Head - Supply Chain - D2C/Fashion

Company Overview: Theater is a dynamic and rapidly growing fashion start-up based in India. Our mission is to create Indias best design-led, mass-premium western fashion company. At present, Theater specializes in footwear, handbags, fragrances, and stockings for Overview: We are looking for an experienced and strategic Head of Supply Chain to lead our end-to-end supply chain operations from procurement and production to warehousing, logistics, and fulfillment. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in managing large-scale supply chains in the D2C fashion space, with a proven ability to optimize cost, quality, and speed across multiple product categories. This is a leadership role where the entire supply chain team will report to Responsibilities:- Strategic Leadership & Supply Chain Architecture- Define the long-term supply chain vision, strategy, and roadmap for a multi-category D2C fashion brand.- Build scalable systems, processes, and frameworks that support 10x growth in product volumes and categories.- Establish robust governance mechanisms, KPI frameworks, and dashboards for proactive decision-making (OTIF, fill rate, forecast accuracy, lead times, cost-to-serve).- Identify risks, supply disruptions, and inefficiencies and design strategic interventions to strengthen resilience.- Network Design & Vendor Ecosystem Development- Create the overall sourcing and manufacturing ecosystem: cluster strategy, vendor mix, diversification plans, and capacity mapping.- Develop long-term partnerships with top-tier vendors and factories to ensure agility, quality, and competitive cost structures.- Lead contract strategy, supplier scorecards, and multi-year planning cycles to ensure consistent performance.- Demand, Inventory & Production Strategy- Build advanced demand forecasting and S&OP processes in collaboration with Category, Merchandising, and Finance.- Design inventory strategies for growth categories, new launches, and seasonal spikes.- Establish strong frameworks to optimize working capital, reduce dead stock, and improve inventory accuracy across channels.- Supply Chain Digitization & Systems Enablement- Drive the adoption of ERP, planning tools, and automation across procurement, production, warehousing, and logistics.- Implement end-to-end visibility tools to enhance planning accuracy, cost control, and real time tracking.- Lead technology-enabled transformations to shorten lead times and elevate overall agility.- Logistics, Fulfillment & Network Optimization- Own strategic planning for multi-warehouse models, regional hubs, freight optimization, and last-mile efficiency.- Build and manage the fulfillment strategy for D2C, marketplaces, and offline channels.- Evaluate and onboard strategic 3PL partners, ensuring cost, speed, and service-level alignment with business goals.- Cross-Functional Leadership & Business Partnering- Partner with Design, Merchandising, Finance, and Technology to align supply chain capabilities with business strategy, assortment plans, and growth sprints.- Provide strategic insights on demand trends, category expansion feasibility, and launch readiness.- Enable Marketing and Category teams with reliable availability planning for campaigns and new drops.- Team Development & Leadership Excellence- Build a strong leadership bench within procurement, planning, production, and logistics.- Foster a culture of high ownership, data-driven decisions, and continuous improvement.- Mentor teams to evolve from operational executors to strategic thinkers and Requirements:- Education: Masters degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations, or related field.- Experience: 10+ years of experience in supply chain management, preferably with a D2C fashion or lifestyle brand.- Industry Knowledge: Strong understanding of footwear, handbags, and related product manufacturing ecosystems.- Leadership Skills: Proven experience in managing and scaling teams in a fast-paced environment.- Analytical Skills: Excellent command of data analysis, planning, and process improvement methodologies.- Technical Skills: Proficiency in ERP systems, Excel, and supply chain planning tools.- Soft Skills: Strong negotiation, problem-solving, and stakeholder management abilities. (ref:iimjobs.com)