Sourcing Category Lead, Accessories

Description & Requirements
who we are
lululemon is an innovative performance apparel company for yoga, running, training, and other athletic pursuits. Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional design, we create transformational products and experiences that support people in moving, growing, connecting, and being well. We owe our success to our innovative product, emphasis on stores, commitment to our people, and the incredible connections we make in every community we're in. As a company, we focus on creating positive change to build a healthier, thriving future. In particular, that includes creating an equitable, inclusive and growth-focused environment for our people.
About This Role
Reporting to the Director Accessories Sourcing, the Sourcing Category Lead will be the category expert in sourcing, costing and delivering margins against our Equipment Hard Goods products, which includes Water Bottles, Yoga Mats, Yoga Accessories, etc. The Sourcing Category Lead will delivery category level sourcing strategy and translate long range strategies to drive seasonal costing priorities. They will ensure cost and margin for assigned category meets target. Sourcing Category Lead develops factory relationships aligned with their product category to commercialize products in a timely, consistent manner. They will develop plans and strategies that will address category specific margin goals.
About This Team
We are the Sourcing Department. We manage the relationship with our Raw Material and Finished Goods vendors & ensure that lululemon has best in the world manufacturers. We work cross-functionally across the entire product team to ensure product meets our business strategy, quality & cost goals. We then work with our vendors to make those products a reality.
a day in the life

• Analyze and monitor margins.
• Build strong relationships with vendors and cross functional teams to help foster partnership and trust.
• Support sourcing of and onboarding of new vendors successfully working closely with supply chain onboarding team
• Translate long range strategies to drive seasonal costing and allocation priorities.
• Deliver Category level sourcing strategy based on long range plans.
• Elevate opportunities and risks to influence strategy and support decision making.
• Track all GTM Calendar by-when’s and ensure that all sourcing seasonal calendar timelines are met
• Vendor Allocation data maintenance, validation, and communication of projections to category vendor
• Manage data analysis of product cost and margin, including data updates in costing systems where applicable
• Ensure cost and margin for assigned category meets target.
• Give guidance for or execute vendor cost negotiations and partner with our LLO Merch and LLO Costing team where applicable.
• Develop action plans to mitigate margin risk and proposals to reduce cost working closely with cross functional partners.

Qualifications

• You love to travel
• You are an expert in Excel and you have knowledge of Power BI and Smartsheet
• You are well versed in product cost breakdowns and have a passion for numbers.
• You have visited off-shore factories & are versed in the relevant product manufacturing process
• You are confident in your strengths, always open to challenges and prefer negotiating face to face
• You are a multi-task master & can handle multiple projects working with a variety of cross-functional partners
• You have 3-5 years’ experience working closely & building relationships with off-shore manufacturers

must haves

• Communicate with honesty and kindness and create the space for others to do the same.
• Possess an entrepreneurial spirit and continuously innovate to achieve great results.
• Lead with courage, knowing the possibility of greatness is bigger than the fear of failure.
• Foster connection by putting people first and building trusting relationships.
• Acknowledge the presence of choice in every moment and take personal responsibility for your life.
• Integrate fun and joy as a way of being and working, aka doesn’t take yourself too seriously.

#BO-LI