Head of Sourcing and Production (FTC Maternity Cover) in Westminster

ROLE TYPE: Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Leave Cover, 12 months May 2026 to May 2027)

DEPARTMENT: Supply Chain

REPORTING TO: CEO

LOCATION: Fitzrovia, London

SALARY: Competitive

COMPANY PROFILE: Orlebar Brown (Chanel group) launched in March 2007 as a more tailored approach to men's beach and swim shorts. Based on the traditional pattern of a tailored pair of trousers for men, and with their distinctive side fasteners, they are not just a swim short; they are the original and best shorts you can swim in. Today, our collections are built into broader lifestyles imagined around Beach, Resort, Coast and Sport. We have multiple product releases, including capsules, new categories and services, over the calendar year to maintain excitement, and interest for our customers. Since 2007, we have built the brand to achieve our stated purpose which is - to encourage, excite and inspire everyone to 'Holiday Better'. This is our purpose and why we get out of bed every morning. The brand has rapidly gained global recognition and is sold through online, more than 30 O.B. stores, and the best retailers and hoteliers in the world. Our customer is truly international, so whether they are in St Barth's for Christmas with family, Miami for a wild Spring break, a conference in Dubai with a few days off, tacking a boat off the coast of St Tropez, volunteering to replant mangrove plantations in Puerto Rico, walking along a cliff top in Cornwall, or diving off one into a beautiful blue ocean then O.B. should be there to help you do it better. Our business is built on relationships with those customers, and we strive to maintain our relationship with them, wherever they might be, and provide world class service, when and where they want. It is also built on finding new customers to the brand by welcoming them to join the ever‐growing O.B. community.

THE POSITION: As the Head of Sourcing & Production, you will own the end‐to‐end supply chain journey – from SMS handover to on‐time delivery into the warehouse. This is a leadership role that ensures the brand meets seasonal launch deadlines, delivers impeccable product quality, and maintains a resilient and commercially agile sourcing and sustainable strategy. Reporting directly to the CEO, you will lead and empower the Production team while partnering closely with Design, Product Development, Merchandising, and Logistics to bring collections to life.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage the sourcing and production process with a focus on driving quality margin and innovation.
• Support the business with creation of a successful sourcing strategy and supplier's portfolios.
• Closely collaborate and negotiate with factories (predominantly Portugal and Italy) to ensure OB has enough capacity with each supplier.
• Manage any counter sourcing and costing opportunities – collaborating closely with product development and design.
• Partner closely with design, development, merchandising, logistics to ensure a seamless handover of critical path & dates are met.
• Collaborate with Production & sustainability manager, review the production critical path dates collated from suppliers each season, in advance of final range review and any early buys needed are communicated to internal stakeholders.
• Review and analyse seasonal collection for margin and suggest if any improvements can be made on product not meeting target margin with internal stakeholders.
• Plan dates for forecasting and pre-booking key fabric and trims. Understand costs involved and ensure sign off when booking annual fabrics that all stakeholders understand fabric liability potential.
• Plan production dates with factories to achieve target delivery dates with the overarching aim of 95%+ production delivered on time. Additionally, aiming for 75% US sea shipment from Portugal & Italy.
• Support production team in resolution of any production issues, ensuring team is well equipped to deal with issues in a timely manner, as well as identify when to escalation to you if further support is needed.
• Ensure production admin (style set up, PO creation & closure) is created on time and be accountable for accuracy by carrying out checks with production & sustainability manager.
• Manage EU preferential origin by ensuring accuracy of data on ERP (Netsuite) is correct and ensuring seasonal checks are completed with Production & sustainability manager.
• Manage and update all commodity codes for product on ERP, and maintain a commodity code bible, adding any new HS codes & duty rates for regions required. Perform a check every season to ensure accuracy for finance team.
• Budgets – Review SMS, image rights and team travel budgets are within the company set spend. Ensure spend is analysed and correct.
• Supplier spend – review and analyse spend, checking if there has been volume or cash growth with suppliers.
• Sustainability – Oversee annual operational carbon footprint, working with 3rd party and internal stakeholders to manage the success of the project.
• Sustainability – Product carbon footprint, working closely with Production & sustainability manager and 3rd party to ensure product carbon footprint results are achieved within the launch time frame.
• Compliance – Lead on all compliance projects and ensure OB brand is protected. Collaborating internally with stakeholders to ensure success of project.
• Manage consumables by forecasting usage and placing top up orders to arrive on time. Collaborate with the creative team on branding project, managing new consumables supplier base and set up including sending of POs.
• Extender producer responsibility – gather and analyse data needed for EPR submission every 6 months.
• Exclusive projects – work closely with internal stakeholders to ensure critical path is achievable as well as costs and quantities for suppliers.
• Oversee Image rights renewals and ensure there is a robust calendar available of when renewals take place.
• Lead, train, coach, & inspire a team to deliver the purpose of the brand through sourcing and production excellence.

CANDIDATE PROFILE: Experience and competencies to carry out the responsibilities listed above. In particular the shared passion for the brand O.B. aspires to be. Have a natural openness, honesty and enthusiasm about how you approach your work. Understand how to motivate your colleagues in a positive and forward looking way. Demonstrate brand thinking and be capable of dialogue to assist with how the brand is brought to life through development and production by the supplier base. Ability to work as a team member and have productive interactions within your team and your peers within the 'heads of' group in order to develop your business area, but also keen to take personal accountability for performance. You have well developed feedback skills. You will be able to present succinctly to all levels of the organisation including at Board level as needed. Demonstrable analytic and financial (including negotiation) skills required by the role. Ability to work across borders and cultures, having language skills would be an advantage.

WHAT WE OFFER: Being part of a diverse working environment of people who we learn from every day. The chance to train and develop your skills in a fast-working environment. Competitive benefits package:

• Physical wellbeing: Private medical insurance covering pre‐existing medical conditions and the ability to add family members, an online GP app with 24/7 appointments, available within 24 hours, and cycle scheme participation for tax‐exempt bike and/or accessories purchase.
• Financial wellbeing: Company pension scheme.
• Lifestyle: Orlebar Brown and CHANEL product discounts and employee‐only sales.
• Employee Recognition: Service award incentives, 1‐week office closure in August to practice what we preach (paid leave and separate from 25 days annual leave plus UK public holidays).

It's never just a job at Orlebar Brown. It's a way of life. We live and breathe our brand values – Tailored, Vibrant and Brave. Our team define who we are and how we get the job done. At Orlebar Brown, we are focused on creating an inclusive culture that nurtures personal growth, contributing to collective progress. We believe the uniqueness of each individual increases the diversity, complementarity and effectiveness of our teams. We strongly encourage your application, as we value the perspective, experience and potential you could bring to Orlebar Brown.

Direct applications only. Recruitment agencies – thanks for reading – but we've got this one covered!