The Senior Category Specialist - Store Development & Sourcing serves as the strategic sourcing and category expert supporting store development initiatives from concept through execution. This role leads sourcing strategy, article & sample development for new design concepts and custom store elements in North America, supplier management, competitive sourcing activities, cost optimization, risk mitigation, and project execution support across assigned Store Development categories.
The position partners closely with Store Design, Construction, Operations, and external suppliers to deliver business objectives, brand standards, quality expectations, and project timelines.
The ideal candidate combines strategic sourcing expertise, project management discipline, strong business acumen, critical thinking, learning agility, and the ability to influence stakeholders without direct authority.
Your Impact:
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for assigned Store Development categories.
• Lead RFIs, RFQs and RFPs from planning through implementation.
• Drive value engineering, savings initiatives and total cost optimization.
• Lead sourcing negotiations and supplier selection decisions.
• Support long-term category strategy development and execution.
• Support new stores, remodels, relocations, refreshes and special projects.
• Provide sourcing expertise during project planning, design reviews and implementation.
• Manage sourcing timelines and ensure alignment with project milestones and opening schedules.
• Support custom fixture development, prototypes and specification reviews.
• Identify project risks and implement mitigation plans.
• Develop strategic supplier partnerships.
• Resolve supplier issues and drive corrective actions.
• Identify and onboard new suppliers to strengthen category capabilities.
• Analyze spend, supplier performance and quality execution. Serve as a subject matter expert for assigned categories.
• Influence cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority.
• Mentor team members and share procurement best practices.
• Drive process improvement and organizational effectiveness.
• Promote a culture of ownership, accountability, curiosity and learning.
• Take ownership of sourcing initiatives with minimal supervision.
• Build strong stakeholder and supplier relationships.
• Use data and market intelligence to drive decisions.
• Manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
• Demonstrate curiosity, learning agility and continuous improvement.
• Anticipate risks and proactively identifies solutions.
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Your Experience:
• Bachelor's Degree and/or equivalent experience preferred
• 5+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, category management, supply chain, store development sourcing, construction procurement or related disciplines.
• Experience managing strategic sourcing projects from opportunity identification through implementation and supplier management.
• Experience leading supplier negotiations and competitive bidding events.
• Experience developing and maintaining effective relationships with internal stakeholders and external supplier partners.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, timelines, and deliverables simultaneously.
• Experience analyzing spend data, supplier performance, business requirements, and market trends to develop sourcing recommendations and business solutions.
• Strong financial acumen with experience evaluating costs, developing business cases, and identifying savings or value creation opportunities.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, and other business productivity tools.
• Exceptional verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience supporting retail store development, construction, fixtures, signage, facilities, visual merchandising, furniture, equipment, or capital expenditure categories is preferred.
• Experience sourcing custom-designed products, fixtures, furnishings, construction materials, or professional services.
• Experience utilizing SAP is preferred
• Experience managing supplier development, supplier performance improvement, and supplier innovation initiatives.
• Ability to execute tasks accurately, thoroughly, and calmly in a fast-paced environment
• Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate business needs, proactively mitigate risk, and continuously improve partner experience.
• Agile and willing to take on evolving responsibilities as business needs require
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