Quick Response Business Lead GCN

Job description

Your mission Create and lead Quick Response as a growth engine, not only as a supply-chain project. Own the business end to end, from customer and trend insight through product, production, launch, selling and scale-up. Build the team, governance, decision rights and ways of working required to operate with start-up speed inside a large organisation. Deliver profitable incremental sales while protecting full-price selling, inventory health and speed to market.

Key accountabilities Business ownership and P&L

Own the Quick Response business plan, sales ambition, investment choices, margin, inventory exposure and profitability. Make clear trade-offs and be accountable for the total commercial result.

Growth strategy

Define where Quick Response can create the greatest growth for GCN. Translate customer demand, competitive signals and trend opportunities into a focused portfolio of commercial bets.

Entrepreneurial leadership

Initiate action without waiting for perfect information. Test, learn and adjust quickly. Challenge established processes when they slow growth, while building commitment across the organisation.

Fast product creation and production

Design and lead an end-to-end model that connects trend detection, design or product development, sourcing, capacity, quality, logistics and channel launch. Drive toward a 14-day lead-time ambition where commercially and operationally viable.

Winning-product engine

Establish a disciplined process to select opportunities, launch controlled quantities, read early demand and scale winners fast. Stop or redirect weak bets early to limit downside.

Commercial execution

Own the go-to-market plan across relevant channels, including product proposition, launch timing, volume, price, visibility and selling follow-up. Ensure Quick Response adds incremental demand rather than shifting existing sales.

Team and capability building

Set up and lead a high-performing, cross-functional China team. Create clarity, pace and accountability, coach talent and build the capabilities needed to scale the model.

Senior stakeholder leadership

Align and influence commercial, assortment, sourcing, supply chain, digital, retail, marketing, controlling and central Quick Response stakeholders. Resolve roadblocks quickly and escalate decisions with clear business recommendations.

Performance management

Create a fact-based weekly operating rhythm. Use leading indicators and P&L outcomes to decide what to start, scale, change or stop. Measures of success Incremental topline sales and profitable contribution from Quick Response. P&L delivery versus approved business case and targets. Number and value of winning products scaled successfully. Full-price selling and surplus FUP or inventory outcome. Speed from identified opportunity to market, with a 14-day lead-time ambition where viable.

Share of tests scaled, stopped or redirected based on clear demand signals. Team readiness, decision speed and cross-functional execution quality.

Qualifications

Must-have experience Senior leadership experience building, turning around or scaling a commercial business, venture, new category or operating model. Demonstrated ownership of a P&L or a substantial business budget, with accountability for sales, margin, inventory and profitability. Strong track record of delivering growth through personal drive, initiative and decisive execution, not only through coordination. Hands-on experience in fast product creation or fast production, ideally within fashion, apparel, consumer goods or another trend-led industry.

Ability to connect customer insight and trend detection with product decisions, sourcing or production, and commercial execution. Experience building and leading cross-functional teams in a complex or matrix organisation. Commercial judgement under uncertainty, including the ability to make fast, calculated bets and manage downside risk. Strong influence and communication skills, with the seniority to challenge, align and mobilise stakeholders.

Advantageous Experience from a high-speed local fashion, e-commerce or on-demand production player. Experience launching a business or initiative from zero to scale in China. Understanding of Greater China customers, local digital commerce and trend ecosystems. Existing network across fast-production suppliers, product development or local fashion ecosystems.