VP, Global Sourcing Leather & Textiles

Ashley Furniture Industries•Ecru, MS

23h

About The Position

Vice President of Global Sourcing - Leather & Textiles Ashley Furniture Industries About Ashley Furniture Ashley Furniture Industries is one of the world's largest furniture manufacturers and retailers, dedicated to delivering quality home furnishings at affordable prices. We're committed to innovation, sustainability, and creating beautiful living spaces for families worldwide. The Opportunity We're seeking an experienced global sourcing executive to lead our worldwide vendor strategy for leather, textiles, polyurethane, and upholstery materials. This executive role will shape our global supplier network, drive quality improvements, negotiate competitive pricing, and ensure our products meet the highest standards while supporting our design vision and profitability goals. As Vice President of Global Sourcing - Leather & Textiles, you'll lead an overseas sourcing team, develop strategic vendor partnerships across the globe, and ensure we deliver exceptional value to our customers through smart procurement strategies and rigorous quality standards.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business or related field (or equivalent work experience)
10+ years of furniture manufacturing and sourcing experience
Proven executive leadership in global sourcing operations
Deep knowledge of furniture design and construction
Expertise in raw material commodities and pricing
Understanding of manufacturing techniques and factory operations
Furniture design and construction knowledge
Raw material commodity items and price points
Manufacturing techniques and factory layout
Quality expectations and standards
Strong negotiation skills with international vendors
Excellent verbal and written communication
Outstanding interpersonal and relationship-building abilities
Strategic thinking with tactical execution capabilities
Continuous improvement mindset
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
Document management systems
Analytical and problem-solving skills
Data analysis and reporting
Project management across multiple initiatives
Strong attention to detail
Excellent time management and organizational skills
Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Maintains confidentiality and professional ethics
Performs effectively in fast-paced, high-pressure environments
Displays empathy, understanding, and patience
Professional demeanor with customers, vendors, and employees

Responsibilities

Build and optimize global vendor base to align with design direction, quality standards, and cost objectives
Evaluate and qualify suppliers worldwide for leather, textiles, polyurethane, and upholstery materials
Ensure vendors meet company objectives for lead time, quality, payment terms, and service levels
Address vendor performance issues and drive continuous improvement
Monitor commodity, raw material, and product pricing trends globally
Lead high-level negotiations to secure competitive pricing and favorable terms
Balance cost optimization with quality requirements and speed-to-market goals
Drive profitability through strategic sourcing decisions
Partner with Marketing, Merchandising, R&D, and Design teams to expand product lines
Source products from qualified global suppliers that meet design specifications
Conduct market training for sales teams to ensure product knowledge and understanding
Work with IT to implement efficient product monitoring and data management systems
Establish and maintain quality standards for all purchased products
Address manufacturing and quality concerns proactively
Ensure master standards are in place quickly after market introductions
Drive speed-to-market while maintaining quality excellence
Lead and develop overseas sourcing team (7-9 direct reports)
Make hiring, promotion, performance management, and compensation decisions
Coach and mentor team members to optimize performance
Conduct regular audits to ensure adherence to standard operating procedures
Facilitate team growth through meetings, training, and development opportunities
Oversee data entry accuracy and system setup for product tracking
Ensure sourcing-to-sales teams have information needed for success
Manage all documentation and paperwork for sourced products
Work with IT to eliminate data duplication and improve monitoring systems
Optimize equipment, facilities, methods, and materials