What your role will involve

An Interim Sourcing Manager is involved in the pre-production (sourcing & pricing) stage and will take responsibility for leading the strategic sourcing activities for our projects. This is an excellent opportunity to help shape the future of procurement within this dynamic environment with a clear strategic direction. This position is part of the production team and involves close interaction with the designers, sales team and manufacturers. You identify, evaluate and select suppliers and manage supplier relationships on both a global and regional basis, driving product demand optimizations and cost reductions. You are constantly looking for new suppliers and product options and will be on the road to visit manufacturers and trade fairs. You keep records and documentation about supplier information in an organized and structured way, including the total flow of a product and line-up. Furthermore, you collect, analyze and compare price quotations and you report price insights. Proactively you identify and report (potential) risks and reduce them as much as possible. You are always on the hunt for reducing the cost by being creative, negotiate or finding more efficient ways of productions. You will proactively suggest these improvements to the design- and sales team. You have affinity with and follow trends/innovations in product design and production processes.

What we asks from you

The Interim Sourcing Manager we are looking for is a self-starter and knows all ins & outs when it comes down to sourcing. You have been travelling to the Far East and other countries multiple times and know how to find your way in a new organization rapidly. You are passionate about how a product is being made. You are a driven, strategic thinker with solid business acumen. For this position, it is vital to have strong negotiation skills, together with experience in purchasing and supplier relation management. A background and ‘know-how’ of production processes is preferred, to have smooth communication with the different manufacturers. Relative production processes include injection molding, printing, production of hard and soft toys. You are hands-on and happy to dive into all aspects of the production process. Legal, safety and logistical matters also capture your interest.

Requirements:

• Bachelor / Master Degree in a related study, preferably: International trade and business, Economics, Purchasing and supply chain management 
• Minimum 7 – 10 years of related working experience
• Fluent in English language, both verbally and written 
• You have affinity with the manufacturing process of a wide range of products. 
• Strong negotiation and supplier management skills 
• Strong communications and interpersonal skills
• Internationally experienced: - Audited factories - Sourced and developed products in Asia - Visited trade fairs like Canton Fair, Nuremberg Toy Fair etc.
• Driven, strategic thinker with solid business acumen 
• Related branches: Toys, Retail Loyalty, Product Engineering, Industrial Design, FMCG, creative branches
• Familiar with product specifications, product development and production processes:
• Plastic industry - Cardboard & paper industry
• Have the ability to understand and communicate technical information
• Have the ability to work under pressure, autonomously and with tight deadlines
• Excellent MS Office (Excel/Word) skills
• Basic understanding of Adobe CC (Indesign) and Keynote is preferable
• Love to work in an international environment with international colleagues

What we offer you

Working for us is a truly rewarding experience.
We offer our employees the following benefits:
- Competitive salary
- An easily accessible work place on the Canals of Amsterdam
- Friendly and sociable colleagues, plus the best office lunch in town Interested?

Are you interested in working temporary as Interim Sourcing Manager in a creative and successful international company, based in Amsterdam? We are looking for someone on short notice. Please send your CV and motivation to evert@frescoselect.nl

About the organization

Our client is a fast-growing, international toy design and -development company, focusing on dynamic and creative (kids) marketing campaigns. We work with retailers in more than 20 countries. Headquartered in the center of Amsterdam, we have offices in Europe and Asia.

Our company is a think-tank buzzing with creative strategists, marketers, designers, innovators, toy makers, techies, movie buffs, analysts, field researchers, culture vultures, globetrotters, sorcerers, pirates, smile creators, trend watchers and cool hunters. Together we work on creating the greatest innovative and entertaining loyalty campaigns. From concept to creative, to sourcing and production, we offer it all.