Apparel Sourcing Manager, Men's Activewear
Basis Set Ventures (Basis Set) is an AI-native venture capital fund founded in 2017 that invests in early-stage AI companies, positioning itself as the first capital for founders. The firm backs startups across automated workflows, autonomy, intelligent collaboration, and scalable infrastructure, serving early-stage AI founders and startups as its typical clients.
About Basis Set Ventures
Basis Set Ventures is an AI-native venture fund founded in 2017, built on the science of minds and machines, that recently announced its $250M Fund IV. The firm positions itself as the first institutional capital for founders and provides hands-on, 24/7 'founder concierge' support, acting as its portfolio companies' first customer, sales rep, bug reporter, and recruiter. It invests in AI-first startups spanning categories such as automated workflows, autonomy, intelligent collaboration, and scalable infrastructure, with portfolio companies including Quince, Cusp, Path Robotics, OpenArt, Entire, Tigris Data, Mem0, Vizcom, Simular, and Sakana. Basis Set also publishes original research and perspectives on topics like trucking operations, global customs, maritime transport, real estate, agriculture, and AI agent infrastructure, and runs a Basis Set AI Fellows program for individuals to work on hard problems within the firm and its portfolio companies. Its typical clients are early-stage, AI-native startup founders across a range of industries including consumer, infrastructure, robotics, and enterprise software.
Skills
About the Role
You will build and lead Quince's Apparel sourcing function for Men's Activewear from the ground up, with potential to expand into other categories. You will identify and onboard new vendor partners in China, negotiate terms, and manage the entire relationship from initial scouting through scaling. You will drive continuous improvement across existing supplier relationships, working to enhance product cost, quality, and commercial terms. You will act as a trusted ambassador in all partner interactions and work to reduce development timelines by identifying and resolving bottlenecks.
Requirements
- 10+ years sourcing and merchandising experience in apparel and men's activewear categories with high-end national brands in the United States
- Proven ability as a self starter and quick independent learner
- Exceptional attention to detail with a data driven approach to decision making
- Strong analytical mindset with focus on execution and process improvement
- Deep understanding of the product development process utilizing factory and vendor expertise
- Continuous learner with a proactive attitude adaptable to changing circumstances
- Track record in supply chain management or operations
- Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication and presentation skills
Responsibilities
- Scout for vendor partners in China who can manufacture high quality products with fast production lead time
- Pitch and onboard vendor partners quickly with clear criteria around the initial test period and scaling potential
- Drive excellence in partner operations for existing supplier relationships while expanding the supply base
- Improve Quince's product costs, quality, and commercial terms
- Act as an ambassador to partners in all interactions, building and deepening relationships
- Drive higher hit-rate launches through product excellence
- Identify bottlenecks and propose solutions to drive faster development times