Sourcing Specialist - Exact

The Sourcing Specialist finds, develops and manages the vendors, fabrics and products that bring Exact's ranges to market. The role secures the right product at the right cost, quality and lead time, while ensuring every supplier meets TFG's ethical, compliance and sustainability standards. Identify, evaluate and onboard new vendors, both local and offshore, in line with range and category needs.

Source fabrics, trims and finished product that meet the brief on handle, performance, cost and lead time. Brief developments to suppliers clearly and follow them through to approved samples. Manage the fabric library, sample tracking and sample flow between suppliers, PDV and buying Explore new fabrics, trims and technologies, and mill presentations.

Balance local CMT and manufacturing partners against offshore options, weighing speed-to-market, cost and local procurement targets Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with suppliers Conduct supplier and factory visits to assess capability, capacity and working conditions Track vendor performance through a regular scorecard covering delivery, quality, cost and responsiveness Lead supplier performance reviews and agree improvement plans where needed.

Set and maintain quality standards for fabrics and finished garments. Screen and approve new vendors against TFG's supplier code of conduct. Ensure factories hold current ethical audits and certifications Support sustainability and traceability goals, including preferred fibres and certifications (e.g. Better Cotton, GOTS, GRS) and supply chain mapping.

Reduce sourcing risk by spreading volume across vendors and countries and plan contingencies for delays or disruption. Obtain and analyze quotations, and run cost exercises and cost breakdowns. Negotiate prices and MOQs to achieve target margins. Calculate full landed costs, including duties, freight and clearing. Drive cost gains and margin improvement across the range.

Monitor forex exposure and its impact on costing and buying decisions. Create and own the critical path, aligned to the seasonal calendar. Manage production and shipping lead times Track approval milestones and flag delays early, with recovery plans. Conduct competitor analysis on product, fabric, price and quality. Identify gaps in the range and feed sourcing opportunities back to buying and PDV.

Analyze sales and sell-through to inform fabric, vendor and product decisions. Maintain commodity management, costing summaries and cost tracking. Report on vendor performance, quality results and critical path status. Degree or diploma in textiles, fashion, clothing production or supply chain management 6+ years' experience in apparel sourcing, ideally in South African retail Experience with both local and offshore suppliers Experience in [category, e.

g. womenswear wovens and knits] is an advantage Skills: Strong knowledge of fabrics, fibres, trims and garment construction Costing, landed cost and margin calculation Understanding of testing, quality standards and compliance requirements Advanced Excel skills Strong negotiator with commercial acumen Analytical, with close attention to detail Behaviours: Builds trusted relationships with suppliers and internal teams Highly organized; manages multiple critical paths at once Proactive problem-solver who stays calm under pressure Business Insight - applies market and business insights in order to drive organisational objectives Communicates Effectively - conveys information and communicates ideas in a clear, concise and impactful manner Courage - confronts and tackles challenging situations with courage Ensures Accountability - takes accountability and ensures others are held to account on agreed upon performance targets Financial Acumen - understands and applies financial concepts and principles to make informed financial decisions Manages Complexity - interprets and simplifies complex and contradictory information when resolving organisational problems Plans and Aligns - develops plans and prioritises initiatives that align to the organisational goals and objectives Resourcefulness - effectively and creatively uses available resources to overcome challenges, solve problems, and achieve desired outcomes Preference will be given, but not limited to candidates from designated groups in terms of the Employment Equity Act.