About the Role The Head - Strategic Sourcing will be responsible for leading the end-to-end sourcing strategy for fabrics, trims, and raw materials across all business channels including Retail, Wholesale, Exports, and E-commerce. The role will drive cost optimization, supplier strategy, quality excellence, innovation, risk mitigation, and supply assurance while ensuring superior OTIF (On-Time In-Full) performance.

The incumbent will partner closely with Product, Design, Merchandising, Manufacturing, and Finance teams to develop seasonal sourcing strategies, build a robust supplier ecosystem, and deliver sustainable competitive advantage through strategic procurement and global sourcing initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

- Strategic Sourcing & Procurement Leadership

- Develop and execute sourcing strategies aligned with seasonal and annual business plans.
- Drive procurement of fabrics, trims, and other raw materials ensuring quality, cost competitiveness, and timely availability.
- Build category-wise sourcing roadmaps based on market trends, business requirements, and growth objectives.
- Lead supply base optimization initiatives to improve supplier performance and cost efficiency.
- Ensure sourcing decisions support gross margin and profitability objectives.

2. Cost Optimization & Price Discovery
- Lead RFQ, RFP, E-bidding, reverse auctions, and commercial negotiations for fabrics and trims.
- Analyze category spends across brands and product categories.
- Establish annual and seasonal price agreements with supplier partners.
- Monitor adherence to negotiated contracts and agreed pricing structures.
- Identify opportunities for value engineering and cost reduction without compromising quality.

3. Seasonal Sourcing Strategy
- Develop season-specific sourcing strategies considering:
- Cotton, yarn, polyester, viscose and other raw material trends.
- Supply-demand dynamics.




- Vendor capability and capacity.
- Lead time optimization.
- Geographical sourcing advantages.
- Risk diversification.
- Partner with Design and Product teams to support innovation and current developments.

4. Global Sourcing & Market Expansion
- Identify and develop sourcing opportunities from key global markets including Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Turkey, China, Indonesia, and other strategic hubs.
- Evaluate and onboard international supplier partners.
- Lead commercial negotiations and supplier development initiatives globally.
- Drive sourcing competitiveness through international benchmarking and market intelligence.

5. Supplier Relationship & Performance Management
- Develop strong strategic partnerships with fabric mills, trim suppliers, and raw material manufacturers.
- Establish supplier performance scorecards covering:
- Cost
- Quality
- OTIF
- Innovation
- Sustainability
- Responsiveness
- Drive supplier capability building and continuous improvement programs.
- Resolve commercial issues, supplier disputes, and payment-related escalations.

6. Risk Management & Supply Continuity
- Develop proactive sourcing and risk mitigation strategies.
- Monitor market movements, commodity price fluctuations, geopolitical risks, and supply disruptions.
- Ensure business continuity through alternate supplier development and sourcing diversification.
- Create contingency sourcing plans for critical raw materials.

7. Innovation & Supplier Collaboration




- Drive product and material innovation through supplier partnerships.
- Lead Partner Innovation Summits and supplier engagement forums.
- Encourage suppliers to present new fabric technologies, sustainable materials, and cost-saving innovations.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to commercialize innovative sourcing opportunities.

8. Budgeting & Governance
- Manage sourcing budgets including seasonal sampling spends.
- Monitor sourcing efficiencies, cost savings, and productivity metrics.
- Establish robust procurement governance, compliance standards, and sourcing controls.
- Ensure adherence to company procurement policies and ethical sourcing standards.

9. Stakeholder Management
- Collaborate closely with:
- Product & Merchandising Teams
- Design Teams
- Manufacturing Units
- Sourcing Operations
- Finance & Commercial Teams
- Supply Chain & Logistics Teams
- Ensure alignment between sourcing strategy and business growth objectives.

10. Team Leadership & Capability Building
- Lead and develop a high-performing sourcing organization.
- Build functional expertise in strategic sourcing, negotiation, supplier development, and procurement analytics.
- Mentor sourcing managers and create succession pipelines.
- Drive a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Education

- MBA / PGDM in Supply Chain, Operations, Procurement, Textile Management, or Business Management.
- Textile Engineering or Apparel Manufacturing qualification preferred.

Experience

- 15-20+ years of experience in Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, Fabric Sourcing, or Supply Chain within Apparel, Fashion Retail, Textile Manufacturing, Garments, or Lifestyle retail organizations.
- Proven leadership experience managing large sourcing spends and supplier ecosystems.
- Strong exposure to both domestic and international sourcing markets.

📌 Head - Strategic Sourcing (India)
🏢 Aditya Birla Lifestyle Brands
📍 India