At Designer Brands, we are the proud parent company of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, The Shoe Company, and Rubino, operating nearly 675 stores across North America and a billion-dollar digital commerce business. We lead the footwear industry with a diverse portfolio of iconic brands, including Topo Athletic, Keds, Vince Camuto, Kelly & Katie, Jessica Simpson, Lucky Brand, Mix No. 6, Crown Vintage, and others. With expertise in design, production, and sourcing, we create on-trend footwear and accessories, delivered through a robust omni-channel infrastructure and national wholesale distribution. At Designer Brands, we are committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity, where each employee’s unique perspective contributes to our success. Anchored by our core values of “We Love What We Do,” “We Own What We Do,” “We Do What’s Right,” and “We Belong,” we continuously drive forward together, building a future where everyone can put their best foot forward.
Develops enterprise-wide procurement strategies that drive cost savings, mitigate supplier risk, and ensure strong contractual and operational compliance. Manages sourcing effectiveness by streamlining procurement processes, responding to market dynamics, and optimizing total cost of ownership across all spend categories. Establishes and enhances high‑performing supplier relationships to support business continuity, while providing market intelligence and industry insights to inform decision‑making. Controls expenses by governing spend categories, monitoring budget impacts, and maintaining ethical, transparent procurement practices.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Develops cost savings and strategic sourcing initiatives that ensure business continuity and high levels of supplier performance.
- Manages spend, supplier, and market data to analyze savings opportunities and broader value‑chain impacts.
- Leads supplier RFI/RFP processes, including execution, readouts, and development of business-case implications; engages with potential and incumbent vendors, responds to inquiries, evaluates proposals, and supports final award decisions.
- Drives annual productivity improvements across spend categories by optimizing total cost of ownership (TCO) and ensuring successful implementation of sourcing strategies.
- Supports and develops procurement policies and procedures, enabling organizational change management within assigned spend categories.
- Leads sourcing events including supplier identification, negotiation strategy, and contract negotiations.
- Establishes sourcing roadmaps, expands e‑procurement catalog capabilities, and increases efficiency across procurement activities.
- Directs research and analytics efforts to validate savings projections and strengthen negotiation outcomes.
- Reviews major contracts within key spend areas, serving as SME for complex negotiations and resupply modeling; develops a procurement playbook for cyclical spend.
- Monitors savings performance against established targets by category, subcategory, and supplier.
- Develops tools such as PPV (product price variance) trackers to enhance price/savings baseline accuracy.
- Communicates supply chain and sourcing strategies to diverse business stakeholders and supports broader procurement transformation efforts.
- Sources and cultivates best‑in‑class supplier partnerships, leveraging all strategic sourcing levers and identifying new avenues for value creation.
- Builds supplier management frameworks and continuous improvement methodologies for key suppliers.
- Establishes supplier management structures, conducts vendor audits, and ensures thorough vendor vetting.
- Collaborates cross‑functionally to deliver cost savings, risk‑mitigation initiatives, and supplier‑enabled innovation.
- Maintains an aggressive focus on achieving category cost savings targets.
- Experience managing category spend exceeding $150MM annually.
- Expertise in developing category strategies.
- Strong contract negotiation and contract management capabilities.
- Proficiency in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) modeling with a rigorous, analytical approach.
- Ability to drive organizational change and gain alignment with diverse stakeholders across multiple business units.
- Experience leading operational redesign and process improvement initiatives.
- Broad understanding of business and contract-related issues, competitive landscapes, and relevant market/industry trends.
- Knowledge of supplier ecosystems and markets relevant to DBI.
- Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
- Strong attention to detail with consistent on‑time project delivery.
- Strong supply chain and operational acumen with end‑to‑end understanding.
- Proficiency in MS Excel (financial modeling) and PowerPoint.
- Strong problem‑solving, leadership, and influencing skills.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a commitment to driving results.
- Flexible and adaptable to organizational and market change.
- At least 15 years of experience in indirect procurement, vendor management, and strategic sourcing, with deep expertise in relevant business areas (Distribution & Logistics).
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Post‑graduate degree(s) preferred.
- Demonstrated success leading large-scale change management initiatives.
- Experience implementing and managing eProcurement systems.
Perks and Benefits You’ll Enjoy!
- Your Sole Well-Being: Our benefits package is crafted with our associates in mind! We support you with benefits like free virtual health care, robust family/fertility benefits, 401(k) w/ match, and more. Explore our offerings at https://mymobilewalletcard.com/dbi.
- Stride with Flexibility: We offer hybrid and remote work opportunities, giving you the freedom to stay connected, productive, and inspired—wherever you do your best work.
- Stepping Up Your Career: Take advantage of training programs, professional development, and education assistance to advance your career with a company that celebrates bold ideas and fresh perspectives.
- We are Shoe-Obsessed: Because we know a great pair of shoes can change your day, you’ll enjoy 30% off at DSW & com, plus discounts across our family of brands.
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What We Do
Designer Brands is one of North America’s largest designers, producers and retailers of footwear and accessories that operates retail concepts. Our primary concept, DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, offers brand name and designer dress, casual and athletic footwear and accessories. The first store opened in 1991 in Dublin, Ohio. Today, DSW operates more than 500 stores in 44 states. The Affiliated Business Group operates nearly 290 leased departments for other retailers, such as Stein Mart, in the U.S. Designer Brands also operates several retail concepts in Canada, including The Shoe Company and Shoe Warehouse, which provide a convenient footwear solution for the whole family, as well as DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse – nearly 150 locations in all. In 2018, the company acquired Camuto Group, the legendary product design and brand development organization best known for the successful Vince Camuto® brand and the footwear licenses of Jessica Simpson® and Lucky Brand®. The partnership transformed Designer Brands into one of the largest footwear companies in North America with global, industry-leading capabilities in product design, development, sourcing and production.
