choose your next adventure · from its grand bazaar to the blue mosque, istanbul is a real melting...

Choose your Next Adventure

International Careers

Next Sourcing is more than a career opportunity. It’s an adventure of

a lifetime. Offering unique international positions across a number of roles,

it’s a rewarding journey of personal and professional discovery. And it could

take you further than you ever imagined.

From Istanbul to Shanghai, our sourcing teams live and work in some of the

most iconic cities in the world. They’re at the heart of finding, developing

and delivering products our customers love. And they’re experiencing

everything these rich and vibrant cultures have to offer.

So, whether you’re searching for a new challenge, perspective or a whole

new environment. There are plenty of reasons why starting a new chapter

with Next Sourcing could be an exciting move.

Where could your Next adventure take you?

CHOOSE YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE

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OUR OFFICES

Bright lights. Bustling streets. Brilliant people. Wherever your Next Sourcing

journey begins, you’ll be immersed in an environment that will make coming

to work a new and exciting experience, every day. Each of our locations

specialise in certain product areas and all have unique strengths. All you

need to do now is choose.

OUR OFFICES

Hong Kong (Head Office). With world-class shopping, beaches and nightlife

to enjoy, Hong Kong offers both the buzz of city life and beautiful natural

surroundings. One of Asia’s thriving business hubs, it’s where our Next

Sourcing team oversee design and production in South China, Cambodia,

Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos.

Shanghai, China. As vibrant as it is historic, Shanghai combines all the

excitement of modern city life with iconic surroundings – such as The Bund

and People’s Square. Our office in Shanghai oversees design and production

in North China, Cambodia and Myanmar.

Istanbul, Turkey. From its Grand Bazaar to the Blue Mosque, Istanbul is a

real melting pot of culture. Whether you’re looking for great entertainment,

famous attractions or great bars and restaurants, it’s all waiting to be

discovered in this lively city – and you’ll find our office right at its heart.


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Dhaka, Bangladesh. With a $19 billion-a-year textile industry, Bangladesh

is the perfect home for our Next Sourcing office. Based in the historic old

city of Dhaka, our office is surrounded by its rich heritage, from ancient

architecture to some of the most idyllic natural scenery in the world. This is

our fastest expanding office and over the past five years has gone from

5 staff to over 200.

New Delhi, India. From its extraordinary markets to nearby cultural

hotspots, New Delhi is a city full of surprises. Famous for its fabrics and

embroidery, our Next Sourcing office is based in Gurgaon, a new satellite

city famed for its high-rise offices and luxury malls.

Colombo, Sri Lanka. From the fast pace of urban life to the spiritual sites

and natural beauty of its tranquil parks and beaches, tea plantations and

wildlife, Colombo is a city of real contrasts. Dynamic and diverse, you’ll

discover everything it has to offer at our Sri Lanka office, which is surrounded

by excellent sporting facilities, dining and stunning views. We also own and

operate our own large factory employing over 2,800 people. This helps us

to really understand manufacturing.


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OUR OPPORTUNITIES

While choosing where to go is exciting, it’s what you’ll do when you get

there that really matters. Next Sourcing currently employs over 3,800

talented individuals. And our roles are as diverse as the countries we work in.

Whether you specialise in designing great garments, sourcing new factories,

negotiating amazing prices or overseeing quality from the factories, we’ll

find the right role for you. We don’t just focus on skills or experience. What’s

most important is your passion, personality, experience in the clothing

sector and drive to make the most of this life-changing opportunity.

Take a closer look at the roles on offer.

OUR OPPORTUNITIES

Over the next few pages you’ll find a list of the types of roles on

offer across our territories. For our latest list of vacancies please visit

https://careers.next.co.uk/next-sourcing-overseas.aspx.

General Managers. With overall responsibility for the office, our General

Managers drive sales, manage cost control and ensure all KPI’s are met.

They have it all – good knowledge of the manufacturing process, factory

sourcing experience, great product costing skills, good product awareness,

great leadership skills and are constantly looking at new opportunities to

take the business forward.

Product Managers. These are the key people responsible for identifying and

developing beautiful quality products. Working across home, womenswear,

menswear and childrenswear, you’ll take the lead every step of the way –

including design, execution of samples, negotiating prices, sourcing and

handling local suppliers and liaising with teams back at Next Head Office.

Assistant and Junior Product Managers. Our Assistant and Junior Product

Managers are responsible for looking after some of our smaller product

areas. These roles are focused on delivering exceptional products for

specific departments for Next. You’ll travel to gather inspiration and build

relationships with new suppliers, co-ordinating every stage of the product

life cycle from concepts to fulfilling orders.

Designers. Collaborating closely with Next buyers and Product Managers,

our Designers bring all of our trend research and creative inspiration to life.

You’ll know exactly what Next customers want, developing exciting designs

that will keep Next ahead of the market.


https://careers.next.co.uk/next-sourcing-overseas.aspx

OUR OPPORTUNITIES

Product Developers. Providing support to our Product Managers, these are

the people who help to co-ordinate each stage of the product life cycle. We

offer opportunities at various levels and whether you’re a Junior or Senior

Product Developer you’ll apply your expertise to play a key role in all things

technical, logistical and creative – from preparing beautiful samples to

visiting local factories.

Quality Managers. Our Quality Managers are responsible for all the quality

aspects, taking the product all the way from development to production.

They spend a lot of time with suppliers in factories and also work closely

with Next UK teams and Code of Practice. They have the ability to find

solutions to problems quickly and act fast.

Technical Managers. These are the people that lead whole teams to deliver

the quality products our customers deserve. You’ll be there to manage and

co-ordinate every element of the product life cycle, monitoring standards at

every stage. And a large percentage of your time will be spent working with

our suppliers in the factories.

Fabric Managers. This vital role involves taking responsibility for sourcing,

developing and the quality of the fabrics and materials we work with.

You’ll advise the team on sourcing the best fabrics and suppliers, using your

expert knowledge to make sure we’re getting the best prices and value.

And a large percentage of your time will be spent working with our suppliers

in the mills.

Fabric Sourcing. Our Fabric Sourcing teams have an expert eye when it

comes to searching for the finest fabrics and materials for key seasons and

departments. You’ll build close links with mills all over the world, securing

the best prices and value, without ever compromising on quality.



MEET KARENProduct Manager, Bangladesh

Karen worked as a buyer for a retailer in Germany before joining the Next

Sourcing team in Bangladesh – motivated by the opportunity to see the

other side of the industry as a Product Manager.

With a warm and friendly welcome and thorough induction from her new

team she quickly settled into life in Bangladesh. Her days are now filled with

everything from regular visits to local factories and hosting buyers from the

UK, to checking samples and tracking sales.

‘One day I can be working on ladies denim, the next I can be in a factory

negotiating prices or travelling to the UK. I like the variety and diversity the

role offers.’

Karen also spends a lot of time building strong relationships with local

suppliers, as well as managing and training her own team.

The role is fast-paced, varied and very rewarding and has given Karen

incredible first-hand experience of how the sourcing process works. ‘It’s also

been a great adventure, getting to know a new culture and making some

good friends in the process.’


MEET JODesign and Product Manager, Sri Lanka

Having worked for more than four years as a designer at Next Sourcing

in London, Jo was ready for her next challenge within the company. The

chance to move to Colombo as a Design and Product Manager was the

prefect opportunity.

She arrived in Sri Lanka eager to learn more about fabrics, new print

techniques and how this side of the process works. She was given a friendly

welcome by her local team and enjoyed an invaluable 3-month handover

with the person she was replacing.

Her days are busy and varied, whether she’s progressing samples, analysing

risks, sourcing fabrics or meeting new suppliers. She works closely with the

Development Merchandisers and technical teams in Sri Lanka, coming up

with new ideas, ranges and techniques.

‘The job itself is very varied, but the bits I enjoy most are spending more

time with my teams – designing and researching new trends and ideas,

whilst learning all the time.’

Away from work she has thrown herself into the local life and culture,

exploring the exciting country with friends and gaining incredible new

experiences in her life and her career.


MEET KATEGlobal Head of Fabrics, Sourcing and Development, Hong Kong

Kate was working in Soho as the head of a fabric department for a small

premium brand when the opportunity to work for Next Sourcing came up.

And, having always wanted to live and work abroad, it was an opportunity

she was excited to accept.

Being familiar with Hong Kong from many work-related trips throughout

her career, she arrived with a determination to integrate herself with the

local culture so she could get the best out of her new team of six.

‘Asking questions, listening and having an open mind were how I overcame

any doubts and this enabled me to run a happy and hardworking team.’

The role itself is busy and diverse, with a lot of international travel – she

often finds herself visiting two or three different countries and numerous

fabric mills within a couple of weeks.

For Kate though it’s been a unique experience and an invaluable opportunity

to understand the inner workings of the supply base. Next Head Office look

forward to Kate’s presentations of the latest fabric and trends.

It’s also been the chance to experience and enjoy all the excitement and

colour of life in Hong Kong, and she’s proud to say she has thrown herself

into every new experience with enthusiasm.


MEET FAYEProduct Manager, India

With a love for Indian culture and products, Faye had always dreamed of the

opportunity to work in India.

She jumped at the chance to move to the Next Sourcing office in Delhi as

a Product Manager. And, as well as being a major geographical move, it also

represented a big step up in Faye’s career, moving from an assistant level in

the UK to a management role in Delhi.

But with plenty of support and encouragement from the Delhi team, both

before and after she arrived in India, she was able to quickly settle in and

face every new challenge with confidence.

Now, as well as working closely with her local design team on new concepts

and collections, she spends her days visiting local factories to see new

developments, and searching local markets for inspiration.

Most of all, she’s gained experience of all the requirements, stages and

challenges of the sourcing process – experience that she feels will be

invaluable for her future.

‘The last year has been brilliant for my career’ she said. ‘ Seeing everything

from another side has been invaluable, as well as learning to manage a team

and my own time independently.’

And, having moved to Delhi with her boyfriend, she’s also made the most of

life outside the office, spending her free time exploring her ‘dream’ country.

BEYOND THE SECONDMENT

MEET LAURASales Manager, UK

Although she first joined Next as a Trainee Buyer, Laura’s experience of

working abroad with Next Sourcing has taken her career in an unexpected

and rewarding new direction.

She took the opportunity to work in the Next Sourcing office in Shanghai,

returning two years later with the knowledge, experience and confidence to

move into her current role as a Sales Manager.

And Laura is convinced that what she learnt about the product development

cycle in China opened the doors to lots of new opportunities.

‘My experiences before and during my time in China mean I can see the

whole picture and understand the needs and views of both the buying and

sourcing teams.’

Her experience in Shanghai, working on every step of the process from

factory development to shipping, gave her the skills she now uses to build

excellent relationships between teams and push for the best possible sales,

service and pricing.

She also gained a huge amount of life experience from her time abroad,

having spent many weekends trekking in the beautiful Chinese countryside

or exploring the incredible Shanghai food markets.



BEYOND THE SECONDMENT

MEET LUKEHead of Design – Womenswear, UK

Luke was working for Next as a Designer when he took the opportunity to

move to Shanghai on secondment. It says a great deal about how much

knowledge, experience and confidence he gained in that time that he’s now

Head of Design for Womenswear.

And it was the chance to develop his career that first inspired him to work

abroad, helping him better understand that part of the development

process and allow him to work more closely with manufacturers.

Working alongside Product Managers and Merchandisers Luke spent his

time building denim collections, visiting factories and getting to see how his

designs were being brought to life – experience that he draws on to this day.

‘It’s really good being hands on, having fabrics around you and working

closely with your team to make it happen.’

And while he was gaining the invaluable industry experience that has helped

to boost his career at Next, he was also gaining incredible life experience –

travelling around China and Asia and meeting people who are still great

friends today.

Relocation support. We’ll give you financial support and assistance to help

make the move as easy as possible.

Housing allowance. As well as helping you to find a new home, we’ll also

give you a housing allowance to help cover your rent each month.

Flights home. With flights home for leisure and business trips to the UK

you’ll have lots of opportunity to catch up with family and friends.

Bonus. You’ll benefit from the company bonus scheme where you’ll have

the opportunity to earn a performance-related bonus each year.

Travel. Depending on which country you’re in, you could benefit from a

car and a driver.

Tax. Take advantage of the significant tax benefits offered when you become

an ex-pat.

Health insurance. You and your family will receive our medical insurance

and on top of this you’ll also benefit from life and travel insurance.

Holiday. You’ll be given a competitive holiday allowance in addition to the

local holidays of your chosen country.


WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

Of course, the amazing experience of working overseas is certainly

rewarding. That doesn’t mean it’s the only thing you have to look forward

to. At Next Sourcing, we offer an attractive salary and broad range of

benefits to keep you motivated. A lot of our locations offer low tax rates so

you’ll also benefit from this too. What your package includes will depend

on where your adventure takes you. But wherever it leads, you can be

sure we’ll give you all the support you need to settle into your new life and

develop professionally.

Making the right move

Living and working overseas is an exciting prospect, but it’s not for

everyone. Our successful Next Sourcing employees all share a number of

characteristics that make them a great fit for a life abroad. Before you apply,

ask yourself whether you think you’re right for the role.

Are you...

• Passionate about clothing and fashion?

• Energetic, hardworking, flexible and resilient? There will be lots of travel

in the role so you’ll need to enjoy this (and don’t worry you’ll get used to

the jetlag!).

• Open minded and keen to learn about different countries, cultures and

different cuisines?

• Good at working with all types of people? You’ll be building relationships

with everyone from customers, buyers, designers and local factories to

your own local team in the Next Sourcing office.

• Happy to be independent away from your family and excited about

making a new network of friends?


GO, SEE AND WORK

Moving abroad is a big deal. And we want you to feel comfortable and excited

about any decision you make. That’s why we offer people the opportunity

to spend a few days in the country they’re thinking about relocating to. If

you’re seriously interested and make it through all stages of the recruitment

process, our ‘Go, See and Work’ initiative gives the Directors and General

Managers of your chosen office the chance to meet you face-to-face. And

you’ll have some time to see if it’s the right place for you – meeting the

team, viewing accommodation and taking in everything your chosen city

has to offer.

THE NEXT STEPS

If you’ve liked what you’ve seen, head to https://careers.next.co.uk/next-

sourcing-overseas.aspx to find your location, role and start your application

now. Your Next Adventure could get underway in a few simple steps.

Online Application. Once you’ve found an international role you’re

interested in, you can upload your CV quickly and simply online.

Telephone Interview. Our Next Sourcing Recruitment Team will review your

application and if you make the short list we’ll then arrange a telephone

interview at a time that suits you.

Interview. If you impress us over the phone, we’ll naturally want to talk to

you face-to-face. Depending on your location this could be in one of our UK

offices or in the country you’re applying to. If we can’t meet face-to-face

then we’ll arrange the interview via skype or video conference.

Job Offer. If, after these stages, we’re excited by what you could bring to

the team, we’ll be ready to make you a job offer. Our Recruitment Team will

get in touch to make the offer and explain what will happen next.


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Are you ready to start your

Next Adventure?

HTTPS://CAREERS.NEXT.CO.UK/NEXT-SOURCING-OVERSEAS.ASPX


choose your next adventure · from its grand bazaar to the blue mosque, istanbul is a real melting...

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