Lead Associate - Home & Kitchen Category

Lead Associate for Home & Kitchen

As the Lead Associate, you will orchestrate the growth of our Home & Kitchen Private Label brands while simultaneously managing a high-performing ecosystem of marketplace sellers and vendors. You aren't just buying products; you are building a profitable, scalable marketplace vertical through rigorous costing analysis, strategic sourcing, and expert vendor relations.

Roles & Responsibilities

1. Strategic Sourcing & Costing

• Bottom-up Costing: Conduct detailed "Should-Cost" analysis by breaking down raw materials (e.g., stainless steel, polymer, wood), labor, and overheads to ensure we are buying at the most competitive price points.
• P&L Ownership: Manage the landing cost (COGS), including freight, duties, and packaging, to protect healthy contribution margins for the marketplace.
• Quality vs. Cost: Balance price negotiations with quality benchmarks to ensure low return rates in the Home & Kitchen category.

2. Vendor & Seller Management

• Strategic Onboarding: Identify, vet, and onboard high-potential manufacturers and sellers who can meet the scale of a digital marketplace.
• Performance Management: Monitor vendor KPIs, including fill rates, lead-time adherence, and product defect rates; take corrective action or off-board underperforming partners.
• Relationship Governance: Act as the primary escalation point for vendor disputes, payment reconciliations, and contract renewals.

3. Advanced Negotiation & Contractual Strategy

• Commercial Negotiations: Lead high-stakes negotiations on payment terms (e.g., Net-60/90), volume-based rebates, and marketing co-op funds.
• Exclusivity & MOQs: Negotiate exclusive designs or "first-to-market" rights for trending Home & Kitchen items while optimizing Minimum Order Quantities to manage inventory risk.

4. Marketplace Dynamics

• Competitive Benchmarking: Constantly track "Street Price" and competitor offerings to adjust procurement strategies and maintain our price leadership position.
• Stock Health: Collaborate with the demand planning team to ensure high-velocity Home & Kitchen items never go out of stock.