Sr. Manager, Sourcing and Production FootwearManaged the creation and implementation of category and supplier strategy supporting business initiatives that included RFI’s, RFP’s and RFQ’s. Resolved issues effecting cost, production and delivery of purchase orders. Managed vendor relationships and performance through KPI’s and team reviews.• Strategic Sourcing: Work with key stake holders to understand business requirements (specifications, cost savings, quality), develop and request proposals from suppliers.• Cost analysis: Review proposal, understand validity of cost quote, negotiate cost to ensure needs are met. Resulting savings of $300,000 and $400,000 last two years.• Vendor selection: RFI – Identify suppliers, understand capabilities, evaluate quality, risk and cost. • Data Analysis: Review, identify opportunities for cost optimization, improve efficiencies and service.• Vendor Management: Compliance to KPI’s and performance rating system. Establish vendor strategy and future needs. Initiate corrective action plan when necessary.• Trend research: Market research on commodity costs and exchange rates.• Business issues: Summarize issue(s), understand effects and evaluate opportunities.• Collaborate with internal partners (Legal, Quality and Development) to ensure compliance to terms, specifications and evaluate risk.• Vendor database: Flex PLM, maintenance of supplier, style, and cost information.• Oracle based RMS system used to manage style and purchase order information.• Quality: Work with QA and supplier, support implementation and follow up of corrective action plan. • Work cross functionally with key stake holders on our Upper Management, Hong Kong team, Product Development, Merchants, Quality Assurance, Logistics and Legal among others. Traveled regularly to Asia countries.

Manager, Sourcing and Production FootwearMonitored production schedules of purchase orders to ensure on time shipment. As well as delivery issues that occurred causing possible shipment delays.• Clear Track online logistics system to manage production and delivery of purchase orders to achieve 90%+ on-time shipments. • Vendor Performance: KPI performance review, follow up and initiate CAP as necessary.• Manage production and delivery issues seeking minimal disruption.• Quality: Work with QA and supplier, support implementation and follow up of corrective action plan. • Work cross functionally with Hong Kong team, Product Development, Merchants, Quality Assurance, Logistics and Legal among others. Traveled regularly to Asia countries.

Managed quarterly costing process for approximately 7MM units / $31MM of first cost dollars for Women’s Footwear. Created and established quarterly costing strategy based on material, commodity, and exchange rate analysis. Utilized technical skills to analyze and create management reporting used in production and sourcing decisions. Reporting also supported quarterly business reviews, seasonal direction setting meetings as well as strategic review.• Achieved product cost reductions of -1.7% versus a plan of +1.5% for Q2 2013, through teamwork and collaboration while exploring new ideas such as re-engineered development.• Lowered costs and improved product delivery through improved strategic partnerships with overseas factories by creating team environment and partnership.• Launched new factories thus diversifying the factory base and reducing the risk exposure through collaboration with Asia team.• Ensured proper support of promotional activity and in-store inventory by managing daily production issues with merchants.• Identified as a subject matter expert for cross functional team that reduced cost of shoe boxes by $1.5MM through label enhancement project that allowed for smaller shoe box production runs.• Reduced number of shoe box templates from 10k to 4k which also improved production for shoe box supplier.• Led a cross functional team that identified, gathered and documented business requirements for new western hemisphere factories to ensure compliance with NAFTA, CTPAT and logistics.

Reviewed requests for footwear placements into lower level factories or new factories. Reviewed and updated quality documentation. Utilized technical skills to analyze and create reporting used during quality reviews and sourcing decisions. • Reviewed factory and sourcing agreements through an in-depth analysis of contracts and provided necessary changes to legal team.• Updated Quality Assurance manual for use on new quality website. Reviewed specifications and standards for footwear and accessories.• Informed agents of updates and modifications to their responsibilities or production requirements via monthly Quality Assurance communication.

Responsible for printing of price tickets and labels. Produced and distributed Sourcing reports weekly and monthly.

Inspected warehouse inventory for storage accuracy. Inspected quality of footwear through hand inspection as well as use of quality testing machinery. Helped establish the first quality testing lab in the United States for Payless Shoesource.