WHITNEY L. WALKER
Columbus,OH
Summary
Highly organized, detail-oriented, analytical, and results-driven professional with 10+ years of experience in sourcing, procurement, project management and supplier development for manufacturing industry. Proven history for optimizing project and supply chain efficiency, reducing costs, and sustaining operational excellence in an ever changing global market. Excels at multi-tasking in a fast-paced environment while under strict deadlines for long lead-time development. Seeking to leverage expertise in procurement / sourcing and supplier development and negotiation to contribute to the success of a dynamic, global company.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Sourcing Lead - IS, Americas
Vertiv
Delaware, OH
08.2024 - Current
- Strategic, project-focused sourcing and procurement lead to complex Infrastructure Solutions projects, acting as the primary liaison between External Suppliers and Internal Engineering, Project Management, Operations, Logistics, and Finance teams from award through commissioning.
- Own execution of third-party equipment and project-based services, ensuring supply assurance, contract compliance, cost control, and on-time delivery align to customer milestones.
- Anticipate and mitigate supply chain risks related to capacity and long lead times early in project lifecycle; communicate potential impacts to customer delivery, as well as develop and execute mitigation plans with urgency and accountability.
- Lead by example by managing RFQ process with internal partners, running bid analysis and coordinating purchase order placement; all while driving cost-saving strategies and developing new, preferred supplier base per Vertiv's global supply chain initiatives.
- Foster a customer-first mindset and high-performance culture through transparent communication, cross-functional collaboration, and ownership of project outcomes.
Senior Sourcing / Procurement Analyst
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH
Columbus, OH
01.2021 - 08.2024
- Leveraged years of experience in supply chain operations, including product development coordination, raw-material sourcing / procurement, pricing, work plan development, and production, for a diverse portfolio of CPGs.
- Optimized supply chain efficiency, reduced costs, and maintained high-quality standards through strategic sourcing initiatives and effective supplier management for multiple brands and departments.
- Highly capable of overseeing long lead-time development programs with multi-faceted timelines and strict regulatory and consumer safety requirements.
- Kept detailed meeting notes, tracked action items, and executed follow-ups immediately to mitigate supply chain risks and always maintains a proactive mindset.
- Collaborated regularly with internal and external partners to ensure sourcing strategies are in alignment with product specifications and global regulatory requirements.
- Drove continuous improvement initiatives to streamline processes, optimize inventory levels, and reduce lead times, resulting in sales growth year-over-year.
- Oversaw responsibilities and growth plan of Sourcing Analyst and PO Coordinator.
Sourcing / Procurement Analyst
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH
Columbus, OH
01.2019 - 01.2021
- Expanded customer knowledge and honed supply chain management strategies to successfully develop and launch various CPG products.
- Drove vendor cost negotiations and raw-material sourcing in support of business initiatives.
- Engaged in solution-oriented communication and ensured project tracking tools accurately reflected project details and major milestones were accurately traced.
- Provided detailed reporting to track order forecasting, budgeting, and project details.
- Proposed strategies to execute Sourcing agendas for actionable bottom-line growth.
- Managed training and development of new direct reports for efficient onboarding.
Sourcing / Procurement Assistant
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH
Columbus, OH
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Owned fragrance development and worked independently on trend analysis, ideation, project briefing, consumer testing, formula costing, stability/compatibility testing for Abercrombie portfolio of brands.
- Ensured all products were formulated to the highest Regulatory and quality standard while being on-time and under budget.
- Renamed customer-focused and drove customer research and testing for all fragrance approvals, leading to bottom-line growth.
- Compiled project reports focusing on the risk areas within the development timelines, financials, key product details, and production schedules keeping all partners informed and aligned through the development and production process.
- Ensured project timelines were maintained and accurately reflected current project status.
- Supervised and mentored direct report responsibilities and growth.
Senior Sourcing / Procurement Coordinator
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH
Columbus, OH
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Supported product development for Abercrombie and Fitch and its portfolio of brands while managing the procurement and production of various CPGs.
- Optimized fragrance evaluation process, resulting in consistently meeting deadlines, improving quality, and overall efficiency for the department.
- Identified, communicated, and improved coordination inefficiencies for Personal Care Department in partnership with Supply Chain Coordination.
- Strategized customer research practices by hosting focus groups, coordinating customer intercepts, and generating product surveys; resulting in higher success rate of fragrance approvals.
- Instrumental to product development for over two hundred projects.
Sourcing / Procurement Coordinator
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH
Columbus, OH
01.2015 - 01.2016
- Collaborated with Vendors and cross-functional partners to develop, source, produce, and ship personal care products in line with corporate milestones.
- Documented meeting notes, action items for internal and external partners and followed through to completion.
- Developed fragrance training program for store associates, which led to higher sales and stronger relationships between stores and customers.
- Partnered with pricing and legal teams to optimize new promotion strategies for Abercrombie and Hollister brands.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communication, Spanish, Public Relations
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
Cincinnati, OH01.2013
Skills
- Supplier Development and Negotiation
- Commodity Management
- Cost Reduction Strategy
- Global Market Price Analysis
- Project Management
- Financial Strength
- Raw-Material Sourcing
- Innovative, Collaborative & Self-Motivated
Timeline
Sourcing Lead - IS, Americas
Vertiv
08.2024 - Current
Senior Sourcing / Procurement Analyst
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH
01.2021 - 08.2024
Sourcing / Procurement Analyst
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH
01.2019 - 01.2021
Sourcing / Procurement Assistant
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH
01.2018 - 01.2019
Senior Sourcing / Procurement Coordinator
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH
01.2016 - 01.2018
Sourcing / Procurement Coordinator
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH
01.2015 - 01.2016
Bachelor of Arts - Communication, Spanish, Public Relations
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI