Principal Associate - Sourcing Roles and Responsibilities 1. Brand Strategy & Product Alignment ● Internalize Brand DNA: Deeply understand the target consumer demographic, price architecture (margin limitations), and aesthetic expectations for the brand. ● Maintain Fit Consistency: Master the brand’s product categories and standardized Fit Blocks to ensure global fit integrity is delivered to the end consumer. 2. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication ● Lead the Design Handshake: Review design tech packs to ensure all technical information is comprehensive, accurate, and clearly translated for vendors and the COE (Center of Excellence). ● Stakeholder Alignment: Establish seamless communication channels across Sourcing, Design, Brand Management, and internal leadership. ● Facilitate COE Operations: Act as the liaison between the COE and vendors, ensuring accurate delivery of critical assets (size specs, reference samples, patterns, and markers). ● Weekly T&A (Time & Action) Reviews: Conduct weekly alignment meetings with stakeholders to review the Buy Plan and accurately forecast sample volumes for the upcoming weeks and months. 3. Technical Design & Sample Management ● PLM & Spec Management: Develop accurate size specifications for every style, upload them to the PLM system, and ensure vendors fully comprehend the technical requirements. ● Lead Sample Reviews: Facilitate cross-functional sample review sessions (Proto and Pre- Production/Gold Seal) alongside the Design team. ● Strict SLA Adherence: Consolidate design and technical comments, communicating them to vendors and updating the PLM system within a strict 48-hour window. 4. Calendar & Timeline Management ● Action Calendar Execution: Manage the product development timeline, mapping Proto requirements and size specs against the line assortment strategy. ● Buy Plan Management: Drive the Pre-Production (PP) / Gold Seal approval process, ensuring timelines are managed and resolved within a 3-day SLA. ● Production Readiness: Ensure all PP samples are fully approved at least 45 days prior to the ex-factory delivery date. ● System Updates: Ensure timely management of size specs (style-level and seasonal master charts), style attributes, and routine system updates (e.g., Dexter/PLM). 5. Quality Assurance & KPI Reporting ● First-Time Right (FTR) Metric: Monitor Proto and PP rejection rates. Conduct thorough root-cause analyses to continuously improve the FTR hit rate. ● Master Data Tracking: Maintain an up-to-date sample tracker detailing brand/style IDs, sample types, and approval statuses. If rejected, clearly categorize the root cause: ○ Design/Fit adjustments ○ Spec/Pattern inaccuracies ○ Workmanship/Out-of-tolerance issues ● Return Rate Optimization: Analyze customer return data to formulate and execute actionable plans that reduce fit and quality-related returns. ● Vendor Pattern Auditing: Collaborate with the COE to audit and validate the accuracy of vendor patterns. ● Weekly Reporting: Flash key metrics (Proto/PP counts, system updates, spec statuses) and report pending action items to the Line Manager/Team Lead. 6. Continuous Professional Development ● 360-Degree Feedback: Participate in a comprehensive stakeholder feedback loop every quarter (3 months). Work in agreement with the Team Lead to develop and execute targeted performance improvement plans based on these insights. Qualifications & Experience: ● 10+ years of experience with Fashion Background. ● Familiarity with Fits process/ Size & graded spec/ Size attributes ● Understanding of Pattern making/ Garment construction/ Risk assessment ● Ability to communicate with vendors/ cross functional teams ● Comfortable with Timeline/ Data management