"At L.L.Bean, we believe the outdoors brings out the best in all of us. We are committed to fostering a culture of diversity and creating safe, inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome—both here and Outside. We value individual differences and are dedicated to maintaining an inclusive work environment where everyone can bring the best of their experience and talents and truly thrive."

L.L. Bean is currently searching for an Lead Raw Materials Sourcing Specialist to join the Supply Chain team located in Freeport, Maine.

Position Purpose:

Join our team at L.L.Bean as a Lead Raw Materials Sourcing Specialist!  In this pivotal role, you'll be at the forefront of our sourcing operations, responsible for securing high-quality raw materials essential for our products. Your primary objective will be to establish and maintain strategic partnerships with global suppliers, ensuring the seamless flow of materials to support our production processes.  In this dynamic role, your expertise will be instrumental in maintaining the smooth flow of raw materials, forging strong vendor partnerships, and driving innovation throughout our supply chain. Technical fabric experience preferred, offering an added advantage in navigating the complexities of material procurement and quality management.  Please join us in shaping the backbone of L.L.Bean's product excellence. 

Responsibilities:

Leadership:

Delegate work effectively, coach team members, and guide them in best practices for sourcing.

Set performance objectives, monitor workload, and drive process improvements within the team.  Lead by example.

Relationship Management:

Forge and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, negotiating terms and agreements to optimize quality, cost, and sustainability of raw materials.

Work closely with cross-functional teams including Product Development, Merchandising, Inventory Management, and others to develop and execute sourcing plans.

Strategic Sourcing & Innovation:

Identify and assess new sourcing opportunities, both domestically and internationally, to diversify and strengthen our supplier base.

Stay abreast of industry trends and advancements in materials technology, continuously seeking opportunities for innovation and improvement.

Quality Assurance:

Implement rigorous quality control measures to ensure all raw materials meet our company's standards and specifications.

Collaborate with Quality Assurance team to ensure products meet company standards and specifications.

Sustainability Initiatives:

Lead initiatives to promote ethical and sustainable sourcing practices, aligning with our company's commitment to environmental responsibility.

Represent L.L.Bean in selecting and developing vendor partnerships, ensuring adherence to quality standards and social responsibility requirements.

Skills & Qualifications:

Technical fabric experience preferred.

Demonstrated leadership abilities and strategic thinking.

Strong negotiation and communication skills.

Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and levels.

Resilient and adaptable in ambiguous situations.

Commitment to continuous learning and development.

Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Project management experience is a plus.

Join Us: If you're passionate about driving sourcing excellence and making a meaningful impact within a dynamic retail environment, we invite you to apply. Join us in shaping the future of raw material sourcing at L.L.Bean.

"If you care about the outdoors, joining L.L.Bean is a great way to feel good about what you do. Our benefits package makes a good thing even better, with programs and perks designed to support your health and financial goals. Plus, maintaining a healthy work-life balance and re-charging outside are all part of the plan.

If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you'd be great at this role, we'd love to learn more about you!   At L.L.Bean, we believe the outdoors brings out the best in all of us.  We strive to reflect this every day in our commitments to employees and partners and in our efforts to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability."