Senior Manager, Product Innovation & Sourcing

This is an exceptional opportunity to join a forward-thinking organisation that is committed to setting industry standards in agility, competitiveness, digitalisation, and sustainability. In this influential position, you will translate brand vision and emerging trends into actionable supplier capabilities, drive continuous improvement across the supply base, and lead cross-functional teams to deliver products that consistently exceed customer expectations. The company offers a collaborative environment where your expertise in technical product development, process optimisation, and stakeholder engagement will be highly valued. You will benefit from flexible working opportunities, ongoing training programmes, and the chance to work with some of the most knowledgeable professionals in the industry.

• Play a key role in driving innovation and efficiency within a globally recognised sportswear brand’s Originals footwear division by leading end-to-end product creation and sourcing initiatives.
• Enjoy flexible working opportunities and access to comprehensive training programmes designed to support your professional growth while collaborating with diverse teams across regions.
• Be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring your contributions are recognised as you help shape the future of sustainable and responsible sourcing practices.

What you'll do:

As Senior Manager Product Creation and Sourcing, you will be entrusted with overseeing the entire lifecycle of Originals footwear products—from initial concept through to commercialisation—ensuring every stage aligns with brand vision and market demands. Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve close collaboration with cross-functional teams such as Marketing, Design, Planning, Manufacturing, Costing, Material Management, Product Quality Assurance, Testing & Compliance. You will act as a bridge between internal teams and external suppliers (including factory heads of development/commercialisation), championing process improvements that drive speed without compromising on quality or compliance. By proactively identifying obstacles in product creation workflows and implementing solutions rooted in best practice sourcing principles, you will ensure seamless operations across multiple regions. Your leadership will also extend to nurturing talent within your team through targeted training initiatives while upholding policies related to responsible sourcing. Success in this role hinges on your ability to balance technical acumen with interpersonal skills—delivering innovative products efficiently while fostering an inclusive workplace culture.

• Lead the development and commercialisation process for Originals footwear products, ensuring each item surpasses expectations for fit, comfort, design integrity, performance, perceived value, manufacturability, and quality.
• Enhance collaboration between the Co-Creation Team and Tier 1 factories by supporting continuous improvement of product creation systems and processes with a focus on change management.
• Influence and implement speed-to-market programmes that accelerate product launches while maintaining high standards of quality and efficiency.
• Manage relationships with Tier 2 suppliers to support localisation efforts, achieve material pricing targets, and uphold stringent materials quality requirements.
• Provide technical support and training for junior team members to foster knowledge sharing and professional development within the organisation.
• Devise strategies that leverage category sourcing approaches to introduce new materials and design innovations while meeting gross margin objectives.
• Ensure all product milestones are achieved within tight timelines by establishing best practices that advance operational processes.
• Develop and refine procedures aimed at delivering leading-edge product processes characterised by speed, flexibility, and efficiency.
• Lead system and process training activities for regional sourcing locations, including monitoring performance metrics and gathering user feedback for continuous enhancement.
• Oversee account management of internal product creation systems for both internal stakeholders and external users, supporting system enhancements and resolving escalations promptly.

What you bring:

To excel as Senior Manager Product Creation and Sourcing, you will bring extensive experience gained over at least seven years within technical roles related to footwear or apparel manufacturing—ideally underpinned by a university degree in engineering or a closely related discipline. Your background should include hands-on involvement in pattern engineering, mould making, grading techniques, materials processing or similar specialisms relevant to product creation. Beyond technical prowess, your success will be shaped by your ability to build dependable networks across functions—fostering co-operation among diverse stakeholders ranging from marketing strategists through factory development leaders. You are known for your empathetic approach when mentoring junior colleagues; your communication style is considerate yet persuasive; your commitment to responsible sourcing practices is unwavering. With a keen eye for detail coupled with sensitivity towards evolving market trends—and an enthusiasm for continuous learning—you are ready to make meaningful contributions that elevate both team performance and organisational outcomes.

• Demonstrated business acumen with deep understanding of sourcing processes and relevant system landscapes within the sportswear or footwear industry.
• Proven ability to thrive in environments characterised by rapid product creation cycles where adaptability is essential.
• Track record of redefining processes to uncover new approaches to product creation with an emphasis on speed-to-market delivery.
• Willingness to travel internationally for consumer trend research as well as internal meetings or presentations when required.
• Comprehensive knowledge spanning shoe construction from design sketch phase through ex-factory production stages.
• Advanced analytical skills paired with quantitative abilities that enable you to connect complex data points for informed decision-making.
• Experience managing projects at local office or regional levels within defined scopes of development or commercialisation initiatives.
• Exceptional project management capabilities supported by strong influencing skills alongside effective presentation and communication abilities.
• History of successfully guiding multidimensional teams towards shared goals while promoting inter-personal collaboration.
• Fluency in English (both written and spoken) complemented by advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

What sets this company apart:

This organisation stands out as a global leader not only because of its iconic products but also due to its steadfast commitment towards creating an agile supply chain that sets benchmarks for digitalisation, competitiveness, sustainability, and ethical sourcing. Employees benefit from flexible working arrangements tailored to promote work-life balance alongside generous investment in professional development through structured training opportunities. The company’s inclusive ethos ensures everyone feels valued—regardless of background—while supportive leadership encourages open dialogue around diversity equity & inclusion. By joining this team you become part of a networked community dedicated not just to commercial success but also positive social impact: advancing responsible sourcing policies; minimising environmental footprint; empowering employees at every level; fostering genuine connections across global markets—all while enjoying access to cutting-edge resources designed for personal growth.

What's next:

If you are passionate about shaping the future of footwear innovation while thriving in a collaborative environment that values your expertise—this is your moment!

Apply today by clicking on the link provided below to take the next step towards joining this inspiring team.