Creative Sourcing & Production Manager

At K18, we're about hair freedom for all–engineered with biotech. We are on a mission to liberate expression. To make the impossible possible with the right technology. To build a community of forward thinkers, risk takers, and rabble rousers. To bring fearless innovation forward and push boundaries past where we thought they could go. 

Position Overview

K18 is seeking a Creative Sourcing and Production Manager to lead the sourcing, sampling, and production of physical brand materials across global marketing initiatives. This role sits within the Creative team and manages the end-to-end production process for projects such as, but not limited to, branded merchandise, mailers, kits, printed marketing collateral, and event materials.

The ideal candidate brings strong experience sourcing directly from domestic and international factories, negotiating production terms, and managing the production lifecycle from vendor selection through final production approval. This role is responsible for balancing brand quality, cost efficiency, and timelines, while presenting clear vendor recommendations to internal stakeholders.

The Creative Production Manager will oversee sourcing strategy, sampling, and vendor relationships, and will partner closely with the Operations team for final freight coordination and logistics execution once production is approved.

This role requires a highly organized operator who understands both creative production and global manufacturing, and can translate creative concepts into scalable, cost-effective production solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Global Sourcing & Vendor Management

• Source and maintain relationships with domestic and international factories, particularly across Asia and Domestically.
• Identify and vet new vendors capable of producing high-quality branded materials at competitive costs.
• Negotiate pricing, MOQs, lead times, and payment terms directly with factories.
• Develop sourcing strategies that prioritize direct factory relationships to reduce COGS and improve production flexibility.

Vendor Analysis & Cost Recommendations

• Analyze quotes from multiple vendors and present clear cost comparisons and production recommendations to stakeholders.
• Build detailed cost breakdowns factoring in production cost, tariffs, duties, and estimated freight to determine total landed cost.
• Recommend vendors that best balance cost, quality, reliability, and timeline requirements.

Sampling & Quality Management

• Manage the sampling and prototype process from initial concept through final approval.
• Review and evaluate samples with creative and marketing teams to ensure they meet brand standards and design specifications.
• Provide structured feedback to vendors and factories to refine quality, materials, and finishes.
• Oversee final pre-production approvals before manufacturing begins.

Production Planning & Timeline Management

• Collaborate with Creative Project Managers to oversee production calendars tied to campaign launches, product releases, marketing initiatives, and events.
• Coordinate production timelines with internal creative and marketing teams to ensure on-time delivery.
• Track vendor progress and proactively manage risks that could impact deadlines.

Logistics Coordination

• Partner with the Operations team to ensure smooth transition from production to fulfillment.
• Align on shipping timelines, freight planning, and required SKU/UPC info, documentation prior to handoff.
• Provide Operations with finalized vendor details, production schedules, and shipment readiness to support freight coordination and logistics execution.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Creative, Brand Marketing, Events, and Operations teams to translate creative concepts into feasible production plans.
• Communicate production updates, vendor recommendations, and potential risks clearly to internal stakeholders.
• Ensure production decisions support both brand quality and business efficiency

Qualifications

Required Experience

• 3–5+ years of experience sourcing and producing branded merchandise, packaging, printed materials, or marketing collateral.
• Proven experience sourcing directly from factories rather than solely through distributors.
• Experience working with international manufacturers, particularly across Asia.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate pricing, MOQs, and production timelines with vendors.
• Experience comparing vendor bids and presenting cost analysis and sourcing recommendations.
• Experience calculating landed cost including tariffs, duties, and freight considerations.
• Strong understanding of production timelines and launch-driven production schedules.
• Experience managing vendor sampling processes and quality feedback cycles.

Skills

• Strong project management and production planning skills.
• Excellent negotiation and vendor relationship management abilities.
• Ability to interpret and communicate cost structures and sourcing strategies clearly.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail.
• Comfortable managing production timelines across multiple vendors and time zones.

Preferred

• Experience producing promotional branded merchandise, mailers, or experiential/event materials.
• Existing relationships with global manufacturers or sourcing networks.
• Experience working within creative, brand, or marketing organizations.

What Success Looks Like

• Creative concepts are translated into high-quality physical brand materials that meet launch timelines.
• Production partners are reliable, cost-effective, and aligned with brand standards.
• Vendor sourcing strategies reduce COGS while maintaining premium brand quality.
• Sampling and vendor feedback cycles run efficiently, minimizing production errors.
• Production handoffs to Operations enable smooth logistics and on-time delivery.

Salary Range: $90-110k (in USD $)

This range represents the low and high end of the anticipated base salary range for this position. The actual base salary will depend on numerous factors such as: experience, knowledge and skills, and if the location of the job changes.

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