Product Innovation Sourcing Lead - Hard lines (Baby brands)

About Heroes

Heroes buys, operates, and scales baby and juvenile brands.

We are ambitious multi-brand developers combining operational excellence with customer-centricity to support parents and children through every milestone of their journey. Built by a team with a background in investment banking, venture capital, and D2C eCommerce, we have the right experience to nurture and grow brands and develop products that simplify, support, and enrich everyday family experiences.

At Heroes, we leave our egos behind, get our hands dirty, and push through obstacles to get things over the finish line. If this sounds like you, you should join us.

About the role

We are looking for an experienced Product Innovation Sourcing Lead to oversee our sourcing and new product development initiatives for a selection of baby brands, such as Baby Uma, mainly looking at hard lines.

This role involves not only identifying and integrating new suppliers but also enhancing product development with our existing partners. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of hard lines baby & juvenile products, and will be responsible for ensuring our products meet the highest standards of quality, safety, and innovation. This position is crucial for maintaining our competitive edge in the market and requires a blend of strategic sourcing skills and hands-on project management

Responsibilities

• Lead and refine our sourcing strategy for hardlines, focusing on baby & juvenile products, ensuring alignment with company standards for quality, sustainability, and ethics.

• Conduct thorough market research to keep abreast of industry trends and advancements in baby & juvenile products, ensuring our offerings are innovative and market-leading.

• Negotiate contracts with new suppliers, focusing on competitive pricing while upholding our quality standards.

• Attend trade fairs and industry events to network with potential suppliers, adding to our creative product portfolio.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including technical, branding, and operations departments, for effective new product development.

• Manage the product development lifecycle, ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets, and quality benchmarks.

• Oversee prototype development and pilot runs, refining products based on feedback.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with both new and existing suppliers, serving as the main contact for product development inquiries.

• Address and resolve challenges in the product development and manufacturing process.

• Work alongside in-house teams to ensure product concepts are feasible and align with brand values/strategies.

• Utilize project management tools for tracking progress and maintaining clear communication across all stakeholders.

• Implement risk management strategies to anticipate and mitigate potential project delays or challenges.

About you

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in sourcing and product development, preferably in hardlines baby & juvenile products.

• Experience in toys is a plus.

• Demonstrated ability in strategic sourcing and building supplier relationships.

• Strong project management skills with experience in leading product development initiatives.

• In-depth knowledge of baby & juvenile product trends and manufacturing processes.

• Excellent communication skills, fluent in English and Mandarin.

Our benefits

• Hybrid working
• 25 days holiday
• Public holidays
• Friday afternoons off in August