Director of Global Sourcing, Product Development, & Compliance

Company Description

Outdoor Gear, Inc. is a leading apparel company specializing in high-performance winter clothing for outdoor enthusiasts and families. As the parent organization of Boulder Gear®, Rawik®, and Outdoor Gear®, the company offers versatile product lines including insulated jackets, ski pants, technical outerwear, and base layers. Known for combining performance materials, durability, and modern design, Outdoor Gear, Inc. serves markets ranging from technical outdoor sports to everyday winter wear. Headquartered in the United States, it partners with retail and manufacturing partners globally to deliver quality products responsibly. Outdoor Gear, Inc. is dedicated to innovation, customer service, and fostering long-term partnerships.

Role Description

The Director of Global Sourcing, Product Development, and Compliance is a senior leadership role responsible for driving the strategic global sourcing and production of our apparel lines. This person leads the identification, evaluation, and development of manufacturing partners and material suppliers worldwide, ensuring all sourcing decisions meet the company’s standards for human rights, environmental responsibility, quality, cost, and reliability.

In partnership with product development and leadership, the role oversees the successful execution of product development and production, translating creative product visions into responsibly made, high-quality apparel through a trusted global supply base.

In addition, this position has direct leadership responsibility for the Compliance function, ensuring the company maintains rigorous standards across product safety, social compliance, environmental responsibility, and factory/supplier certifications.

Key Responsibilities

Global Sourcing & Manufacturing

• Identify, evaluate, and onboard new manufacturing partners (domestic and overseas) with proven capability in technical outerwear and insulated apparel.
• Negotiate pricing, MOQ’s, lead times, and production capacity agreements that support business growth and profitability.
• Maintain a diversified and resilient vendor base that mitigates risk and ensures production scalability.
• Collaborate with factories on material innovation, sustainability initiatives, and process improvements.
• Develop and maintain factory/vendor agreements related to compliance, sourcing agreements, shipping requirements, code of conduct, and any other pertinent information.

Product Development Oversight

• Negotiate factory and supplier costs, terms, and minimums in partnership with leadership and finance, ensuring pricing aligns with margin targets, production volumes, and the company’s ethical and quality standards.
• Provide strategic oversight of the full product lifecycle — from concept through production — ensuring alignment with sourcing strategy, margin targets, quality and compliance standards, and company priorities.
• Oversee and mentor the Product Development Manager to optimize timelines, workflow efficiency, and cross-department collaboration.
• Partner with Sales and Marketing to align product assortments with brand and market strategy, while also exploring product expansion concepts.
• Review seasonal line plans to ensure balance between innovation, cost, and speed to market.
• Develop recommendations for wholesale pricing by analyzing the market and the company’s place within the market.

Compliance & Quality Oversight

• Oversee and mentor the Sales & Compliance Specialist to ensure product and factory partners adhere to social, environmental, and product safety standards.
• Drive continuous improvement in testing, labeling, and documentation processes to meet or exceed industry requirements.
• Implement standardized quality control procedures across all sourcing regions and upon receipt of product at the warehouse.
• In collaboration with the Company CFO and Director of Operations, lead supplier charge-back actions and negotiate challenges to drive performance changes/instill accountability.
• Lead and monitor Compliance requirements of suppliers, factories, and other 3^rd party relationships.

Strategic & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with the Company President and Finance to manage product costing, margin targets, and budget forecasts.
• Partner with Operations and Logistics to streamline supply chain efficiency, vendor performance tracking, and on-time delivery.
• Provide leadership and direction in developing sustainable and ethical sourcing strategies aligned with company values.

Product Forecasting

• Work closely with the leadership team to forecast seasonal production orders.
• Develop detailed breakouts by size, color, and style, balancing inventory, sales trends, and margin objectives.
• Monitor forecast accuracy and adjust production plans as needed to minimize stock-outs or overages.
• Provide reporting and insights to guide strategic planning and merchandising decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in Apparel Merchandising, Supply Chain Management, Business, or related field (Master's preferred).
• 8 years of experience in global sourcing, compliance, product development, or production management within apparel.
• Successful people management experience – minimum 2 years
• Fluency in English required; proficiency in relevant second language preferred (Mandarin, Vietnamese)
• Proven success in global factory sourcing, vendor management, project management, and cost negotiation.
• Deep understanding of technical fabrics, insulation materials, and garment construction.
• Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to influence across teams and geographies at all levels of the organization.
• Strong knowledge of compliance standards (e.g., CPSIA, Prop 65, WRAP, BSCI, etc.) and sustainability best practices.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Key Attributes

• Strategic thinker with hands-on operational skills.
• Excellent relationship builder with internal teams and external partners.
• Results-driven with a strong sense of follow-through.
• Proven organizational skills with a strong sense of ownership, ensuring priorities, timelines, and deliverables are managed proactively and consistently.
• Comfortable making decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Passionate about innovation, quality, and responsible manufacturing.
• Takes initiative, stepping in to help whenever or wherever needed.