Strategy Manager

Strategy Manager – Sourcing, Production & Manufacturing (MD's Office)Company: BIBA Fashion LimitedLocation: GurgaonReporting To: Managing DirectorFunction: MD’s Office / StrategyRole Level: Manager / Senior Manager, depending on experience

Role PurposeBIBA Fashion Limited is looking for a high-calibre professional to work closely with the Managing Director and support the strategic agenda across Sourcing, Production, Manufacturing and Supply Chain-related operations.

This is not a conventional Strategy Manager role. The incumbent will operate as part of the MD’s Office, working as a strategy and execution partner to the Managing Director. The role will involve business analysis, strategic planning, project management, performance reviews and driving cross-functional initiatives across the sourcing and manufacturing ecosystem.

The individual will work closely with the MD as well as senior leaders across Sourcing, Production, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, Merchandising and related functions to ensure that strategic priorities are translated into measurable business outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategy & Business PlanningPartner with the Managing Director in developing the strategic roadmap for Sourcing, Production and Manufacturing.Evaluate opportunities to improve sourcing competitiveness, manufacturing productivity, cost structures, quality and overall supply-chain efficiency.Conduct detailed business analysis and identify opportunities for cost optimisation, productivity enhancement, lead-time reduction and capacity improvement.Support annual and long-term operating plans for the respective functions.Benchmark BIBA's sourcing and manufacturing practices against industry best practices and leading apparel organisations.Develop business cases and recommendations for new initiatives, investments, manufacturing models and strategic partnerships.

2. Sourcing StrategyAnalyse sourcing performance across vendors, product categories, geographies and manufacturing locations.Support development of an optimum vendor and sourcing strategy based on cost, capability, quality, capacity, lead time and reliability.Analyse vendor concentration and identify opportunities for vendor consolidation, development or diversification.Track fabric, trims, garment and conversion costs and identify opportunities for cost reduction.Develop sourcing dashboards covering key business metrics such as:CostLead timeVendor performanceCapacityOTIFQualityOrder fulfilmentWork with sourcing teams on strategic vendor negotiations and performance improvement initiatives.

3. Production & Manufacturing StrategyWork closely with Production and Manufacturing teams to review:Capacity utilisationProduction efficiencyLine productivityManpower productivityProduction planningWIPRejection and alterationQualityCost per pieceProduction adherenceDispatch adherenceIdentify operational bottlenecks and drive structured improvement initiatives.Support productivity enhancement through improved planning, processes, automation, technology and manpower deployment.Evaluate Make vs Buy / In-house vs Outsourcing opportunities.Review manufacturing capacity requirements against future business growth plans.Support development of factory expansion, productivity and manufacturing excellence plans.

4. MD Reviews & Management GovernanceEstablish a structured review mechanism for Sourcing, Production and Manufacturing.Prepare data-driven presentations, dashboards and decision papers for the Managing Director.Coordinate weekly/monthly business reviews with respective functional heads.Track key decisions, actions, owners and timelines emerging from MD reviews.Follow up with respective stakeholders to ensure closure of agreed actions.Highlight delays, risks and deviations proactively to the Managing Director.Convert large volumes of operational data into concise management insights and actionable recommendations.

5. Strategic Projects / PMOAct as the MD Office PMO for identified strategic projects, including areas such as:Manufacturing productivityCost reductionVendor optimisationCapacity planningSupply-chain improvementLead-time reductionQuality improvementFactory performanceOperational excellenceAutomationTechnology implementationNew manufacturing initiativesStrategic sourcing initiatives

For each project, establish:Clear objectiveBaselineTargetProject ownerMilestonesTimelinesFinancial impactProgress trackingClosure mechanism

6. Cost & Financial AnalyticsWork closely with Finance and Operations teams to understand the financial impact of sourcing and manufacturing decisions.Product costingMaterial costsConversion costsManufacturing overheadsProductivity impactVendor economicsFactory economicsIdentify opportunities for structural cost reduction without compromising quality or customer proposition.Track financial benefits arising from strategic initiatives.

7. Data Analytics & Decision SupportDevelop comprehensive MIS and dashboards for the MD covering:Sourcing cost trendsVendor performanceProduction performanceManufacturing efficiencyCapacity utilisationProductivityQualityOTIFLead timesCost per piecePlan vs Actual productionFactory manpowerInventory / WIPStrategic project progress

The role should move beyond reporting numbers and provide clear answers to:What has happened?Why has it happened?What is the business impact?What corrective action is required?

8. Cross-Functional CoordinationWork closely with:Managing DirectorSourcingProductionManufacturingQualityMerchandisingDesignSupply ChainFinance

Drive cross-functional alignment and ensure critical business decisions are implemented within agreed timelines.

Key Performance Indicators

Performance will be evaluated on parameters including:Improvement in sourcing cost competitivenessManufacturing productivity improvementReduction in production lead timeProduction plan adherenceCapacity utilisationImprovement in OTIFReduction in rejection / alterationImprovement in vendor performanceIdentified and delivered cost savingsClosure of MD action pointsTimely implementation of strategic projectsQuality of business analysis and recommendationsEffectiveness of management dashboards and review mechanisms

Candidate ProfileEducationPreferred qualifications:MBA / PGDM from a reputed institutionEngineering + MBA would be advantageousCandidates with exposure to Operations, Supply Chain, Apparel Manufacturing or Strategy will be preferred

Experience5–10 years of relevant experience, preferably in one or more of the following areas:CEO / MD OfficeCorporate StrategyManagement ConsultingBusiness ExcellenceApparel SourcingGarment ManufacturingOperationsSupply ChainStrategic Projects / PMO

Exposure to the Apparel, Fashion, Retail, Textile or Consumer Products industry would be strongly preferred.

Functional Competencies

The ideal candidate should possess:Strong analytical and problem-solving abilityExcellent understanding of business and financial metricsAdvanced Excel skillsStrong PowerPoint and management presentation skillsAbility to structure complex business problemsStrong project-management capabilityUnderstanding of manufacturing / sourcing economicsStrong data interpretation skillsAbility to independently prepare management dashboards and decision papers

Behavioural Competencies

The role requires someone who is:Highly analyticalExecution-orientedStructured and disciplinedCurious and intellectually sharpComfortable challenging assumptions with dataAble to work directly with senior leadershipStrong in follow-through and closureComfortable working in a fast-paced environmentCapable of handling confidential and sensitive business informationStrong in stakeholder managementWilling to spend time in factories/vendor locations when required

What Makes This Role UniqueThis position provides direct exposure to the Managing Director and the core operating engine of BIBA Fashion Limited.

The incumbent will have the opportunity to work on business-critical initiatives across Sourcing, Manufacturing, Production and Operational Excellence, with visibility across the complete apparel value chain.

The role can potentially develop into a broader Strategy / Business Operations / Sourcing / Manufacturing leadership position based on performance and organisational requirements.