman in MERABI looks and feels her finest. Today their collections are adored by clients, celebrities and dress some of the most influential people in the world. 

To help deliver this vision Nadine partnered with Blue Wilson, an international business graduate with over 10 years of experience building multi-million pound global DTC brands with a focus on eCommerce. Nadine and Blue have grown MERABI from £2m in revenues in 2020 to £16m in 2021 and they have ambitious objectives to delight millions of clients in the UK and internationally over the next decade. 

NADINE MERABI’s objective is to grow to over £100m, profitably while retaining its market-beating client satisfaction by 2025. We believe this is possible by building a solid foundation for growth in our technology, insight, and operations and creating greater demand from significant investment in product and brand innovation, performance marketing, and most importantly, incredible people. This is where you come in!

PURPOSE OF ROLE 

This role is career-defining; allowing the right candidate to make their mark, learn while doing and work to propel NADINE MERABI into a trail-blazing, aspirational global fashion brand.

As the Sourcing & Sustainability Manager, you will be responsible for sourcing and building strong relationships with the best factories globally. This will involve daily communication and frequent visits at source, to protect the brand positioning and high levels of quality that our customer expects when they buy a Nadine Merabi product. 

You will supervise all sustainability initiatives and compliance for the business and ensure fair practice with all our partners. You will also manage the team directly responsible for effective sourcing, including cost management in line with financial budgets as set out by the Head of Production and Design. 

You will work closely with the Product Team to help execute their creative ideas, to ensure that innovation and continuous improvement are maximised whilst risk is minimised.

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES 

• Support the strategic objectives of the business/depts by maintaining and developing an effective supplier recruitment and induction process
• Manage sourcing projects within deadlines
• Ensure that we are able to deliver our goals in the relevant categories by having in place an appropriate network of high quality, capable suppliers
• Support and manage all sustainability initiatives, helping to put our sustainability roadmap in place. 
• Secure cost efficiencies through effective negotiation with suppliers
• Manage budgets as well as assessing factory capabilities
• Motivate the team to drive product innovation and continuous improvement with our suppliers to support our designs 
• Awareness of any production risks, being proactive in mitigating these 
• Work closely with your colleagues in the Product, Buying, and Merchandising Teams
• Visit factories as necessary through the cost negotiation, development & production stages to assess adherence to our ethical and technical compliance standards
• Up to date knowledge of all customs legislation and procedures
• Awareness of currency and duty fluctuations and importing to various countries.
• Frequent on-site or video visits to suppliers. International travel required.

ABOUT YOU 

 

You will have deep experience in production and sourcing within the fashion industry. Our ideal candidate is a self-motivated, passionate, performance-driven individual with a strategic mindset.

EXPERIENCE 

• A highly experienced Sourcing Manager with 5+ years experience and a strong background in the fashion industry
• Experienced and knowledgeable about product, suppliers and factories, with a strong and well developed network of contacts
• Demonstrate knowledge of sustainability and best practice. 
• Advanced knowledge of product construction, critical path, costing, manufacturing and calendar management
• A strong negotiator with the ability to find pragmatic solutions that work for all parties

SKILLS

• Fluent in spoken and written English.
• A collaborative, non-political approach.
• Naturally confident with strong communication skills - both written and verbally.
• Exceptional attention to detail
• A people person with the ability to build relationships and negotiate with ease.
• A polite manner and a client focussed approach to problem-solving.
• Highly organised with strong time people and project management skills.
• Independent but enjoy working in a team and have a flexible approach to working.
• A target-driven mindset.
• Strong organisational, interpersonal, and negotiation skills.
• Strong analytical and collaborative skills.
• Able to work in a fluid, fast-paced, multi-channel environment.
• Ability to travel internationally as needed.
• Excellent leadership skills 
• Confident, assertive, and proactive, with the ability to build rapport and effectively communicate with people at all levels.
• You will be determined to go the extra mile to achieve results
• You love product.

OUR VALUES & BEHAVIOURS  

We know that the right people are our most valuable asset. We strive to hire excellent people to nurture and develop within our business to grow with us for the long run. We hire, invest and promote people that demonstrate our values through their daily behaviours.

• You generate positive energy and energise others.
• You are a problem solver,  always solution orientated, with a can-do attitude.
• You’re a grafter - no task is too big or small for you, you’ll get stuck in whatever you need to.
• You drive your projects forward with intensity and are committed to driving results collaboratively, we bring ideas to life in weeks rather than months.
• You get, give and encourage candid feedback so we can get better at what we do.
• You interact with mutual respect, cooperative, caring and helpful behaviour.
• You don't live in a world of good enough - you live in a world where we can do better and expect excellence from yourself and your teammates every day.

NADINE MERABI is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all of our employees have equal access to opportunities and everyone’s voices are heard. We respect and value all differences (seen and unseen) and strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds, which will be considered regardless of race, colour, religion or belief, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, pregnancy and maternity, disability or age.
 

To apply - please send a CV and cover letter to careers@nadinemerabi.comHe