Sourcing Category Lead

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. That includes creating an equitable, inclusive, and growth-focused environment for our people.

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.

Reporting to the Sr Manager, Sourcing, the Sourcing Category Lead will be the category expert in sourcing, costing and delivering margins against our Mens Tops products, which include Base Knit/Woven Layers, Hoodies, Lightweight Woven Jackets with technologies like Bonding, Laser-cutting, garment dyed 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.

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

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

• Acknowledges the presence of choice in every moment and takes personal responsibility for their life.
• Possesses an entrepreneurial spirit and continuously innovates to achieve great results.
• Communicates with honesty and kindness and creates the space for others to do the same.
• Leads with courage, knowing the possibility of greatness is bigger than the fear of failure.
• Fosters connection by putting people first and building trusting relationships.
• Integrates fun and joy as a way of being and working, aka doesn’t take themselves too seriously.

Authorization to work in Canada is required for this role.

lululemon’s compensation offerings are grounded in a pay-for-performance…