Maria S.
Senior Product Development & Sourcing Manager | Global Vendor Strategy | Footwear & Accessories | Furniture & Home Goods
- Role
- Operations- Product Specialist at MillerKnoll
- Location
- New York, NY, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Maria S.
Product development and sourcing leader with 10+ years of experience driving end-to-end execution across footwear, accessories, RTW, and inclusive product systems. I specialize in translating commercial goals into scalable product solutions through disciplined sourcing, cost optimization, and vendor strategy.I have led cross-functional product initiatives across global supply bases, partnering with factories to improve lead times, strengthen quality performance, and protect margins during periods of tariff volatility and material cost fluctuation.Core focus areas:• Global vendor strategy and supplier performance management• Cost engineering and margin optimization• Lead-time reduction and replenishment acceleration• Private label and value-driven product execution• Seasonal calendar and T&A ownership• Product operations and PLM-driven workflowsI am known for strong judgment, operational rigor, and the ability to align design, sourcing, and merchandising teams around clear execution standards.In parallel, I bring a human-centered lens informed by inclusive design and accessibility work, strengthening long-term product relevance and decision-making discipline.I thrive in environments where ownership, accountability, and commercial impact matter.
Experience
Operations- Product Specialist
Aug 2021 — Present · New York, NY, US
Lead high-impact operational strategies for a Fortune 100 design company, managing product issue resolution, client experience, and vendor negotiations to protect revenue and strengthen retention.Maintained customer satisfaction and preserved $4M in at-risk revenue during a global supply chain crisis by implementing strategic vendor negotiations and accelerated shipping solutions.Leveraged customer data analysis to identify systemic issues, resulting in process improvements that reduced escalations by 15% and increased satisfaction scores.Founding Member of MillerKnoll\'s Business Resource Group- CARE: Community for Advocacy, Resources and Education
Education
Parsons School of Design - The New School
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
UW Foster School of Business
Inclusive Product Management Accelerator
Job Hackers
Agile MBA
Parsons School of Design - The New School
Master of Fine Arts - MFA, Interior Design
Yellowbrick
Fashion Business Essentials, Business Administration, Management and Operations
High School of Fashion Industries
Fashion Design, Fashion Illustration, Apparel Manufacturing, Draping
2008 — 2012
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