Category Manager - Sourcing and Product Development

About Us:

Continuum Sales & Marketing specializes in providing comprehensive services from product innovation and sourcing to packaging and sales. We offer private label and control branding solutions, helping retailers create personalized customer experiences and gain a competitive edge. With trusted brands like David Burke, Chopped, House Beautiful and Nicole Miller, we deliver quality products and exceptional value. Our unique approach allows us to bring products to market faster and at competitive prices, ensuring your success and satisfaction.

Position:

Category Manager - Sourcing and Product Development

What you will be doing:

As a Category Manager of Sourcing and Product Development, you will be responsible for managing the company’s end to end, sourcing and product development operations for a dedicated category in tabletop/ housewares. Ceramics and Glassware experience required. The successful candidate will be able to appraise and improve our sourcing activities by analyzing the company’s brands, supply chain partnerships and new opportunities while applying on trend design and creative direction.

Main responsibilities:

Sourcing and Product Development

Key categories –Tabletop and Housewares

70% Sourcing, 30% Product Development

Additional categories and responsibilities as assigned.

· Travel overseas to tradeshows and factories to competitively source new factories, product and industry partners. Experience traveling and sourcing overseas required.

· Enhance the current vendor database through analysis of pricing, quality control, manufacturing techniques and product categories.

· Actively participates in conceptual development of product lines (innovates ideas and concepts), provides ongoing assistance and recommendations regarding brand alignment, seasonal themes, edits to the line and new concepts.

· Manage and update all product information including components and packaging, to ensure all costing data, HTS codes are correct, regularly confirming that vendors are on track for sample and production deliverables within Continuum timeline.

· Ensure new vendors are verified and set up properly in system.

· Maintain Product Development Tracking with all up-to-date product updates, deliverables, product information.

· Deliver competitive research, pricing analysis and market competition decks by category/ retailer.

· Owns communication of QC inspections, advisement of vendor level actions and necessary coordination with Customer Care, Marketing and Operations for on time delivery

· Leads in editing and approval of final assortment, including decision making process on costing and counter sourcing of raw materials and choice of factories.

· Record and catalogue all prototype approvals and maintain sample and quality reference library.

· Organizes all details needed for item set-up and passes to planning and forecasting team for execution.

· Multi-Task adjacent categories and product ranges across brands and retailers with common due dates.

· Open sample boxes and able to lift 50lbs.

Location:

Port Washington, NY 11050

International travel up to 30%

5 Days a week onsite Port Washington, NY

Relocation not provided. Relocate before starting work (Required)

Requirements:

Sourcing and Product Development with overseas travel and factory partnerships

Category expert in tabletop and housewares with proven global sourcing and product development expertise in ceramic and glassware.

Develop and execute category roadmaps through strategic sourcing and contract negotiations across multiple brands.

Research and anticipate shifts in negotiating with suppliers and countries of origin. Strong negotiation skills and deliverable of finalized quotations and product samples to merchandisers.

Optimize sourcing procedures to attain maximum efficiency

Cooperate with stakeholders to guarantee agreement on terms and processes

Strong analytical skillset to perform financial evaluation of current and future production sources, driving cost savings and improving profit margin.

Track and report cohesive cost analysis data; measuring and managing spend, ROI, demand, volume and risk across all suppliers.

Adhere to and ensure the assigned suppliers are customer compliant and adhere to all policies, packaging requirements and procedures.

Demonstrate ethics and integrity in supplier and stakeholder interactions.

Facilitate and project manage cross-functional teams to drive the decision-making process during negotiation events.

Lead change management within the impacted groups while improving quality, adopting new factories and cost improvements.

Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, global sourcing or equivalent experience.

Experience Level:

· 5 years’ experience and /or the education listed above.

· 5 years of negotiating contracts, managing strategic supplier alliances and/or agencies and product development

Additional Skills:

· Ability to negotiate internally and externally to achieve required objectives and execute and implement new sourcing initiatives.

· Strong vendor meeting management and facilitation skills.

· Impeccable analytical and problem-solving skills.

· Advanced computer skills including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Use of Adobe Creative Cloud as needed.

· Excellent oral, written and presentation communication skills with emphasis on international relations.

· Team player with respectful relationship building and collaboration skills.

· High energy level, initiative, creative problem-solving ability, and sense of urgency.

· Excellent team interpersonal skills and ability to handle multiple tasks while providing superior service.

· Ability to work with internal and international cross-functional teams.

Travel Requirements:

· Up to 30% International Travel Required

· Valid Passport Required

Ability to travel internationally for extended periods

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $100,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):

• Do you have experience in sourcing overseas?
• Have you ever directly visited a factory overseas?

Application Question(s):

• Do you have experience in sourcing overseas?
• Have you ever directly visited a factory overseas?

Willingness to travel:

• 25% (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $100,000 - $120,000