At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global sourcing strategy and build strong vendor partnerships for premium apparel.
- Company: Join Represent, a forward-thinking brand committed to ethical sourcing and quality.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, staff discounts, and a company bonus scheme.
- Other info: Flexible working pattern with opportunities for travel and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the fashion industry while driving sustainable practices.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in sourcing strategy within luxury apparel and strong negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
As Head of Sourcing you will lead Represent's global sourcing strategy to secure the right product, from the right partners, at the right cost, quality and lead-time, while maintaining ethical and responsible sourcing practices. The role owns vendor strategy, negotiations, capacity alignment and QC. Represent produces mainline and apparel, requiring strong, reliable factory partnerships, disciplined sourcing, ethically verified supply chains and a robust critical path. Based at Head Office in Horwich, Bolton, reporting to the COO.
Key Responsibilities
- Define and deliver a robust, rolling 3–5 year sourcing strategy aligned to Represent's four-category sourcing framework.
- Maintain an optimum production portfolio across geographies, with a focus on country of origin strategy and duty arbitrage opportunities.
- Ensure the COO and leadership team are fully informed of new and emerging manufacturing technologies, innovations and opportunities.
- Lead supplier negotiations and relationship governance, driving FOB cost improvement against benchmark.
- Ensure the continuous development of QC functions and maintain product quality and compliance standards.
- Lead the translation of range plans into optimum seasonal sourcing commitments for raw materials and finished goods.
- Deliver cost optimisation across materials, manufacture and logistics, reducing supply chain cost while enabling growth.
- Drive dual-sourcing strategies to manage and mitigate strategic supply risk across the vendor base.
- Align sourcing strategy across business units to ensure a consistent, coherent approach to strategic partnerships.
- Optimise logistics Opex through efficient routing, consolidation and carrier management.
- Ensure efficient alignment with and delivery to the critical path.
- Through excellent leadership and management, build and develop a high performing team and culture, coaching talent and fostering a culture of accountability and brand alignment.
What you'll need
- Proven track record in the development and implementation of sourcing strategy within a premium or luxury apparel environment.
- Direct and extensive experience of sourcing in Asia and managing global vendor networks.
- Strong commercial negotiation capability with a demonstrable track record of FOB and cost improvement.
- Proven experience managing key stakeholders across cross-functional teams.
- HRDD, Fair Wear and responsible sourcing compliance understanding.
- Experience building and leading high performing sourcing teams.
- Confident, resilient and assertive leader with the gravitas to influence at senior leadership level.
- Commercially strong, decisive and data‑led in decision making.
You have
- Significant experience in a senior sourcing or procurement leadership role within apparel or fashion.
- Direct, hands‑on experience managing factory relationships in Asia.
- A strong track record of delivering cost savings and supply chain efficiencies at scale.
- Experience leading and developing cross‑functional teams in a fast‑paced environment.
- High integrity, accountability and a collaborative approach to leadership.
We would ideally like you to
- Have experience within a premium or luxury branded environment.
- Bring an established network of factory and supplier relationships across key sourcing regions.
- Be comfortable operating as both a strategic leader and a hands‑on practitioner when the business requires it.
- Own the role and make things happen.
- Be flexible and open to evolving business needs and priorities.
Our Values
- Family
- Quality
- Progressive
- Accountability
- Relentless
- Sustainable
Benefits
- 25 days holiday per year increasing with length of service
- Annual leave purchase scheme
- Wellbeing day
- Company bonus scheme
- Staff discount
- £1,000 annual company gift card
- Electric vehicle scheme
- Pension
- Life assurance
- Private medical insurance
Working Pattern
- 4 days in office, 1 day WFH
- Travel as required both domestic and international, including to key sourcing regions.
Location
Head Office, Unit 1 - 3, Northgate Close, Horwich, Bolton, BL6 6PQ
Head of Sourcing in Bolton employer: Represent
Represent is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises ethical sourcing and sustainability while fostering employee growth. Located in Horwich, Bolton, the company provides a supportive environment with a strong emphasis on teamwork, accountability, and innovation, alongside attractive benefits such as a generous holiday allowance, wellbeing days, and a company bonus scheme, making it an ideal place for professionals seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in the apparel industry.
