Senior Strategic Sourcing Specialist

The Shade Store•Port Chester, NY

About The Position

The Shade Store is seeking a Senior Strategic Sourcing Specialist to lead supplier strategy, cost reduction, product innovation, and global sourcing for its custom window treatment business. The role focuses on moving the business from distributor-based purchasing toward direct factory and mill relationships while advancing product innovation, material development, quality improvements, and cost savings. The specialist will work cross-functionally with Product Development, Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Merchandising to identify sourcing opportunities, build strategic supplier partnerships, and support a sustainable competitive advantage. The ideal candidate has deep sourcing experience in window coverings, blinds, shades, drapery, textiles, or home furnishings, as well as an established network of manufacturers and material suppliers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Textiles, or a related field.
7+ years of sourcing, procurement, supply chain, or product development experience.
5+ years of experience in window treatments, blinds, shades, textiles, home furnishings, or related industries.
Ability to translate marketing and merchandising vision into deliverable products within the product development life cycle.
Existing relationships with manufacturers, mills, and suppliers within the industry.
Proven success delivering cost savings, supplier improvements, and sourcing strategies.
Experience negotiating contracts and managing domestic and international supplier partnerships.
Strong analytical, negotiation, project management, and communication skills.
Experience with product development systems or similar tools.
Ability to take initiative, improve processes, and support cross-functional projects and workflows.
Demonstrated ability to develop new products, materials, and supplier relationships that drive innovation and profitability.
Ability to travel approximately 25–50% domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

Partner with Merchandising to develop sourcing strategies that support product assortment, margin, and growth objectives.
Work with Merchandising and Product Development to achieve annual goals for product newness, margin expansion, and category growth.
Translate merchandising roadmaps into actionable supplier and material sourcing plans.
Leverage factory partners to introduce exclusive fabrics, components, features, and manufacturing technologies.
Develop and execute sourcing strategies for products, materials, and components.
Identify, negotiate with, and onboard direct manufacturers and suppliers.
Establish factory-direct relationships to reduce costs and improve supply chain performance.
Expand and manage a network of strategic suppliers.
Drive cost savings through negotiations, supplier consolidation, and sourcing initiatives.
Identify material substitution and value-engineering opportunities.
Partner with Product Development and Engineering to improve product design, quality, and margins.
Evaluate sourcing decisions using total cost of ownership principles.
Source new materials, fabrics, components, and technologies.
Monitor industry trends and competitive offerings.
Collaborate with suppliers to develop differentiated and exclusive products.
Support new product launches from concept through commercialization.
Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships.
Lead commercial negotiations and supplier performance reviews.
Assess supplier capabilities, quality systems, capacity, and financial stability.
Monitor global sourcing trends, market conditions, tariffs, and supply risks.