Senior Strategic Sourcing Specialist
The Shade StoreTitle: Senior Strategic Sourcing Specialist Location: Port Chester NY Compensation: $90,0000 ABOUT THE SHADE STORE® At The Shade Store, we have handcrafted the finest Shades, Blinds and Drapery for 75 years. We believe designing beautiful custom window treatments should be an effortless experience, so we offer outstanding services to help our customers every step of the way, from inspiration to installation. We are always looking for friendly, passionate individuals to join our team and deliver the finest custom window treatment experience. Our team is expanding, and there has never been a more exciting time to be a part of it. THE POSITION: We are seeking a Senior Strategic Sourcing Specialist to lead supplier strategy, cost reduction, product innovation, and global sourcing for our custom window treatment business. The ideal candidate brings deep sourcing experience in the window coverings, blinds, shades, drapery, textiles, or home furnishings industry, along with an established network of manufacturers and material suppliers. This individual will help transition the business from distributor-based purchasing to direct factory and mill relationships while driving product innovation, material development, quality improvements, and cost savings. Working closely with Product Development, Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Merchandising teams, this role will identify new sourcing opportunities, develop strategic supplier partnerships, and deliver a sustainable competitive advantage. RESPONSIBILITIES: Merchandising & Product Strategy Partnership Partner with Merchandising to develop sourcing strategies that support product assortment, margin, and growth objectives. Work closely 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. Drive supplier-led innovation by leveraging factory partners to introduce exclusive fabrics, components, features, and manufacturing technologies. Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Development Develop and execute sourcing strategies for products, materials, and components. Identify, negotiate, 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. Cost Reduction & Product Optimization 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. Product Innovation & New Product Development 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. Supplier Management & Global Sourcing 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. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR 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 our product development life cycle. Existing relationships with manufacturers, mills, and suppliers within the industry. Proven success delivering cost savings, supplier improvements, and sourcing strategies. Ex…