Hybrid Director, Sourcing and Supply Chain - Private Brands bei Guitar Center

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director, Sourcing and Supply Chain for Private Brands will lead the sourcing strategy and execution across assigned product categories, ensuring the optimization of cost, quality, delivery, and supplier performance. This role is critical to driving profitability, innovation, and supply chain agility by building robust global sourcing networks, developing supplier partnerships, and aligning sourcing activities with the company’s strategic and financial objectives. The Director will work cross-functionally with Merchandising, Product Development, Quality, and Supply Chain to ensure seamless execution and value delivery.

Responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to the following:

• Sourcing Strategy Development: Build and lead the execution of a long-term global sourcing strategy that supports category growth, margin improvement, and supply chain resilience while guarding against tariff and geopolitical fluctuations.
• Supplier Management & Negotiation: Identify, evaluate, and manage a high-performance supplier base. Lead cost negotiations, establish contracts, and drive continuous improvement in supplier performance.
• Cost Optimization: Deliver year-over-year cost savings through strategic sourcing, value engineering, and supplier consolidation while maintaining or improving product quality.
• Global Sourcing: Develop and optimize global sourcing footprint by balancing risk, lead time, tariff implications, and geopolitical factors. Monitor emerging sourcing markets and evaluate sourcing shifts.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Product Development, Merchandising, Quality, and Supply Planning to ensure sourcing strategies align with business goals, product timelines, and quality standards.
• Vendor Compliance: Ensure suppliers meet ethical sourcing standards, regulatory requirements, and quality expectations. Support factory audits and sustainability initiatives.
• Risk Management: Identify and mitigate supply chain risks including disruptions, capacity constraints, and geopolitical instability through contingency planning and multi-sourcing.
• Operational Excellence: Establish and track KPIs for supplier performance, cost savings, lead times, and on-time delivery. Continuously improve sourcing operations through process enhancements and systems optimization.
• Innovation & Product Development Support: Collaborate with development teams to identify new material and manufacturing capabilities that drive innovation, differentiation, and speed to market.
• Team Leadership: Manage and develop a high-performing sourcing team, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and collaboration. Provide coaching and career development to team members.
• Stakeholder Influence: Act as a strategic advisor to internal business partners, providing sourcing insights and thought leadership to inform product and business decisions.