- Location
- Cambourne
- Type
- Full-time
- Department
- IT
- Seniority
- Manager
- Education
- Bachelor
- Source
- Freshteam
Description
Job Title: Supplier Development & Sourcing Manager - Smart Appliances
About Client:
Our client is one of India’s leading smart device brands spanning Home Security, Auto Security (India’s #1 dashcam brand), and emerging Smart Appliances. They design products end-to-end with strong in-house firmware, cloud, app, and AI capabilities, partnering with best-in-class ODMs in China for hardware execution.
About the Role:
Our client is looking for an experienced Sourcing Manager to build and manage our supplier ecosystem for smart home appliances and products. This role will be responsible for identifying and developing world-class OEM/ODM manufacturing partners, driving commercial negotiations, improving product competitiveness, and ensuring a reliable supply base to support new product launches and business growth.
The ideal candidate has extensive experience sourcing finished consumer products, a strong network of appliance manufacturers across China, and the ability to identify the right manufacturing partners for different product categories.
Key Responsibilities:
Supplier Development & Strategic Sourcing
- Identify, evaluate, qualify, and onboard new OEM/ODM manufacturing partners for home appliances and smart hardware products.
- Develop sourcing strategies for new product categories based on cost competitiveness, manufacturing capability, quality, innovation, and scalability.
- Build and maintain a strong supplier network across key manufacturing hubs in Guangdong, and other regions of China.
- Continuously scout the market for emerging manufacturers, technologies, and product innovations.
Vendor Management
- Develop long-term strategic relationships with manufacturing partners.
- Conduct supplier capability assessments covering engineering, manufacturing, quality systems, compliance, capacity, and financial stability.
- Monitor supplier performance on quality, delivery, responsiveness, cost, and continuous improvement.
- Drive supplier development programs to improve operational performance and support long-term business objectives.
Commercial Management
- Lead commercial negotiations covering pricing, tooling, development costs, payment terms, MOQs, lead times, and annual business plans.
- Drive cost competitiveness through commercial negotiations, benchmarking, alternative supplier development, and value engineering initiatives.
- Work closely with suppliers to identify cost reduction opportunities without compromising product performance or quality.
New Product Development Support
- Partner with Product Management, Engineering, TPM, and Quality teams during product development and NPI.
- Ensure suppliers meet project timelines, sample readiness, tooling schedules, certifications, and mass production milestones.
- Support factory selection and sourcing decisions for new product categories.
Supply Chain & Risk Management
- Develop a diversified supplier base to reduce dependency and improve business continuity.
- Identify and mitigate sourcing risks related to capacity, materials, geopolitical factors, and supplier financial health.
- Support demand planning and production readiness with manufacturing partners.
Market Intelligence
- Track developments in the home appliance and smart hardware manufacturing ecosystem.
- Benchmark suppliers, manufacturing capabilities, product innovations, and commercial practices.
- Recommend new supplier partnerships that strengthen our client’s competitive position.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or a related discipline.
- 5–10 years of sourcing, procurement, supplier development, or OEM/ODM management experience in home appliances, consumer electronics, or smart devices.
- Strong network of appliance manufacturers and OEM/ODM partners across Shenzhen,
- Dongguan, Foshan, Zhongshan, Ningbo, and other major manufacturing hubs in China.
- Demonstrated experience identifying, evaluating, and developing new manufacturing partners.
- Strong commercial negotiation skills with a proven track record of delivering cost competitiveness.
- Good understanding of appliance manufacturing processes, factory operations, product development, and supplier qualification.
- Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Fluent in English; Mandarin proficiency is highly desirable.
- Willingness to travel extensively within China.
Preferred Experience
- Experience sourcing products such as kitchen appliances, home comfort products, cleaning appliances, smart home devices, or other consumer durable categories.
- Experience working with global consumer brands, sourcing organizations, or leading OEM/ODM manufacturers.
- Familiarity with international quality, regulatory, and compliance requirements for consumer products.
Success Metrics:
- High-quality OEM/ODM partners successfully onboarded across strategic product categories.
- Cost competitiveness achieved against target business cases.
- Strong supplier performance across quality, delivery, responsiveness, and innovation.
- Successful support of new product introductions with on-time supplier readiness.
- Reduced sourcing risk through supplier diversification and strategic vendor development.
- Sustainable long-term supplier relationships that contribute to business growth and product competitiveness.
Skills
Risk ManagementComplianceProcurementNegotiation