Senior Manager Trims & Accessories Sourcing

Role to relocate to Wuxi, China

Function: Procurement & Global Sourcing

Scope: Regional (Centralised China Sourcing Function)

Our client are global apparel manufacturing partner trusted by many of the world's leading international brands.

Renowned for our technical excellence, innovation, and commitment to responsible manufacturing, they are centralising their Trims and Accessories Sourcing function to drive commercial excellence, consistency, and supply chain resilience across all our China-based apparel operations.

The Opportunity

This is far more than a standard sourcing role-it is an opportunity to build a centralised function from the ground up.

Overseeing a growing portfolio of US$20 million, you will lead a newly formed team to unlock strategic value across a complex, multi-business organisation. Because their supplier base is already established, your primary challenge won't be finding new vendors-it will be leveraging deep commercial insight, rigorous market analysis, and sharp negotiations to maximize value, cost performance, and operational excellence from our existing network.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Portfolio Management

Establish & Lead: Build, mentor, and direct a new Trims Sourcing team to execute centralized sourcing strategies across all apparel business units in China.

Category Oversight: Manage end-to-end strategy, cost structures, and supplier ecosystems across all core trim categories:

Fasteners: Zippers, buttons, snap hooks, and velcro.

Elastics & Tapes: Elastic bands, drawcords, shoulder pads, and related construction trims.

Branding & Info: Woven labels, care tags, and hangtags.

Decorative Elements: Lace, ribbons, beads, and custom patches.

Cross-Functional Alignment: Partner closely with Design, Product Development, Merchandising, and Production to integrate sourcing strategy into product lifecycles.

Commercial Excellence & Supplier Management

Value Creation: Drive high-stakes negotiations covering unit pricing, volume rebates, payment terms, service agreements, and strategic contracts across all trim types.

Performance Frameworks: Implement KPI-driven supplier performance metrics, continuous improvement programs, and robust risk-management protocols.

Problem Resolution: Lead the swift resolution of complex commercial, quality, and delivery escalations.

Targeted Expansion: Identify strategic new sourcing channels only when they deliver clear, measurable business value.

Qualifications & Experience

Category Expertise: Extensive background sourcing apparel trims and accessories across functional, branding, and decorative categories, with a deep understanding of manufacturing processes and global supplier markets.

Commercial Acumen: Proven track record of executing data-driven negotiations and extracting maximum commercial value from supplier networks.

Matrix Stakeholder Management: Demonstrated ability to influence senior cross-functional leaders and navigate a multi-business corporate structure.

Integrity & Analytical Rigour: High accountability, exceptional problem-solving skills, and a fact-based approach to decision-making.

The Ideal Candidate

You won't need a learning curve for the trims sector-you already know it inside out.

You operate with facts, not assumptions, and you prioritize collaboration over politics. You build supplier relationships grounded in mutual performance rather than personal ties, bringing the credibility and analytical confidence needed to make decisive, high-value choices for the organization.

Why Join Our Client

Build Your Legacy: Opportunity to design and scale a centralised sourcing function from day one.

Global Exposure: Work with the industry's most respected global apparel brands.

Career Growth: Clear trajectory for advancement as the centralized function expands.