Global Sourcing Leader - Europe - Textile/Apparel

Position Overview:

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Global Sourcing Leader - Europe to lead and strengthen our sourcing operations for European markets within the textile and apparel industry. The role will be responsible for developing global sourcing strategies, identifying and managing suppliers and manufacturing partners, negotiating commercial terms, optimizing costs, ensuring product quality, and driving supply chain efficiency.

The ideal candidate will have 15 - 20 years of experience in textile sourcing, procurement, vendor management, and international supply chain operations, with a strong understanding of European customer expectations, compliance requirements, product quality standards, and sourcing trends.

Based in Delhi NCR, the individual will work closely with European customers, suppliers, manufacturers, internal merchandising and product development teams, quality assurance, logistics, and finance to ensure competitive, sustainable, and reliable sourcing operations.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Global Sourcing Strategy:

- Develop and implement a comprehensive sourcing strategy for European markets, aligned with business growth, profitability, quality, and delivery objectives.

- Identify new sourcing destinations, manufacturers, mills, factories, and strategic supply partners across India and other relevant sourcing countries.

- Build a robust supplier network for textiles, apparel, home textiles, fabrics, and related products, as applicable.

- Evaluate sourcing opportunities based on cost competitiveness, manufacturing capabilities, lead times, quality, scalability, and risk.

- Drive supplier diversification and reduce dependency on single-source vendors.

2. Supplier & Vendor Management:

- Establish, develop, and maintain strategic relationships with textile mills, garment manufacturers, processing units, exporters, and international sourcing partners.

- Lead supplier selection, qualification, onboarding, performance evaluation, and development.

- Conduct supplier audits and capability assessments to ensure compliance with buyer requirements and international standards.

- Negotiate pricing, payment terms, minimum order quantities, capacity commitments, and delivery schedules.

- Develop long-term strategic partnerships to improve service levels, innovation, and cost competitiveness.

3. European Market & Customer Management:

- Manage sourcing requirements for European customers, retailers, brands, importers, and private-label businesses.

- Understand European market trends, customer preferences, product specifications, seasonal buying cycles, and commercial expectations.

- Coordinate with customers and internal teams on product development, sampling, costing, order execution, and delivery commitments.

- Support customer presentations, sourcing proposals, product range development, and strategic business reviews.

- Build strong relationships with European stakeholders and travel internationally as required.

4. Cost Optimization & Commercial Negotiations:

- Lead costing, price benchmarking, commercial negotiations, and total landed-cost optimization.

- Identify opportunities to improve gross margins through strategic sourcing, material optimization, process improvements, and supplier consolidation.

- Monitor raw material prices, currency fluctuations, freight costs, duties, and other factors affecting sourcing economics.

- Establish cost models and sourcing budgets aligned with business targets.

- Drive continuous improvement in sourcing productivity, profitability, and working capital efficiency.

5. Quality, Compliance & Sustainability:

- Ensure suppliers meet European customer quality expectations and applicable product safety, chemical, social, and environmental requirements.

- Work with quality and compliance teams to establish inspection processes, corrective action plans, and supplier improvement initiatives.

- Promote responsible sourcing, ethical manufacturing, traceability, and sustainable material adoption.

- Support compliance with applicable EU regulations, including REACH requirements where relevant, textile labelling rules, and product-specific regulations.

- Encourage the use of sustainable fibres, recycled materials, certified materials, and environmentally responsible production practices where commercially appropriate.

6. Supply Chain & Operational Excellence:

- Ensure timely sourcing, production readiness, order execution, and shipment against agreed delivery schedules.

- Collaborate with merchandising, design, product development, production, quality, logistics, and finance teams.

- Identify supply chain bottlenecks and implement corrective and preventive actions.

- Develop risk mitigation plans for capacity constraints, supplier disruptions, geopolitical changes, and logistics challenges.

- Improve sourcing lead times, order fulfilment, forecast accuracy, and on-time-in-full delivery performance.

7. Leadership & Team Development:

- Lead and develop sourcing, procurement, vendor management, and related teams.

- Set functional objectives, performance standards, and measurable KPIs.

- Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, commercial discipline, and continuous improvement.

- Mentor team members and strengthen sourcing capabilities, negotiation skills, and supplier relationship management.

- Work cross-functionally with senior leadership to support business expansion and strategic decision-making.

Candidate Profile & Qualifications:

- Graduate or postgraduate degree in Textile Technology, Textile Engineering, Apparel Management, Fashion Management, or Supply Chain.

- 15 - 20 years of relevant experience in global sourcing, textile procurement, apparel sourcing, home textiles, or international vendor management.

- Proven experience managing sourcing operations for European customers, brands, retailers, or importers.

- Strong knowledge of textile manufacturing processes, fabrics, raw materials, garment production, quality standards, and costing methodologies.

- Demonstrated expertise in supplier negotiations, sourcing strategy, vendor development, and commercial management.

- Experience in managing international supply chains specifically for Europe and cross-functional teams.

- Strong understanding of European buyer expectations, product compliance, sustainability, and responsible sourcing.

- Excellent communication, presentation, stakeholder management, and leadership skills.

- Willingness to travel internationally as required.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

- Achievement of sourcing cost and gross margin targets.

- Supplier performance, quality compliance, and defect reduction.

- On-time delivery and order fulfilment rates.

- Supplier development and sourcing diversification.

- Reduction in sourcing lead times and procurement costs.

Ideal Candidate Background:

- The ideal candidate may currently be working as a Global Sourcing Head, Head of Sourcing - Europe, General Manager - Sourcing, Director of Procurement, or Senior Sourcing Leader with an established textile exporter, apparel manufacturer, home textile company, buying house, or international sourcing organization.

- Candidates with demonstrated experience in European retail or private-label sourcing, strategic supplier management, commercial negotiations, and end-to-end order execution will be preferred.

What We Offer:

- A strategic leadership role with international exposure.

- The opportunity to develop and expand European sourcing operations.

- Direct engagement with senior management and international customers.

- Scope to build supplier partnerships, strengthen sourcing capabilities, and drive business growth.

- A performance-oriented environment with opportunities for professional development.

- Interested candidates with strong textile industry expertise and proven experience in European sourcing leadership are encouraged to apply.