Our client is a European importer specialising in paper, gifts & premiums, décor, crafts, and creative products. Their Ningbo office is currently seeking a Sourcing/Merchandising Manager and report to the Head of Sourcing. This role will be a sole contributor or might lead a small team.
This role will be based in the Ningbo, China office
. The role involves managing supplier relationships, driving new product development and innovation, ensuring supply chain continuity, and identifying opportunities for cost saving, efficiency improvements, resolving issues, and supporting team development to meet business and customer expectations.
Responsibilities
- Implement the agreed paper products sourcing strategy aligned with commercial objectives, by identifying sourcing opportunities to reduce costs, improving product quality and ensuring supply reliability.
- Support UK team in the development of existing product development and innovation to drive incremental sales and margin growth. Work closely with suppliers' development teams to co-develop new concepts and ensure technical and commercial feasibility.
- Develop a robust supply base for all paper products to minimise supply risk and improve competitive leverage. Work closely with the UK and Compliance teams to evaluate and onboard as required.
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with partner suppliers, monitoring performance and holding regular business reviews.
- Negotiate pricing for all paper-based products, ensuring volume leverage and product re-engineering is considered to maximise margin delivery in your categories.
- Regularly visit supplier showrooms and production facilities to capture new product concepts. Support on Product development.
- Work closely with the UK product, creative and compliance teams to align sourcing activities with product launch timings and customer requirements.
- Monitor supplier production and shipment schedules to proactively address and prevent availability or capacity issues; escalate risks to the UK team as appropriate.
- Maintain and manage the master critical path across multiple projects to ensure timely execution and balanced workload distribution within the team.
- Partner with quality control and compliance teams, as well as factories, to uphold agreed product standards and ensure all goods meet UK quality expectations.
- Support head head office team with customer supplier visits and development meetings as required.
- Collaborate with the internal team to assist in delivery of confirmed orders as required.
- Ensure you maintain a high level of understanding of our core product categories and customer requirements. Support others with your knowledge and expertise.
Requirements
- Degree level/equivalent qualification.
- Candidates currently based in Ningbo is advantageous.
- Previous experience in sourcing, or supply chain management roles required, preferably within consumer goods, packaging, or a related industry.
- Experience in UK or EU market is a plus, also strong sourcing experience in either of the categories:
- Paper category
: greetings, partyware, stationery, diaries and calendars products - Create category
: crafting, activity, educational, play and artist products - Décor/Hardlines:
includes seasonal decorations, frames, dress up and accessories, novelty jewellery, and tablescape products. - Good understanding of the Asia manufacturing landscape, with hands-on experience in China as minimum.
- Proven ability to evaluate, onboard, and manage suppliers to meet cost, quality, capacity, and compliance targets.
- Strong negotiation skills and managing complex stakeholder relationships.
- Demonstrates a creative approach to sourcing, with the ability to contribute to product development and diversification.
- Strong communication and presentation skills with high proficiency in both written and spoken English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required.