At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sourcing for trendy accessories and ensure timely delivery of high-quality products.
- Company: Join Mulberry, a certified B Corp committed to sustainability and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel opportunities, and a supportive work culture.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth and development in a vibrant environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the fashion industry while promoting sustainable practices.
- Qualifications: Experience in sourcing or purchasing, strong negotiation skills, and team leadership.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
The Sourcing Manager is responsible for leading the sourcing and supply of accessories categories (including leather accessories, jewellery, eyewear, lifestyle and packaging), ensuring products are delivered on time, to cost and quality standards, in line with business demand and launch deadlines.
The role owns supplier performance, manages end-to-end production flow, and works cross-functionally with Planning, Product Development and Quality teams to mitigate risk and drive continuous improvement.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Manage the placement of all bulk finished good production purchase orders for leather goods accessories, jewellery, stationery, eyewear, sunglasses, lifestyle extension and soft accessories.
- Manage the production critical path, ensuring suppliers are manufacturing production on time and finding solutions when they arise to ensure on time delivery is maintained.
- Manage the raw material supply base for the accessories collection ensuring timely deliveries of all production raw materials required for the UK and offshore factories for leather goods accessories.
- Negotiate all raw material prices with material suppliers on a seasonal basis and create a raw material pricing summary for the seasonal pricing meeting.
- Work closely with all factories to ensure the business capacity requirements are communicated accordingly and advise forecasts for all raw material suppliers.
- Manage the placement of and control of agile raw material stocks facilitating both core and seasonal agile orders.
- Manage the placement of all packaging and consumables orders in line with the business requirements.
- Ensure the appropriate and accurate data is inputted into business systems throughout the process and report on delivery status regularly to meet business needs.
- Lead and develop the purchasing team, setting clear objectives and driving performance outcomes.
- Develop and execute sourcing strategies aligned to cost, quality and delivery objectives.
- Own supplier performance and drive continuous improvement.
Culture
- Embrace and demonstrate the Mulberry values and behaviours: honesty, dynamism, and a community-oriented spirit.
- Support Mulberry to deliver an inclusive culture, through behaving in a way that is open-minded and respectful towards others, and understanding that your views, opinions, and experiences may not always be shared by your colleagues.
- Act as an ambassador for Mulberry and communicate positively about the brand.
Sustainability
- As a certified B Corp, we are committed to using business as a force for good. You’ll be encouraged to incorporate environmentally and socially responsible practices into your work, supporting our Made to Last strategy across Climate, Circularity, and Community.
- Help foster a culture where diversity is celebrated and every individual feels valued, respected, and included. Champion equity, empathy, and understanding in all interactions - internally and externally.
Skills & Knowledge
- Proven experience within a sourcing or purchasing function, working with an international supply base, ideally across accessories, leather goods or lifestyle categories.
- Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to negotiate pricing, understand cost drivers and support margin optimisation.
- Experience managing supplier relationships, including performance management and driving continuous improvement.
- Strong understanding of production processes and critical path management, with the ability to mitigate risks and maintain on-time delivery.
- Confident working with data and internal systems (e.g. MRP/ERP), using insight to support forecasting, planning and decision-making.
- Effective people leader, able to motivate and develop teams, set clear expectations and drive performance outcomes.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build relationships and influence cross-functional teams including Planning, Product Development and Quality.
- Excellent communication and organisational skills, with a proactive and solution-oriented approach.
The role is based in London but requires regular travel to Somerset and overseas to factories.
Mulberry is an equal opportunities employer and we are passionate about hiring and developing the best talent. All hiring decisions are made only on the basis of qualifications, skills or experience and as they relate to the particular role. If you need us to make any adjustments to our application or interview processes to enable you to be at your best, please email us at talent@mulberry.com.
Sourcing Manager employer: Mulberry England
Mulberry is an exceptional employer that champions a culture of inclusivity and sustainability, making it an ideal place for a Sourcing Manager to thrive. With a commitment to employee development and a dynamic work environment in London, you will have the opportunity to lead a talented team while driving innovative sourcing strategies that align with our Made to Last ethos. Join us in using business as a force for good, where your contributions will be valued and celebrated.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Sourcing Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend events, and join relevant groups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a sourcing manager role or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its values. Show them you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate how your experience aligns with their mission, especially around sustainability and community spirit.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a sourcing manager, you'll need to showcase your ability to negotiate prices and manage supplier relationships. Role-play scenarios with friends or mentors to build your confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team at Mulberry.
We think you need these skills to ace Sourcing Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Sourcing Manager role. Highlight your experience in sourcing and purchasing, especially with accessories or leather goods. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about sourcing and how you can contribute to our team. Don’t forget to mention your understanding of sustainability and how it aligns with our values.
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your experience, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to manage supplier relationships and drive continuous improvement. Numbers and results speak volumes, so let us know what you've accomplished!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mulberry England
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into the specifics of sourcing and supply chain management, especially in the accessories sector. Familiarise yourself with key terms like critical path management and supplier performance metrics. This will show that you’re not just interested in the role but also understand its nuances.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare examples of past negotiations you've successfully handled, particularly around pricing and supplier relationships. Be ready to discuss your approach to achieving cost optimisation while maintaining quality standards. This will highlight your commercial acumen and ability to drive continuous improvement.
✨Demonstrate Cross-Functional Collaboration
Think of instances where you’ve worked with different teams, like Planning or Product Development. Be prepared to share how you communicated effectively and influenced outcomes. This will illustrate your stakeholder management skills and your ability to work in a collaborative environment.
✨Embrace Sustainability
Since the company values sustainability, come equipped with ideas on how you can incorporate environmentally and socially responsible practices into sourcing strategies. Discussing your commitment to sustainability will resonate well with their Made to Last strategy and show you align with their culture.
