Sharon Saunders Johnson • ad2m2s@r.postjobfree.com • 917-***-****

Professional Summary: Director of Sourcing & Production with extensive experience in identifying and driving opportunities to improve and generate cost savings, speed-to-market, product life cycle management, and other prospects that offer competitive advantages. Effectively collaborate with key partners to maintain calendar to produce on time quality products that meet the brand’s aesthetics. Identify and initiate opportunities to optimize the production process. Highly experience in negotiate cost to achieve and exceed margin goals. Build, cultivate, and maintain vendor relationships. Seasonal International and Domestic travel for product sourcing and development. Work with fabric mills and vertical vendors in Italy, India, Japan, and China to source and research innovative fabric trends that satisfy the brands vision and market trends. Partnered with denim mills & wash houses in Mexico, El Paso, India, and Shanghai to develop an array of denim wash-technique and finishes. Attended trade shows for trend inspiration. Provided leadership, mentoring, and support to all cross-functional departments and direct reports.

Area of Expertise

*Multi-Tier Sourcing *Product Development *Cost Negotiation *Communication *Vendor/Supplier Relations

*Leadership *Project Execution *Sustainability *Raw Material Sourcing *Team Management *Big Box Stores

*Testing Requirements *Customers Packing Requirements *Logistics *Compliance *QC

Professional Experience

Tharanco Group – Nick Graham & Hi-Tec Divisions, New York, 2017 - Present

Director of Sourcing & Production - Dress & Sport Shirts, Activewear, Bottoms, Loungewear, Outerwear, Underwear & Accessories

Drive and implement production strategies to maximize or exceed required margins goals

Develop, source, and allocate programs in China, Vietnam, India, & Bangladesh to ensure all timelines are met

Create, maintain and manage the T&A calendars to ensure on time delivery’s

Work with merchants throughout the production process to review trends, key items, buys, and target prices

Partner with domestic vendors to fill open needs, market trends, and to react to best sellers

Travel for seasonal Product Development, Fabric Innovation and Raw materials

Effectively communicate with the overseas office on all aspect of development and production

Manage the pre-production approval process and analyze the sample placement strategy

Review costing strategy with Merchants and allocate order placement within sourcing channels

Identify high-risk areas which may impact on production and proposes solutions to negate risk

Monitor and ensure on-time delivery by troubleshooting issues with staff, sourcing channels, and logistics

Ensure that compliance and testing protocol (fabric and garment) are followed

Develop and maintain strong relationships with vendors and suppliers

Review and approve Inspection reports, QC and Shipping Document

Recruit, Train, Develop and manage the Production Team

Hampshire Group, - Levi’s & Dockers Divisions, New York, 2012 – 2017 (company closed) Senior Sourcing & Product Development Manager – Woven, Knits, Sweaters, & Accessories

Managed and analyzed the costing process to elevate overall costing goals

Aligned brand with reliable and capable vendors and collaborated on processes to shorten lead-times of the production life cycle

Secured capacity and managed factory allocation in Vietnam, India, Cambodia, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Honduras, & Bangladesh

Analyzed projections to identify production placement, prioritize approvals, and understand delivery priorities

Managed and strategized the Sourcing & PD process from concept through completion and delivery

Negotiated all bulk costing strategy to ensure the margin goal requirements were met and/or exceeded

Collaborated with Design to research and source fabric innovation, treatments, washes, and dye techniques

Created and managed T&A Calendar to ensure key milestone dates are met to maintain on time deliveries

Influenced, managed, and facilitated timely approvals of lap dips, strike –off, PP, TOP, & shipment samples

Lead and actively participate in weekly WIP meetings and drive all items and milestones toward timely approvals

Managed Trim Development for all brands, included managing the calendar, sourcing, sampling, and tracking of trims

Established a nominated trim supplier for all marketing (h-tag, labels,) to ensure all vendor’s ordered from one supplier

Facilitated and managed ongoing communication with external partners to guide and direct sampling &bulk production process

Partnered with QC to review inspection reports and provide recommendation and solutions on quality issues

Evaluated and analyzed vendor’s performance for future allocation, development samples, and bulk placement

Provided input and monitor departments budgets

Trained, Developed, and managed the Sourcing & Product Development departments in NYO and Overseas

Reported directly into the COO

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Sharon Saunders Johnson • ad2m2s@r.postjobfree.com • 917-***-****

Lord & Taylor, New York, 2010 – 2011 (Downsized)

Sourcing & Product Manager – Black & Brown 1826 - Dress & Sport Shirts, Bottoms, Denim, Swim & Outerwear

Developed, sourced and allocated development packages base on factory capabilities with Li-Fung in HK, India, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, & Sri Lanka

Managed the approval process and Time & Action Calendar to ensure on time deliveries

Collaborated with the creative design director Joseph Abboud throughout the development process to ensure production adhere to the brands aesthetic

Negotiated prices, deliveries, and follow-up on production issues with factories and suppliers to exceed margins goals

Conducted and facilitated the buy recap meeting with the department heads to ensure IMU meets department expectation

Worked with Domestic vendors to fill open needs and drive newness

Traveled for development & sourcing and to build and maintain strong relationships with mills, suppliers, and vendors

Managed, trained and supervised the Production Assistant Manager & freelancer staff

Previous Positions

The Jones Group Inc Senior Production Manager – Knits & Sweaters

Aeropostale Product Manager –Woven – Shirts, Bottoms, Denim, Swim, Outerwear

Polo Ralph Lauren Product Manager - Woven Collection, Dress & Sport Shirts

Calvin Klein Jeans, a div of Warnaco Assistant Production Manager – Knits & Activewear

Education

Bachelor’s Degree - Business Management Monroe College - New Rochelle, NY

Associate’s Degree - Fashion Merchandising Wood – Tobe Coburn - New York, NY

Denim Textiles Certification Cone Mill Denim College - Greensboro, NC

System Expertise

*All Microsoft Applications *PDM *PLM *AS400 *ERP *VSR *AX * Connectrix *SAP *FTT *Sewn 2000*Photoshop *Power Point

*BPM *Retail link

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