Job: Chief Operating Officer (Luxury Fashion)

Our Client

Our client is a luxury fashion brand, specialized in wedding dresses and bridal gowns. They own factories in Indonesia and partner with others in China.

Objective

This strategic leader will guide the company’s supply chain vision, planning, production, and execution. They will work closely with other senior leaders, manage Indonesian operations, and China & India supplier partners to enhance profitability, create optimal inventory strategies, generate greater productivity, and drive efficiencies across the network.  They are responsible for the management and optimization of all supply chain activities including, operations, distribution, delivery and logistics. Travel (50%) is required to all factories in China, Indonesia and India.

Responsibilities

• Be a strategic business partner and thought leader for the CEO and Senior Management
• Responsible for the Asia / Indonesia Operations, overseeing an International team of Quality, Sourcing, Delivery, and Logistics.
• Responsible for costing analysis and to oversee the supply chain function from purchase order to delivery, including inventory planning, order fulfillment, shipping, delivery, value added services and receiving
• Manage third-party buying associate, based in Korea
• As a member of the senior leadership team, they will participate in setting the manufacturing and operational direction of the company with the CEO
• Lead a large team ensuring appropriate functional expertise, establish a vision, and transition easily between strategy and the daily tactics of the business
• Develop inventory strategies to maintain optimal inventory levels to meet desired customer fill rates, achieve inventory turn goals, and avoid supply disruption
• Accountable for integration of supply chain activities across the organization enabling optimal customer service, product supply, and inventory investment
• Build and manage strategic external partnerships with customers, suppliers, and other strategic entities
• Develop and improve the E-Commerce Supply Chain / Warehouse capabilities to support our direct to consumer strategy
• Actively collaborate with key strategic suppliers to ensure two-way, collaborative relationships that deliver an operational competitive advantage
• Able to anticipate and implement necessary changes to supply chain strategy and process to support growth and commitments to customers
• Actively participate in trending and budgeting process
• Develop and support margin improvement initiatives by developing strategies to address supply chain risk while delivering hard savings
• Drive and enable culture of continuous improvement
• Provide dynamic leadership to build, develop, manage, and evaluate high performing teams
• Manage weekly / daily communication with Ken Lee and factories via Zoom, and monthly performance dashboard management.

Requirements

• Completed university or college degree (4-year degree)
• Proven 15+ years Asia factory management, prior planning, production, and supply chain experience (i.e. demand/supply planning, retailer operational services, warehouse).
• Proven record of accomplishment in planning with demonstrated ability to articulate a future vision, business plan and profitability while meeting and/or exceeding corporate goals
• Ability to translate and communicate a strategic plan into tactical goals.  Ability to anticipate, respond to and lead change, prioritizing effectively
• Ability to build cross-functional partnerships and engage in and lead cross-functional teams and initiatives
• Someone who can resolve conflicts and create solutions, as well as an excellent communicator
• Demonstrated ability to effectively inspire, develop, and lead a team; A leader who values teamwork, excellence, authenticity, accountability, integrity and commitment to the organizational values
• Exceptional executive presence, communication, organizational and interpersonal skills, with strong ability to make decisions and collaborate across the business
• Ability to quickly assess an operational situation and deploy resources to resolve
• Excellent written/verbal/presentation skills
• Ability to motivate and inspire
• Collaborative problem solver
• Driver & Doer mentality; goes above and beyond in solving issues
• Open to change, driver of change
• Digs into details of the business; empowers managers to execute
• Champions consistent business approaches and measurement across sites
• Learner / Growth Mindset: Demonstrated recent examples where they invested time into personal continuous improvement
• Planner / Implementor: Strong Penchant for Planning and executing to KPIs
• Displays balance of confidence with authenticity/emotional intelligence/team player
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Excellent qualitative and quantitative analytical skills
• Appreciated previous experience: Luxury Goods, Luxury Products, Watches, Jewelry, Bloomingdale’s, Chanel, Coach, Dior, Fendi, Ferragamo, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, L’Oreal, LVMH, Clarins, Estee Lauder
• Appreciated previous titles: COO, Chief Operating Officer, Head of Global Supply Chain, Chief Supply Chain Officer