Global Sourcing, Manufacturing & Supply… at The INKfluence · Remote

About INK Games Publishing

INK Games Publishing is a rapidly growing company specializing in premium, officially licensed collectibles, games, and interactive products inspired by bestselling books and beloved fandoms.

We partner with major national and international retailers, including Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble, Indigo, Hot Topic, BoxLunch, and more, bringing innovative products to fans around the world.

Our product categories include collectible book nooks, building sets, puzzles, playing cards, specialty merchandise, and other unique consumer products.

As we continue to expand our product lines and retail distribution, we're looking for an experienced, highly organized Global Sourcing, Manufacturing & Supply Chain Manager to oversee our overseas manufacturing, production operations, logistics, and inventory management.

About the Role

This is a hands-on, operations-focused position responsible for managing the complete manufacturing and supply chain process, from initial factory sourcing and product specifications through production, international shipping, warehouse delivery, and retailer fulfillment.

We are seeking someone with direct experience in overseas manufacturing, factory management, international logistics, and consumer product supply chains.

The ideal candidate is proactive, exceptionally organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple factories, product categories, production timelines, and retailer orders simultaneously.

You should be someone who anticipates challenges, solves problems independently, and takes full ownership of ensuring products are manufactured correctly, delivered on schedule, and accurately tracked.

Key Responsibilities

Overseas Sourcing & Factory Management

• Identify, research, evaluate, and source qualified overseas manufacturers, primarily in Asia.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with international factories and suppliers.
• Manage daily factory communications, production updates, and issue resolution.
• Request, review, and negotiate manufacturing quotes, minimum order quantities (MOQs), pricing, and production timelines.
• Ensure factories understand and follow approved product specifications, quality standards, and packaging requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing costs, production efficiency, and supplier performance.

Manufacturing & Production Management

• Oversee the entire manufacturing lifecycle, from approved product concepts through finished goods delivery.
• Coordinate preproduction samples, prototypes, revisions, and final production approvals with internal teams.
• Create, issue, and manage factory purchase orders.
• Track production milestones, manufacturing schedules, and expected completion dates.
• Ensure all products meet approved specifications, quality expectations, and production deadlines.
• Identify production delays, quality concerns, or manufacturing challenges and proactively implement solutions.
• Maintain accurate production records, specifications, timelines, and factory communications.
• Coordinate quality control inspections and ensure manufacturing requirements are met before shipment.

International Logistics & Freight Coordination

• Coordinate international freight shipments, including ocean freight, air freight, and expedited shipping when necessary.
• Work directly with freight forwarders, customs brokers, factories, and logistics partners.
• Track shipments from factory departure through port arrival, customs clearance, and final delivery.
• Monitor shipping timelines and proactively communicate potential delays.
• Coordinate inbound shipments to company warehouses and third-party logistics providers (3PLs).
• Ensure accurate shipment documentation, carton counts, packing lists, and delivery records.
• Monitor freight expenses and identify opportunities to improve shipping efficiency and reduce costs.

Mass Market Retailer Operations

• Manage operational requirements for major wholesale and mass market retail accounts.
• Coordinate retailer purchase orders, fulfillment timelines, routing requirements, and delivery schedules.
• Assist with new retailer onboarding, vendor setup, and operational documentation.
• Ensure retailer orders comply with vendor guidelines, packaging specifications, labeling requirements, and shipping instructions.
• Coordinate shipments directly to retailer distribution centers when required.
• Track retailer order fulfillment and proactively resolve logistics or delivery issues.
• Maintain accurate records of retailer purchase orders, quantities, shipment statuses, and delivery confirmations.
• Collaborate with internal sales and customer success teams to ensure retailer expectations are met.

Inventory Management & Forecasting

• Maintain accurate inventory reporting across company warehouses, incoming shipments, and retail allocations.
• Monitor inventory levels, product availability, and incoming production quantities.
• Develop and maintain inventory forecasts based on historical sales, retailer purchase orders, and anticipated demand.
• Identify potential inventory shortages, overstock situations, and replenishment needs.
• Recommend production reorder quantities and timelines.
• Maintain detailed inventory and production tracking spreadsheets.
• Work with internal teams to ensure Shopify inventory accurately reflects available and incoming stock.
• Provide regular inventory, production, and supply chain reports to leadership.

Systems, Reporting & Internal Coordination

• Maintain accurate production schedules, project updates, and operational workflows in Monday.com.
• Utilize Excel to manage production tracking, purchase orders, inventory reports, cost analysis, and forecasting.
• Work within Shopify to monitor inventory, product availability, and order-related information.
• Collaborate closely with design, sales, customer success, finance, and warehouse teams.
• Provide consistent, proactive updates on production progress, shipping schedules, and inventory status.
• Develop and improve standard operating procedures (SOPs) for sourcing, production, logistics, and inventory management.
• Ensure all production and supply chain information is organized, accurate, and accessible to relevant team members.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in overseas manufacturing, global sourcing, supply chain management, or production operations.
• Direct, hands-on experience working with overseas factories and international suppliers.
• Proven experience managing consumer products from preproduction through manufacturing and delivery.
• Strong understanding of international freight, customs processes, shipping documentation, and warehouse logistics.
• Experience managing purchase orders, production schedules, and multiple manufacturing projects simultaneously.
• Experience with inventory management, replenishment planning, and demand forecasting.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, reporting, and inventory tracking.
• Required experience with Shopify
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to independently manage priorities, troubleshoot problems, and meet deadlines.
• Comfortable communicating with overseas factories across different time zones.
• Experience coordinating with warehouses, freight forwarders, and third-party logistics providers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in toys, games, collectibles, licensed merchandise, gifts, or consumer packaged goods.
• Experience working with major mass market retailers such as Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Target, Walmart, Hot Topic, or similar retailers.
• Familiarity with retailer routing guides, vendor compliance requirements, and distribution center deliveries.
• Experience with HubSpot and Monday.com.
• Experience managing multiple overseas factories across different product categories.
• Familiarity with product safety testing, quality control standards, and consumer product compliance.
• Experience working in a fast-growing eCommerce and wholesale business.

Who We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, growing company and genuinely enjoys the operational side of bringing physical products to market.

You are highly organized, resourceful, accountable, and comfortable managing complex projects with multiple moving parts.

You don't wait to be asked for updates. You anticipate what needs to happen next, communicate proactively, and take ownership of getting things done.

You understand that successful manufacturing requires more than placing an order. It requires careful planning, consistent follow-through, strong supplier relationships, and attention to every detail from factory to final delivery.

Most importantly, we're looking for someone who can help us build a scalable, efficient, and dependable global manufacturing and supply chain operation as INK Games Publishing continues to grow.

Note: This position is structured as a full-time, independent contractor (1099) engagement, subject to applicable worker classification requirements.

Pay: $80,000.00 - $87,500.00 per year

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Application Question(s):

• What experience do you have managing overseas manufacturing for toys, games, puzzles, building sets, or licensed collectibles? Please specify the product categories you've worked with.
• Are you involved in any bookish, gaming, fantasy, sci-fi, or pop culture fandoms? If so, which ones, and how do you engage with them (reading, gaming, collecting, conventions, etc.)?
• Are you an avid reader? What genres do you enjoy most, and who are some of your favorite authors or book series?

Experience:

• Microsoft Excel: 5 years (Required)
• Shopify: 4 years (Required)
• Monday.com: 2 years (Preferred)

Work Location: Remote