VP, Sourcing & Production, Kids

Centric Brands is a leading lifestyle brand collective that designs, sources, markets and sells high quality products in multiple segments, including women’s, men’s and kid’s apparel, accessories, entertainment and beauty. Centric Brands is focused on our customers and our brands that will drive the company’s future growth. We are defined by innovation as we seize new opportunities and thrive in an environment informed by creativity and thinking that is both analytical and outside the box. Centric Brands reflects a team built on respect, for others and for the hard work it takes to achieve our goals and build our bright future together.

The VP, Sourcing & Production, Kids is the senior Asia account executive for the North America business units, accountable for the end-to-end sourcing, product development and production for kids’ product categories. The role drives brand and business strategies into a competitive, resilient and responsible sourcing model, delivering the right product, quality, cost and speed while strengthening customer experience and commercial performance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Business Partnership

• Act as the senior Asia account executive for North America business unit leaders, building trusted relationships, aligning expectations and providing clear visibility on opportunities, risks and execution.
• Set the sourcing and production strategy for assigned kids’ apparel categories, balancing cost competitiveness, quality, speed, capacity, country risk and business continuity.
• Contribute as a member of the executive leadership team, shaping category direction and representing the interests and capabilities of the Asia sourcing organization. 
• Partner with design, sales, merchandising, product development, quality, compliance and operations teams to convert brand strategies into executable sourcing plans.
• Identify and develop new business opportunities across brands and relevant product categories.

Product Development & Production

• Lead execution from product concept and development through commercialization, production and shipment, ensuring alignment to calendar, margin, quality and delivery objectives.
• Provide leadership in resolving day-to-day development and production challenges, escalating material risks early and driving timely cross-functional decisions.
• Lead costing and price negotiations with country teams, factories and mills while protecting product aesthetics, fit, quality, safety and brand integrity.
• Partner with the VP, Quality Assurance to establish and monitor product quality standards, corrective actions and supplier performance.

Sourcing Network, Vendor & Risk Management

• Build a high-performing vendor and mill portfolio by consolidating the supplier base where appropriate and optimizing the country-of-origin mix by category.
• Monitor supplier performance with country leadership using clear measures for cost, quality, delivery, development capability, capacity, compliance and responsiveness.
• Maintain robust vendor profiles and conduct regular business reviews with factory and mill management to drive continuous improvement.
• Assess opportunities in established and emerging sourcing markets to improve competitiveness, shorten lead times, diversify risk and maintain a balanced sourcing matrix.
• Oversee vendor compliance in partnership with the compliance team and ensure sourcing strategies are implemented ethically and in line with company standards.

Kids’ Product Stewardship

• Ensure sourcing and production decisions reflect the specific requirements of kids’ apparel, including product safety, age-appropriate construction, fit, comfort, durability and testing expectations.
• Partner with Quality and Compliance teams to ensure applicable market, customer and brand requirements are understood and embedded throughout development and production.
• Promote materials, finishes and manufacturing solutions that support product performance, responsible sourcing and the intended consumer experience.

Organization & Team Leadership

• Lead, develop and align regional and country sourcing and production teams across assigned categories, establishing clear priorities, decision rights and performance expectations.
• Attract, assess, develop and retain strong talent; build succession depth and create an inclusive, accountable and collaborative leadership culture.
• Coach leaders to strengthen commercial acumen, negotiation capability, technical judgment and cross-cultural effectiveness.

• Minimum 20 years of progressive experience in Kids apparel sourcing, product development and production, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role within a complex matrix organization.
• Deep knowledge of kids’ apparel sourcing and production, including product development, costing, manufacturing, quality and product-safety considerations.
• Proven experience developing global sourcing strategies across diversified country and supplier portfolios, supported by risk analysis and continuity planning.
• Experience leading multi-country teams and managing a broad network of factories, mills and strategic suppliers.
• With a track record of negotiation, cost engineering, margin improvement and supplier performance management.
• Able to attract, develop, and retain top level talent and demonstrated ability to motivate, develop and inspire a team
• Experience across multiple product categories, brands and distribution channels is preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the executive presence to influence senior stakeholders across regions and functions.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English and Chinese

Competency Requirements ((if applicable))                                                                                                                                       

Leadership Commitments:

• Inspire Others
• Grow Talent
• Promote Belonging
• Spark Ownership

Behavioral Competencies:

• Leading Change
• Coaching and developing others
• Decision Making
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Cultural Interpersonal Effectiveness
• Conflict Management and Problem Solving
• Driving Execution

Language Proficiency:

Fluent in: English, Mandarin

Specific Working Conditions

Frequency of Travel: As required.

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Centric Brands is an Equal Opportunity Employer.