Associate Sourcing Manager – Plush

About the Role & Team

The Associate Sourcing Manager (ASM) – Plush initiates and manages partnerships with outstanding suppliers and internal partners as they pertain to the sourcing and development of best-in-category Disney-branded merchandise. As part of the Merchandise Sourcing & Product Development (MSPD) organization, this position is responsible for driving sourcing strategies across the Plush category. This role will develop, collaborate, and produce results in relation to product quality/customer expectations, time/cost efficiency, and margin improvement.

Supports the development of the seasonal product line from conception through to delivery. They will work cross-functionally with key partners including product design, brand merchandising, planning, and regional offices in developing product to realize a global vision for the category. They will support the product design teams to ensure that all design specifications are achievable within margin objectives and are in alignment with the category sourcing strategies.

This position reports into the Manager, Sourcing - Plush. The ASM provides support and assistance with operational and organizational functions to develop and source merchandise under the strategic guidance of their direct Manager. This position may require some domestic or international travel for cost negotiations and sample approvals.

Come be part of this dynamic team!

What You Will Do

Sourcing Strategy

• Assist the Manager, Sourcing in driving strategies, costing, and development of select product lines for the Disney Consumer Products (DCP) Owned & Operated plush toy business.
• Partner on vendor strategy, product costing, vendor communication, and sample management.
• Responsible for ensuring products meet established quality standards including monitoring quarterly.
• Implement sourcing strategies that increase profitability and minimize risk with a goal of year-over-year improvement.
• Provide knowledge of commodity, manufacturing, and category level trends to partners.
• Proactively seek new opportunities, ideas, techniques, and materials to drive product innovation with both new and existing suppliers.
• Support and complete all sourcing initiatives, including:
• Sustainability - achieving materials and Scope 3 emissions targets.
• Elevated product quality - including adherence to global regulatory requirements.
• Cost control and profitability strategies - recommend alternative construction, material, and manufacturing to meet margin targets.
• Award projects to achieve optimal supplier loading and ensure production efficiency.
• International Labor Standards (ILS) - work with The Walt Disney Company Global Product & Labor Standards to ensure compliance policies are met, under supervision of Manager.
• Innovation - proactively seek new opportunities, techniques, and materials to drive product innovation with suppliers.

Product Development and Costing

• Maintain detailed timelines and development trackers for all open projects – tracking and reporting weekly on costing and sampling progress.
• Act as primary contact with suppliers - follow-up and verify the accuracy of data, resolve routines issues, and ensure vendor alignment with Disney processes and procedures.
• Analyze detailed cost breakdowns as part of the supplier bidding process.
• Review and finalize final project allocation to suppliers; formally communicate awards to suppliers.
• Maintain all sourcing data points within PTC Windchill Flex Product Lifecycle Management tool (PLM).
• Adhere to all costing and development achievements as outlined by the Product to Market (PTM) Calendar.
• Complete, under direction of Sourcing Manager, re-costing/re-development activities based on production challenges that impact item aesthetic.

Productivity and Process 

• Track and shepherd the development sampling process from bid sample through pre-production.
• Accountable for supervising progress of development and sampling against key achievement dates; communicate development and sampling status to Manager and cross-functional partners.
• Assist in preparation of any ad-hoc reports as requested (time & action calendars, status updates, etc.).
• Consult with Product Integrity to ensure standards for safety and quality in all intended sale markets, including monitoring quarterly Product Review Requests (PRRs) with product integrity partners. Report testing concerns to cross-functional teams.
• Complete sourcing data entry tasks including PLM, item setups, costing roadmaps, and invoicing.

Collaboration and Communication

• Build strong collaborative relationships with internal and external partners.
• Communicate costing and development status to global and regional partners via email or team meetings.
• Prepare ad-hoc reports as requested (production timelines, margin roll ups, status updates, etc.)
• Actively participate in weekly cross-functional and development meetings to understand key issues and action items.
• Actively engage in Sourcing team organizational vibrancy, collaboration, and team activities.
• Adopt diversity to advance a culture of inclusion.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• 5+ years related experience preferably in sourcing, product development, or consumer products.
• Knowledge and/or experience working with plush, soft goods toys, or fabrics/textiles is highly preferred.
• Ability to manage timelines for vertically developed product across a high volume of items.
• Ability to communicate at all levels; able to effectively communicate difficult messages.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multiple design and development partners, a great teammate.
• Proven track record of effectively communicating and negotiating with suppliers/manufacturers.
• Ability and desire to be flexible, adapt to change and grow within the organization.
• Exposure to sourcing, production, merchandising, and/or planning process of multiple product categories.
• Schedule flexibility to accommodate global time zones.
• Knowledge of Windchill FlexPLM system is required.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally.

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, product design/development, textile engineering, supply chain, international business, or related/equivalent professional experience.

This role is only available on-site in Kissimmee, Florida. Employee is expected to be on-site Monday-Thursday with flexibility in work location on Fridays.