# Associate Director, Strategic Sourcing & Vendor Management > Bandit Running · Brooklyn, United States · Full-time · Posted 2026-04-16 **Salary:** USD 160,000–180,000 **Workplace:** on_site ## Description Bandit Running is a pioneering technical performance brand committed to creating innovative, high-quality apparel & gear for goal-driven runners. Our mission to “Evolve Running” guides everything we do, always putting the needs of the global running community first. As the fastest-growing brand in the sport, we challenge conventional brand-building norms, prioritizing an extremely high-bar for disruptive excellence across product, experiences & content. Our vision is to build an enduring, iconic brand that breaks down barriers & inspires greater passion & participation in the sport we love. We’re seeking a Associate Director / **Director of Strategic Sourcing & Vendor Management** to support Bandit’s rapidly expanding global supply network. Reporting to the SVP of Operations and working closely with our product creation, planning, and finance teams, this role will play a critical role in continuously expanding and de-risking our factory ecosystem while deepening strategic partnerships with existing suppliers. The ideal candidate is a relationship-driven operator and sharp commercial negotiator who thrives in a fast-moving environment, understands the nuance of building premium, technical performance product through world-class manufacturing partners with expertise in technical fabrics, functional construction, and run-specific innovation, and is excited to help scale Bandit’s supply chain into a long-term strategic advantage. **What You’ll Own** **Supply Partner Network Strategy** - Build and maintain a multi-year factory diversification roadmap across key categories, materials, and geographies, with particular depth in performance running and/or similarly technical apparel including shorts, tops, sports bras, outerwear, and run-specific accessories - Continuously counter-source new manufacturing partners across apparel, trims, accessories, and emerging product categories, with a focus on factories with proven capabilities in technical performance fabrics, moisture management, bonding, and other run-specific construction methods - Reduce concentration risk by ensuring qualified backup partners exist for all critical categories - Evaluate country diversification opportunities based on tariffs, lead times, labor risk, quality, and geopolitical exposure - Identify innovation-forward partners with unique technical capabilities including development, seamless construction, performance woven, compression, moisture management, and advanced bonded seams, before they become widely adopted - Build long-term sourcing strategies that support DTC, wholesale, retail, and global expansion goals **Existing Factory Partner Management** - Serve as executive relationship owner for Bandit’s most important factory partners - Build trust-based, high-transparency relationships with ownership, commercial teams, and production leadership - Create quarterly and annual business reviews with strategic partners - Ensure factory partners are aligned to Bandit’s growth plans, product ambitions, and quality expectations - Drive performance accountability around quality, OTIF, responsiveness, flexibility, and development speed - Partner closely with product creation, production, and operations teams to resolve escalations quickly **Commercial Optimization & Negotiation** - Lead all strategic negotiations related to: - payment terms - MOQ structures - volume cost breaks - annual rebates - raw material commitments - capacity reservations - freight and duty optimization - Improve working capital economics through expanded payable terms and smarter commitment structures - Develop should-cost frameworks and benchmark costing across vendors - Negotiate annual margin expansion targets by category and supplier - Create long-term incentive structures with top partners tied to growth, exclusivity, or innovation access - Ensure best-in-class economics without damaging relationship trust **WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR** - **8–12+ years of experience in sourcing, supply chain, vendor management, or production leadership**, within performance running, run specialty, or premium active/lifestyle apparel brands - Strong understanding of **premium performance running product standards, technical factory capabilities, quality expectations, and development speed requirements** including seamless, advanced bonding technology, performance woven and knits, thermoregulation, moisture management, and athlete support and recovery - A **strategic operator with a deep factory network** and proven ability to continuously identify, evaluate, and onboard new manufacturing partners across regions and product categories - A **relationship-first leader** who knows how to build trust with factory owners, commercial leads, and development teams while maintaining strong negotiating leverage - Strong experience **negotiating payment terms, cost breaks, MOQ flexibility, rebates, and long-term capacity agreements** that improve margin and working capital - Highly analytical and commercially fluent, with the ability to translate costing, landed margin, lead-time, and concentration-risk data into actionable sourcing decisions - A **systems-driven builder** who can create scalable supplier scorecards, sourcing workflows, benchmarking frameworks, and partner review cadences The ability to think strategically about **country diversification, tariff exposure, concentration risk, and long-term supply resilience** while moving quickly in a fast-changing environment - Strong understanding of premium product standards, technical factory capabilities, quality expectations and development speed requirements - A strong cross-functional collaborator who can drive alignment and accountability across **product creation, production, planning, finance, and operations** - Someone who is energized by turning Bandit’s supply chain into a **strategic advantage across margin, speed, flexibility, and future innovation access** ## Requirements **What You’ll Own** **Supply Partner Network Strategy** - Build and maintain a multi-year factory diversification roadmap across key categories, materials, and geographies, with particular depth in performance running and/or similarly technical apparel including shorts, tops, sports bras, outerwear, and run-specific accessories - Continuously counter-source new manufacturing partners across apparel, trims, accessories, and emerging product categories, with a focus on factories with proven capabilities in technical performance fabrics, moisture management, bonding, and other run-specific construction methods - Reduce concentration risk by ensuring qualified backup partners exist for all critical categories - Evaluate country diversification opportunities based on tariffs, lead times, labor risk, quality, and geopolitical exposure - Identify innovation-forward partners with unique technical capabilities including development, seamless construction, performance woven, compression, moisture management, and advanced bonded seams, before they become widely adopted - Build long-term sourcing strategies that support DTC, wholesale, retail, and global expansion goals **Existing Factory Partner Management** - Serve as executive relationship owner for Bandit’s most important factory partners - Build trust-based, high-transparency relationships with ownership, commercial teams, and production leadership - Create quarterly and annual business reviews with strategic partners - Ensure factory partners are aligned to Bandit’s growth plans, product ambitions, and quality expectations - Drive performance accountability around quality, OTIF, responsiveness, flexibility, and development speed - Partner closely with product creation, production, and operations teams to resolve escalations quickly **Commercial Optimization & Negotiation** - Lead all strategic negotiations related to: - payment terms - MOQ structures - volume cost breaks - annual rebates - raw material commitments - capacity reservations - freight and duty optimization - Improve working capital economics through expanded payable terms and smarter commitment structures - Develop should-cost frameworks and benchmark costing across vendors - Negotiate annual margin expansion targets by category and supplier - Create long-term incentive structures with top partners tied to growth, exclusivity, or innovation access - Ensure best-in-class economics without damaging relationship trust **WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR** - **8–12+ years of experience in sourcing, supply chain, vendor management, or production leadership**, within performance running, run specialty, or premium active/lifestyle apparel brands - Strong understanding of **premium performance running product standards, technical factory capabilities, quality expectations, and development speed requirements** including seamless, advanced bonding technology, performance woven and knits, thermoregulation, moisture management, and athlete support and recovery - A **strategic operator with a deep factory network** and proven ability to continuously identify, evaluate, and onboard new manufacturing partners across regions and product categories - A **relationship-first leader** who knows how to build trust with factory owners, commercial leads, and development teams while maintaining strong negotiating leverage - Strong experience **negotiating payment terms, cost breaks, MOQ flexibility, rebates, and long-term capacity agreements** that improve margin and working capital - Highly analytical and commercially fluent, with the ability to translate costing, landed margin, lead-time, and concentration-risk data into actionable sourcing decisions - A **systems-driven builder** who can create scalable supplier scorecards, sourcing workflows, benchmarking frameworks, and partner review cadences The ability to think strategically about **country diversification, tariff exposure, concentration risk, and long-term supply resilience** while moving quickly in a fast-changing environment - Strong understanding of premium product standards, technical factory capabilities, quality expectations and development speed requirements - A strong cross-functional collaborator who can drive alignment and accountability across **product creation, production, planning, finance, and operations** - Someone who is energized by turning Bandit’s supply chain into a **strategic advantage across margin, speed, flexibility, and future innovation access** ## Benefits This is a full-time, in-office role based in our Greenpoint, Brooklyn Headquarters - Competitive base salary + equity - Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits and flexible PTO - 401k match - Rocket-ship level momentum with a career-defining opportunity at-hand  At Bandit, we’re building an incredible culture rooted in our three core values—Trust, Empathy, & Excellence. We believe that to build the best team, our baseline is an environment where everyone can bring their full & authentic selves to the table. We are committed to fair hiring practices where we hire team members for their potential & advocate for diversity, equity, & inclusion. We do not discriminate based on your race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, marital status, disability, or any other protected class.  ·       Pay range $160,000 - $180,000 + equity – level & salary to be determined by experience and relevant track record of success ## Apply [Apply at Bandit Running](https://apply.workable.com/bandit-running/j/0FC963060D/apply) --- Powered by [Workable](https://www.workable.com)