China Sourcing & Buyer

Our client

FULL TIME
REMOTE

Position: China Sourcing & Buyer
Reports To: Supply Chain Manager
Working Hours: M–F, aligned with China / U.S. business needs as required

Scope of the Role

Our client is looking for a China Sourcing & Buyer to optimise the cost, quality, and reliability of its China-manufactured products and components. This role will own vendor negotiations, new-vendor sourcing, supplier qualification, and cost optimisation while protecting our client's quality standards and supply continuity.

The ideal candidate is commercially driven, highly analytical, and deeply familiar with China's manufacturing landscape. They should be comfortable negotiating directly with factories, conducting or participating in factory visits and QC audits, identifying supply-chain risks, and building a diversified vendor base.

This is a hands-on sourcing role where success is measured by sustainable COGS reduction, strong supplier relationships, vendor diversification, and zero compromise on product quality.

Duties and responsibilities:
Negotiate pricing, MOQs, payment terms, lead times, and commercial agreements with existing China-based vendors.
Drive approximately 5% annual COGS reduction or cost avoidance across in-scope China-manufactured products and components, while protecting quality and supply continuity.
Renegotiate with existing suppliers proactively rather than waiting for contract or renewal cycles.
Research, identify, and qualify new China-based manufacturers and suppliers.
Evaluate suppliers based on pricing, manufacturing capabilities, capacity, quality, lead times, reliability, and scalability.
Build qualified backup suppliers for high-runner and at-risk SKUs to reduce single-vendor dependency.
Partner with Product Development, Production, Quality Control, and Supply Chain to ensure all new vendors meet our client's standards before launch.
Follow the company's vendor approval and QC process without exception; the role does not have unilateral authority to approve or launch a new vendor.
Participate in factory visits, supplier meetings, production reviews, and QC audits where required.
Maintain accurate vendor, contract, pricing, MOQ, and supplier-performance information.
Create and maintain a clear map of our client's China vendor base, including commercial terms, capabilities, risks, and areas of opportunity.
Identify potential supplier risks including capacity constraints, financial instability, quality deterioration, tariffs, geopolitical exposure, and production disruptions.
Develop mitigation plans and alternative sourcing options before identified risks impact production.
Analyse supplier pricing and market trends to identify cost-saving and negotiation opportunities.
Use AI-assisted tools and data to accelerate supplier research, analyse pricing trends, identify cost anomalies, and improve sourcing efficiency.
Communicate sourcing recommendations and vendor trade-offs clearly to the Supply Chain Manager and cross-functional stakeholders.
Maintain strong, professional relationships with suppliers while negotiating aggressively enough to protect our client's margins.
Support continuous improvement of sourcing processes, vendor evaluation criteria, and supplier-performance tracking.
Requirements:
Must-Have Skills & Experience
5+ years of experience in sourcing, procurement, buying, purchasing, or supply chain, preferably within consumer products, accessories, beauty, fashion, or e-commerce.
Strong hands-on experience sourcing and negotiating with China-based manufacturers and suppliers.
Demonstrated experience achieving measurable COGS reduction, cost savings, or cost avoidance through supplier negotiation and sourcing strategy.
Strong understanding of Chinese manufacturing, supplier networks, business practices, and commercial negotiations.
Experience evaluating and qualifying new factories/vendors from initial sourcing through production readiness.
Strong understanding of MOQ negotiation, pricing structures, payment terms, lead times, production capacity, and supplier terms.
Experience developing alternative or backup suppliers for critical products/SKUs.
Strong supplier relationship management skills.
Experience working cross-functionally with Product Development, Quality Control, Production, and Supply Chain teams.
Strong Excel/data-analysis skills and ability to maintain detailed vendor and cost information.
Highly proactive approach to identifying supplier risks and cost-saving opportunities.
Willingness to work directly with factories and participate in factory visits or audits when required.
Strong commercial judgement: able to reduce costs without compromising quality, lead time, or reliability.
Comfortable using AI tools to support sourcing research, market analysis, and cost monitoring.
Nice-to-Have Skills
Experience sourcing for a high-growth DTC or e-commerce brand.
Experience with beauty, accessories, haircare, personal care, or other consumer-product categories.
Existing network of reliable China-based manufacturers.
Experience with dual sourcing or multi-supplier strategies.
Mandarin proficiency or strong working knowledge of Chinese business culture.
Experience with factory audits, QC processes, and supplier compliance.
Experience with Asana or similar project-management platforms.
Experience using AI tools for procurement, sourcing, or market intelligence.
Experience with international logistics, tariffs, landed-cost analysis, or import/export processes.
Experience working with suppliers across multiple Chinese manufacturing regions.
Deal-Breakers / Exclusions
Willingness to bypass or circumvent QC, Product Development, or Supply Chain approval processes.
Prioritises the lowest quote over quality, reliability, or long-term supplier performance.
No meaningful experience working directly with China-based manufacturers.
Limited or no experience negotiating supplier pricing, MOQs, or commercial terms.
Passive approach to supplier management or cost reduction.
Comfortable relying on a single supplier for critical/high-runner SKUs without developing alternatives.
Poor attention to vendor, contract, or pricing data.
Only identifies supplier risks after a disruption has already occurred.
Resistant to using technology or AI-assisted tools to improve sourcing efficiency.
Primarily administrative procurement experience without hands-on sourcing and negotiation ownership.
Required Tools / Tech Stack
Excel / Google Sheets — advanced cost, pricing, vendor and sourcing analysis
Asana — project and sourcing workflow management
AI-assisted research and analysis tools
Vendor/supplier databases and sourcing platforms
ERP/procurement systems as applicable
Google Workspace
Seniority Level

Senior Individual Contributor / Experienced Buyer

The ideal candidate should be capable of independently managing supplier negotiations, sourcing projects, and vendor relationships while partnering closely with the Supply Chain Manager and cross-functional teams.

Success in the Role

The successful candidate will:

Deliver approximately 5% annual COGS reduction or cost avoidance until our client's gross margin exceeds 76%.
Protect the business from cost creep once the target margin is achieved.
Ensure every new China vendor passes the required QC / Supply Chain / Product Development approval process.
Maintain a 4.5-star consumer rating floor for newly launched vendor-sourced products.
Increase the number of qualified suppliers available for critical and high-runner SKUs.
Reduce single-vendor dependency across the China supplier base.
Maintain accurate and current vendor, contract, pricing, and risk data.
Identify supplier risks early and provide actionable mitigation plans.
Build strong relationships with China manufacturers while consistently protecting our client's commercial interests.
Become a trusted sourcing partner to Product Development, Production, Quality Control, and Supply Chain.

Skills

5+ years of hands-on sourcing, procurement, or supply chain experience in consumer products with proven COGS reduction track record and direct China-based manufacturer negotiation and factory-visit experience.

DTC/e-commerce brand sourcing background, beauty/accessories/personal-care category expertise, existing China manufacturer network, Mandarin proficiency, factory audit/QC experience, or familiarity with Asana and AI procurement tools.

Advanced Excel/Google Sheets for cost and vendor analysis, Asana for project management, AI-assisted research tools, vendor/supplier databases, ERP/procurement systems, and Google Workspace.