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Managed processes established to ensure vendor and product compliance with company standards and industry regulations.• Aligned cross-functional teams and embedded responsible sourcing practices across the supply chain, ensuring adherence to stringent quality, safety, and regulatory standards.• Spearheaded audit planning and facilitated corrective actions, including product recalls, to protect brand integrity and mitigate risks while maintaining compliance.• Conducted detailed reviews of vendor agreements and supported onboarding and lifecycle management, ensuring alignment with corporate requirements, and effectively communicating expectations.

• Acted as the primary liaison between internal departments and external vendors tasked with making procurement decisions and cultivating supplier relationships.• Guided cross-functional teams in the development of strategic solutions for complex procurement and sourcing challenges.• Organized and facilitated comprehensive training sessions for staff covering strategic sourcing processes and best practices across the business team.• Delivered critical support during the launch and implementation of new systems and software.o Coordinated with developers and internal IT to test updated Vendor Portal and RMS as well as train internal teams and vendors.o Partnered with Atelier Loupe developers to train internal merchant and sourcing team members.• Executed regular check-ins with subordinates to track project progress, resolve issues, and support project success.• Conducted in-depth cost-benefit analyses for proposed projects to provide actionable recommendations that aligned with business goals and budgetary constraints.• Developed and implemented cost reduction strategies and savings initiatives to deliver measurable improvements to the company’s bottom line while ensuring adherence to quality and performance standards.o Assessed supplier performance and negotiated costs with vendors to generate additional savings aligned with key performance indicators and industry benchmarks.

• Prepared and managed vendor onboarding and deactivation processes by collaborating with Accounts Payable, Buyers, and Administrators to ensure accurate payment terms, procedures, and compliance with corporate requirements.• Obtained contract approvals with Senior Management and the Legal Department, ensuring strict adherence to compliance agreements, audits, and regulatory standards.• Inputted and maintained supplier contact information within company portals for access and email alerts.• Oversaw vendor merger and acquisition activities, buyout assignments, and assumptions.• Maintained the Master Vendor Log to ensure accurate and up-to-date records of all vendor-related activities.• Generated and maintained ad-hoc reports related to Bill of Materials (BOM) data to provide critical insights for decision-making and process improvements.• Helped develop and execute plans to monitor and enhance vendor management processes; communicated needs to improve vendor performance and filter out under performing vendors to maintain a more refined database.• Coordinated social audits for certified membership vendors and new onboarded partners, ensuring compliance with social responsibility standards.• Collaborated with IT teams on major projects, as well as in testing and implementing Vendor Portal updates to optimize system functionality.• Addressed and implemented process changes in partnership with vendors, merchants, and inventory planning teams.• Conducted regular reviews of organizational processes to ensure ongoing compliance with evolving industry regulations and company policies.• Compiled comprehensive reports summarizing findings from compliance audits and investigations to provide actionable insights for senior management.• Stayed up to date with industry best practices and regulatory changes to ensure the organization remained compliant with relevant laws, standards, and industry benchmarks.

• Engineered and implemented comprehensive sourcing strategies that prioritized cost efficiency, product quality, and service excellence, ensuring alignment with corporate goals and market demands.• Conducted detailed financial analyses, cost modeling, and spend analysis on procurement metrics to drive data-driven sourcing decisions, resulting in significant cost savings and process improvements.• Partnered with cross-functional teams—including Merchandising, Planning, Quality Assurance, Distribution Centers, and the Diamond Room—to develop and implement supplier optimization strategies that enhanced operational efficiency and reduced costs.• Researched, identified, and pursued new sourcing opportunities across both domestic and international markets.• Navigated vendor cost negotiations, successfully lowering procurement expenses while maintaining adherence to corporate targets and industry standards.• Administered and monitored Purchase Order deliveries and aging PIWs; created master ad hoc reports to proactively communicate delivery issues to Sourcing, Planning, and Merchandising leadership teams.• Forged and cultivated strong, positive relationships with vendors; managed the vendor base and conducted in-depth research to assess vendor capabilities to enhance the quality, delivery, and cost-effectiveness of goods.

• Managed merchandising operations across Closeouts, Watches, Gemstones, and Pearls at all Zale’s U.S., Outlet, and Canadian stores.• Advanced development of core product assortments and spearheaded product development initiatives, ensuring a balanced and profitable inventory mix.• Designed and implemented detailed store planograms to guide store teams on merchandising layouts and visual strategies.• Managed two key accounts in the Watches category, leading assortment planning and ensuring optimal product placement across store locations.• Partnered with Marketing and Visual teams to develop and execute seasonal advertisements, product launches, and promotional campaigns, ensuring cohesive brand messaging across all channels.• Optimized case space and facilitated the proper execution of key merchandising plans by visually merchandised local stores during peak selling periods.• Fostered relationships with vendors, stores, and cross-functional departments, serving as a key point of contact for daily inquiries and issue resolution.• Conducted in-depth sales analyses and generated reports to present actionable insights to senior management.• Contributed to the Planning Team’s annual sales forecasts, leveraging trend analysis and open-to-buy tools to support accurate inventory planning and budget management.• Provided strategic recommendations for marketing and promotional initiatives, and successfully collected co-op funds to support advertising efforts.• Contributed to the development of the overall strategic plan by creating and implementing advanced sales tracking tools to monitor performance and identify growth opportunities• Played an instrumental role in launching a new Closeout strategy by coordinating inventory recalls and return-to-vendor (RTV) processes.

-Procuring and managing samples-Maintaining vendor contact and tracking photography shot counts-Creating Leadsheets -Entering Features & Benefits for each items -Preparing materials for weekly presentations of new product launches -Providing general administrative support and working on special projects as assigned (sales and trend reports, strategy prep, etc)-Analyze sales reports and create recaps for weekly buyer meetings and vendor appointments-Attend market appointments to add additional programs to our assortment-Present new items to creative team at style out-Creating purchase orders and tracking the distribution to DCs

-Processing and maintaining purchase orders -Allocation of goods to warehouses-Communicating with vendors on merchandise daily -Logistics and tracking shipment of inventory to warehouses -Assisting in creating web pages and price changes

-Claims analyst- Regulation E compliance for Credit/Debit/ATM/ACH transactions including probing for Fraudulent transactions or claims -Customer service- Inbound/follow up calls/escalations -Inventory management- daily queues/end of day reports -Acting lead- assisted manager with team inquires/daily reports/serviced irate customers/managed floor

-Consumer sales- up/cross sale working various campaigns -Financial Consultant- review inquires/educate customers -Customer service-outbound/inbound service calls