Strategic Sourcing Manager – Apparel Sourcing
Gymshark · Solihull, United Kingdom · 2mo ago
Be a force behind exceptional product delivery
At Gymshark, our products are at the heart of everything we do. We're looking for a commercially driven and strategic Sourcing Manager to play a key role in shaping and executing our global sourcing strategy, ensuring we have the right partners, capacity, and capabilities in place to support our ambitious growth plans.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced sourcing professional to work cross-functionally with teams across Product, Merchandising, Planning, Technical, and Supply Planning, while building strong partnerships with our global supplier network.
WHAT YOU'LL DO.
Sourcing Strategy & Supply Base Management
- Support the delivery and execution of Gymshark's sourcing strategy, partnering cross-functionally with Merchandising, Planning, Technical and Supply Planning teams to ensure alignment.
- Identify opportunities to diversify and de-risk the supply base through dual sourcing and strategic vendor allocation.
- Support the identification, assessment and onboarding of new vendors and sourcing regions, ensuring capability, compliance and sustainability standards are met prior to volume placement.
- Drive and embed sourcing standard operating procedures (SOPs) across suppliers and internal teams, ensuring consistency, accountability and operational excellence.
Vendor Management & Supplier Performance
- Support vendor management activities, including performance reviews, business plan implementation and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Monitor supplier performance, partnering with vendors on corrective action plans where required.
- Support supplier onboarding, development and exit strategies in line with Gymshark's sourcing objectives.
- Build and maintain strong supplier relationships while ensuring alignment with business priorities and expectations.
Commercial & Cost Management
- Drive costing excellence across assigned product categories, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability.
- Manage and deliver margin targets through effective supplier negotiations and strategic sourcing decisions.
- Analyse costs, supplier performance metrics and market trends to support commercial decision-making and continuous improvement.
Capacity & Seasonal Planning
- Lead Tier 1 capacity planning activities, securing appropriate capacity through allocation, holds and stretch planning to support forecasted demand.
- Partner with internal teams and suppliers to establish and execute seasonal sourcing strategies.
- Ensure sourcing plans support business growth while balancing risk, flexibility and supplier capability.
Team Leadership
- Lead, coach and develop the Sourcing Executive, setting clear objectives and supporting career development.
- Foster a high-performance culture aligned with Gymshark's FY27 Sourcing & Supply Strategy.
Responsible Sourcing
- Uphold responsible purchasing practices, ensuring sourcing decisions align with Gymshark's ethical sourcing standards, supplier compliance expectations and sustainability commitments.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED.
Essential
- 5+ years' sourcing experience within an apparel, fashion or retail environment.
- Strong understanding of apparel product development, manufacturing processes and production critical paths.
- Experience managing global sourcing operations, with an appreciation of regional cultural and business practices.
- Excellent commercial acumen and negotiation skills, with a track record of delivering cost and margin improvements.
- Strong analytical capabilities, with the ability to interpret data, identify trends and make informed business decisions.
- Proven problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate challenges and make decisions in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills across internal and external partners.
- Experience using Microsoft Office applications and PLM or equivalent product lifecycle management systems.
- Experience managing supplier performance and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
- Previous experience leading or mentoring junior team members.
Desirable
- A proactive and lateral-thinking approach, with the confidence to challenge existing ways of working and influence change.
- High levels of emotional intelligence, self-awareness and resilience.
- Experience working within a high-growth, international consumer brand.
- Understanding of ethical sourcing, supplier compliance and sustainability frameworks within the apparel industry.
Onsite Collaboration: Due to the hands-on and highly collaborative nature of the work within our Product & Supply Chain team, we have a minimum expectation of three days per week onsite at our Gymshark HQ. This ensures we can work closely together to innovate, problem-solve, and deliver world-class products for our community.
BELONGING AT GYMSHARK.
Our mission is to be a place where everyone belongs. We’re an equal opportunities employer, and for us that means we always strive to be as inclusive as possible in all aspects of employment, right from your application. We’re committed to finding reasonable adjustments* for candidates with specific needs or have a disability during our recruitment process, and all applicants will be considered fairly and equally. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. *If you’d like to request a reasonable adjustment please email talent@gymshark.com.
ABOUT US.
We’re here to unite the conditioning community. We believe that putting the sweat in today, prepares us for tomorrow. So, we give people the tools they need to reach further, go faster, be stronger. We celebrate those who show up – for themselves – to be their physical or mental best, whatever that means for them. It’s what we want for our community, and our team. A team that’s growing rapidly around the world. A collective of talented individuals working together to invent Gymshark’s future. Our plans are ambitious, and we’re looking for people who want to join us for the ride – our growth will be your growth.
THE PERKS.
Standard benefits include:
- Performance-based Bonus opportunity
- Funded Healthcare benefit
- 25 days holiday, additional day for your birthday & Bank Holidays
- Contributory Employer pension scheme
- Flexible benefits programme – including salary sacrifice EV scheme, dental insurance, cycle to work, tech scheme, holiday trading
- Gymshark Employee Discount & long service awards
- Access to High Street cashback and discounts
- Financial, Physical and Mental Wellbeing Support
- Enhanced Family Leave package
- Life Assurance
Office location specific benefits include (HQ/IQ):
- Gym Membership to The Lifting Club (LC)
- Onsite lunch provision & coffee bars
- EV charge points available
Note: The bonus program and benefits have certain eligibility requirements. Gymshark reserves the right to amend these programs in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.