Senior Product & Sourcing Manager (Lismore City Council)

At Mister Zimi, every day feels like a holiday — and our products are the passport that takes you there. Reporting to the Creative Director & CEO, you will captain the product team, building a great environment where the crew thrives on steering unique collections into port, on time, every time. You will inspire team members as well as navigate the finer details of sourcing, production, logistics and cost management. You and your team will contribute compelling product collections that feel unmistakably Mister Zimi, while simultaneously driving the operational rigour that brings those ideas to life. Working closely with suppliers, you will champion quality and design integrity at every turn, ensuring that Mister Zimi's product standards are upheld within a sustainable and ethical framework. You will have a nose for what's next, a love for beautiful products, and an incredible process‑driven mindset. Core Responsibilities
- Initiate and delegate trend research and forecasting each season
- Work with the Head of Merchandise to analyse sales data to strategically enhance future collections and capitalise on growth opportunities in key markets
- Work with the Creative Director to bring concepts to life
- Obtain and maintain a deep understanding of the customer and seasonality in both Australia and the US
- Collaborate with the product team to source new fabrics and trims that resonate with the distinctive style of Mister Zimi
- Run regular check‑ins with designers/developers to track progress, identify risks, and unblock issues
- Review and approve concepts, designs, and tech packs before supplier submission
- Oversee fit sessions to ensure strong execution of garment fits, function and consistency
- Cross‑check specs across the team for accuracy and consistency
- Develop the grading, pattern and garment construction knowledge of team members
- Drive adherence to the critical path to meet internal team deadlines
- Support bulk spec and grading sign‑off in collaboration with the design/developer team
- Ensure new developments are pre‑costed before initial samples are actioned
- Brief the marketing team ahead of new collections, communicating themes, new styles and product direction to align shoot planning and campaign storytelling with each range
- Review returns data in collaboration with the Head of Merchandise to inform fit, fabrication and design decisions going forward
- Build and maintain key supplier relationships, travelling to suppliers and trade fairs where needed
- Own and take responsibility for the whole product delivery process, from initial sampling through to delivery, working closely with factories and the internal logistics and product team, including financial tracking/reporting (margin, sampling costs, inventory)
- Ensure Supply chain Compliance Qualifications
- 15+ years' experience in womenswear design, product development, sourcing and production
- Garment grading, pattern and construction knowledge
- Extensive experience with all categories including woven, denim, knitwear, swim and accessories
- High‑level fabric, yarn and construction knowledge
- Sound understanding of the pre‑production process and timelines
- Strong understanding of quality assurance and garment compliance
- Previous experience working with offshore suppliers and negotiating costing’s
- Previous experience working with yields and consumptions
- Previous experience working in a rapid‑paced commercial retail environment
- Previous experience managing a team Personal Qualities
- Ability to multitask and consistently meet deadlines
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise
- A passion for garment quality and developing supplier relationships
- Strong critical and lateral thinker
- Exceptional attention to detail
- Creative
- Team player with a flexible, positive and open mindset
- A can‑do attitude and a desire for continuous improvement
- A genuine love of the Mister Zimi brand and product #J-18808-Ljbffr Apply on Kit Job: kitjobau.com/job/3rtm4k