Standard Textile Co., Inc.
Interiors Group Sourcing Lead (Finance)
The Sourcing Lead will serve as the primary liaison between the Interiors Group (IG) and its domestic and global supplier network, leading strategic negotiations, vendor management, and supply continuity. This role spearheads the development of structured sourcing processes and data-driven vendor performance systems, aligning supplier capabilities with IG's design-focused, project-driven needs.
By fostering close partnerships with IG's product and procurement teams, as well as a close partnership with Standard Textile's Corporate and Global Sourcing teams, the leader will optimize material cost management, secure favorable contract terms, and enhance overall procurement efficiency. Success in this position requires a blend of strategic sourcing expertise, strong negotiation skills, analytical acumen, and the ability to balance design innovation with cost-effectiveness and supply chain resilience.
The ideal candidate will excel in building strong vendor relationships, meeting cost targets through effective negotiation, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring seamless alignment between sourcing strategies and IG's business objectives.
Responsibilities :
Domestic & Global IG Sourcing Strategy
• Develop and implement a comprehensive short and long term sourcing strategy that aligns with IG's business objectives, design requirements, and profitability targets.
• Lead all domestic supplier negotiations for IG to secure favorable contract terms, optimal pricing, and reliable lead times.
• Conduct in-depth market research and competitive analysis to identify emerging trends, assess supplier capabilities, and anticipate potential risks.
• Collaborate with Global Sourcing teams (including those supporting the Textile Division) to ensure alignment on international sourcing, leverage global supplier networks, and adopt shared best practices.
Vendor Management & Ranking
• Establish and enforce a transparent vendor ranking system, using clear, data-driven criteria (cost, quality, responsiveness, design flexibility) to inform sourcing decisions and drive continuous improvement.
• Identify, evaluate, and select qualified vendors based on pre-defined criteria, including quality, cost, reliability, and innovation.
• Assess and maintain relationships with current vendors, identifying opportunities for consolidation or improvement to optimize cost and maintain consistent supply.
• Build relationships and touchpoints at vendors that enable rapid response to supplier or field issues.
• Continuously evaluate and optimize supplier relationships, consolidating suppliers where appropriate and diversifying the supply base to mitigate risk.
• Partner with the IG's product and procurement and Standard Textile's R&D teams to source materials meeting aesthetic, functional, performance and quality requirements, while balancing commercial viability and risk.
• Collaborate with suppliers to drive innovation, identify new technologies and materials, and improve existing products and processes.
Negotiation & Cost Engineering
• Lead contract negotiations with domestic and global suppliers, ensuring balanced agreements that address MOQ expectations, projected demand, and long-term viability.
• Utilize cost engineering principles (TCO) to identify cost drivers and opportunities for savings within material selection, production processes, and supply chain operations.
• Establish structured negotiation frameworks that address the unique project-based needs and design-focused aspects of IG's business.
Process Development & Continuous Improvement
• Implement standardized sourcing processes and documentation to create consistency, minimize complexity, and eliminate overlapping responsibilities in vendor interactions. Collaborate with quality and operations teams to define clear specifications, testing protocols, and acceptance criteria for incoming materials or services.
• Work closely with the Director of Strategy & Business Operations and Corporate Sourcing to adopt and adapt best practices to the IG business unit.
• Coordinate cross-functionally (Sales, Design, Operations, Purchasing, etc.) to ensure clarity in roles, reduce redundant tasks, and integrate sourcing decisions with broader business objectives.
Data Management & Forecasting
• Improve the accuracy and cleanliness of purchase order (PO) data, ensuring robust reporting and data-driven insights that inform supplier performance metrics and negotiations.
• Collaborate with business units to develop more predictable demand signals, enabling suppliers to plan production effectively and reducing lead times.
• Leverage data analytics to identify cost-saving opportunities, forecast material needs, and proactively address potential supply constraints.
Risk Mitigation & Business Continuity
• Anticipate supply chain disruptions by creating and executing contingency plans to ensure uninterrupted materials delivery for IG's project-based work.
• Monitor and address critical supply issues such as high MOQ requirements, frequent design changes, and product discontinuations, balancing supplier constraints with the speed of IG's project needs.
• Establish collaborative supplier partnerships that facilitate rapid design iterations and scaling in line with project demands.
Stakeholder Collaboration & Communication
• Serve as the primary point of contact between IG and its suppliers, ensuring consistent messaging and avoiding role overlap with Sales or other functions.
• Communicate regularly with internal teams (e.g., design, project management, sales) to align supplier capabilities, timing, and cost targets with project requirements and customer expectations.
• Present sourcing updates and insights to senior leadership, highlighting cost trends, supplier performance, and emerging opportunities for the IG business unit.
Qualifications:
Education & Experience
• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field. Advanced degree or certification (e.g., CPSM, APICS) is a plus.
• Minimum 5+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, vendor negotiations, or cost engineering; experience within textile or interiors sectors preferred but not mandatory.
• Demonstrated success leading supplier negotiations and achieving measurable cost savings and service improvements.
Technical & Analytical Skills
• Expertise in negotiation frameworks and cost engineering, with proven capability to drive favorable contracts and operational efficiencies.
• Strong analytical mindset with experience in data-driven decision-making, supplier performance metrics, spend analysis, and forecasting.
• ERP or procurement software proficiency, with advanced Microsoft Excel skills for complex data analysis.
Soft Skills & Competencies
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, able to influence stakeholders at all organizational levels and cultivate productive supplier relationships.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to navigate evolving project requirements, manage multiple priorities, and deliver results under pressure.
• Collaborative leader who can work cross-functionally, balancing business objectives with creative design requirements while maintaining clear accountability and ownership boundaries.
• Role model for One Standard behaviors.
Success in this role:
• Negotiation & Cost Savings: Achieve measurable cost reductions and secure contracts with terms that protect profitability while maintaining design and quality standards.
• Strategic Partnership & Growth: Successfully partner with design, sales, operations, and purchasing teams-domestically and globally-to support innovation, new product introductions, and sustainable growth aligned with IG's design-forward approach.
• Innovation & Sustainability: Driving innovation through supplier collaboration, identifying new technologies and materials, and championing sustainable sourcing practices.
• Vendor Performance & Ranking: Implement and maintain a clear, data-driven vendor ranking system that ensures top-performing suppliers receive ongoing business, while underperforming vendors are either improved or replaced.
• Reliable Supply & Risk Mitigation: Maintain robust supplier relationships and contingency plans that minimize disruptions, meet short lead-time expectations, and deliver consistent quality for IG's rapidly changing project needs.
• Process Excellence & Alignment: Establish standardized sourcing processes in the IG unit that are fully aligned with corporate sourcing best practices, resulting in clear ownership, improved data accuracy, and stronger cross-functional collaboration.
PM21
Proudly, Standard Textile has earned a title of US Best Managed Company for the fourth year running, an honor awarded by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal, celebrating the exceptional achievements of American private companies and their management teams.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.