Job Summary: The Senior Sourcing Associate will lead the development, and commercialization of white label products that expand and strengthen the Ruggable assortment. This role will partner closely with Creative, Design, Merchandising, and Operations to identify assortment opportunities and translate them into compelling, brand-right product offerings.  This role will leverage the capabilities, constructions, and product offerings of global suppliers, identifying products that can be customized, and adapted through a Ruggable lens. The Senior Sourcing Associate will be responsible for finding the right suppliers and product solutions, applying Ruggable standards, and managing the development process from initial product identification through production.

The ideal candidate combines a strong product eye with deep sourcing and product development experience, understands how to evaluate supplier capabilities and commercially viable products, and can move quickly from assortment opportunity to market-ready product.

What You’ll Do:
• Lead white label sourcing, product development and commercialization from initial assortment opportunity through production and launch.
• Partner closely with Merchandising and Creative teams to identify gaps and opportunities within the existing assortment and translate those needs into actionable product and sourcing strategies.
• Research global markets, suppliers, manufacturing regions, trade shows, and emerging product categories to identify new products, materials, constructions, and vendor capabilities.
• Identify and onboard new suppliers capable of filling specific assortment needs while meeting Ruggable standards.
• Evaluate existing supplier product lines and capabilities to identify products that can be customized, or adapted to align with Ruggable’s design sensibility and customer expectations.
• Develop clear product briefs for suppliers that communicate aesthetic direction, target costs, quality expectations, performance requirements, and key commercial objectives.
• Own the development process with global suppliers, including sampling, revisions, costing, testing, approvals, pre-production requirements, and final production specifications.
• Ensure product is fully commercialized and all critical product information is finalized prior to bulk PO issuance.
• Build detailed development calendars and critical paths, ensuring suppliers and internal stakeholders remain aligned to key milestones and launch dates.
• Negotiate product costs, MOQs, lead times, payment terms, and other commercial requirements while protecting the intended product value and quality..
• Evaluate samples for aesthetic execution, construction, quality, functionality, performance, and overall alignment with the intended product brief.
• Partner with Quality, Testing, and Compliance teams to ensure white label products meet applicable Ruggable, customer, regulatory, and performance standards.
• Proactively identify and resolve development, costing, quality, capacity, and manufacturing issues that could impact product launches.
• Conduct supplier and factory visits to evaluate capabilities, review product opportunities, manage development, and strengthen vendor partnerships.
• Maintain awareness of competitive assortments, consumer trends, emerging materials, manufacturing capabilities, and relevant developments within the home furnishings and textile markets.
• Drive continuous improvement within the white label development process, including supplier onboarding, product evaluation, sampling, costing, documentation, and cross-functional workflows.

What You’ll Need to Have:
Required:
• Bachelor’s degree in Product Development, Textiles, Merchandising, Sourcing, Business, or a related field; equivalent relevant industry experience may be considered.
• 5+ years of progressive product development, sourcing, or related experience, preferably within rugs, home textiles, home furnishings, or adjacent consumer product categories.
• Extensive experience working directly with overseas suppliers and factories.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and evaluate new vendors, manufacturing capabilities, and commercially viable product opportunities.
• Strong understanding of the product development and commercialization process from initial concept or product selection through production.
• Experience partnering closely with Creative, Design, and Merchandising teams to translate assortment needs into executable product solutions.
• Proven ability to manage multiple suppliers and development programs across complex timelines.
• Strong understanding of product costing, MOQs, lead times, supplier capabilities, and manufacturing considerations.
• Excellent project-management skills with a strong sense of urgency, organization, and attention to detail.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and relationship-management skills.
• Highly proactive and resourceful, with the ability to identify opportunities and solutions rather than relying solely on predetermined product briefs.
• Willingness to travel internationally to suppliers, factories, markets, and trade shows.
• Ability to work flexible hours as needed to communicate effectively with global suppliers across multiple time zones.

Preferred:
• Experience in sourcing rugs, home textiles, home furnishings, or related lifestyle products.
• Strong knowledge of global textile and home furnishings manufacturing regions and supplier capabilities.
• Established experience identifying and developing new overseas vendors.
• Understanding of textile materials, yarns, constructions, manufacturing processes, and finishing techniques.
• Familiarity with product testing, quality requirements, and relevant ASTM, AATCC, ISO, or other industry standards.
• Experience attending international trade shows, sourcing markets, and factory/vendor meetings.
• Experience with PLM systems, Airtable and project-management tools.

Compensation:
● $90,000-$105,000 per year base salary based on experience
● An annual bonus percentage that varies based on level of role
● Employer matching (up to 3% of base salary) for company sponsored 401K plan