Retail Senior Vice President (Sourcing Specialist)

AlixPartners LLP; City of London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm in London is seeking a Senior Vice President (Sourcing Specialist) to enhance retail performance through strategic sourcing and vendor management. The ideal candidate brings extensive experience in sourcing, especially in apparel, coupled with strong analytical skills and a proven record of negotiation success. This position offers a hybrid work environment and opportunities to impact clients significantly in a challenging market.

Benefits

Comprehensive compensation package

Excellent benefit program

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in retail sector, especially in sourcing.
• Experience in leading sourcing departments.
• Strong analytical skills and financial literacy.

Responsibilities

• Deliver impactful business performance improvements.
• Optimize sourcing strategies for apparel brands.
• Support revenue growth and digital transformation.

Skills

Consulting and industry experience

Vendor negotiations expertise

Excel modelling

Knowledge of fabric types

Relationship management

Fluency in English

Education

Master’s degree or MBA

Degree in Business or Finance

Job description

Retail Senior Vice President (Sourcing Specialist)

At AlixPartners we solve the most complex and critical challenges by moving quickly from analysis to action when it really matters; creating value that has a lasting impact on companies, their people, and the communities they serve. By understanding, respecting, and honouring the needs of our employees, clients, and communities, AlixPartners actively promotes an inclusive environment. We strongly believe in the value that diversity brings to our experiences and are committed to the perpetual enhancement of initiatives, policies, and practices. We hold ourselves accountable by providing the space for authenticity, growth, and equity for everyone.

AlixPartners has embraced a hybrid work model to provide flexibility and support our employees’ work‑life integration. The hybrid model combines a mix of in‑person (at client site or AlixPartners office) and remote working. Travel is part of this position, but the frequency may vary based on client, team, and individual circumstances.

What You’ll Do

Our Retail Performance Improvement (PI) team works with healthy, under‑performing, and distressed companies across a variety of urgent, high impact situations. The Retail PI team helps clients deliver significant improvement in business performance and enterprise value across all subsectors within the retail industry through five key areas: revenue growth, cost and profit improvement, cash management, digital enablement, and organizational effectiveness. This is an exciting time to join a rapidly growing team that is servicing clients in a dynamic and challenging market. We help our clients adapt and thrive during a period of immense pressure in the industry. From day one, you will get a chance to deliver real impact and work with clients when it really matters.

What You’ll Need

• Extensive and relevant experience preferably with a mix of consulting and industry within the retail sector, but with a desired focus on direct sourcing and end‑to‑end sourcing improvement.
• Specific delivery experience in apparel sourcing and the following experience or credentials:
  • Led sourcing departments / the sourcing of specific categories for multiple years (both industry and consulting experience)
  • Have overhauled the sourcing strategy for apparel brands/retailers and are familiar with current sourcing and supply chain dynamics.
  • Conducted significant amounts of vendor negotiations and consider yourself an expert in vendor negotiations; come with an analytics driven negotiation approach to achieve maximum profitability.
  • Significant Excel modelling capability to estimate impacts from sourcing/negotiation shifts.
  • Knowledge of fabric types and impact on costs.
  • Familiarity with pros/cons of different Go to Market processes – speed models versus longer calendar approaches.
  • Intimate knowledge of the Design and Product Development process.
  • Experience working with B&M to optimise buy sizes and delivery scheduling.
• Other relevant delivery experience should also be highlighted:
  • Revenue and growth programmes.
  • Category strategy.
  • Indirect procurement & SG&A cost reduction.
  • Organizational effectiveness.
  • Store network and store operations.
  • Omnichannel, digital transformation.
  • End‑to‑end supply chain transformation & distribution footprint optimization.
  • Demonstrable history in achieving implementation oriented, qualitative solutions in multiple workstreams.
  • Deep understanding of business issues and the ability to communicate them effectively to team leaders and clients.
  • Willingness to build professional and personal growth by working in high‑impact situations under time‑pressure.
  • True passion for achieving ambitious results.
  • Outstanding analytical and critical thinking skills along with strong financial literacy and modelling.
  • Passion for retail and a contributor to / participant in industry events / conferences.
  • Excellent relationship management with C‑suite stakeholders while achieving results.
  • Excellent written, verbal, organizational, and executive‑level presentation skills.
  • Fluency in English is essential; knowledge of an additional language would be advantageous.
  • Willingness to travel, sometimes at short notice.
  • Willingness to work outside of normal business hours, and as unique projects/needs arise.
  • Must become familiar with, and promote and abide by, our Core Values as defined by the AlixPartners’ Code of Conduct and foster an inclusive environment with people at all levels of an organization.

Education Requirements

• Master’s degree and / or an MBA, and evidence of a strong academic record.
• A degree in Business, Finance or Engineering is preferable but not essential.

In addition to a positive workplace, the firm offers a comprehensive compensation package including an excellent benefit program.

AlixPartners is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other characteristics, race, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status or status as an individual with disability.