Senior Sourcing & Manufacturing Manager
Likely Inc. | China Office
Position: Full Time, On Site
Salary: USD $3,000 per month
Location: Dongguan City, Guangdong province, China
Reporting To: US Operations and Development Team, Los Angeles
About the Position
Likely is a US based creative development and manufacturing company specializing in premium packaging, custom products, and branded merchandise.
We are seeking an experienced Senior Sourcing & Manufacturing Manager with proven expertise in direct factory sourcing, manufacturer qualification, factory auditing, and production oversight throughout China.
This is a hands-on manufacturing position, not an administrative, online sourcing, or order follow-up role.
Key Responsibilities
Identify, evaluate, and establish direct relationships with legitimate manufacturers throughout China.
Source factories specializing in premium packaging, paper products, glass, metal, textiles, and custom merchandise.
Conduct comprehensive factory audits before recommending or approving new manufacturing partners.
Verify factory ownership, manufacturing capabilities, production equipment, materials, quality control procedures, and operational standards.
Negotiate pricing, production terms, and manufacturing timelines directly with factories.
Conduct regular factory visits, production inspections, and manufacturing assessments.
Identify manufacturing risks and resolve production issues proactively.
Prepare detailed factory audit and inspection reports, including photographs, findings, and corrective actions.
Communicate directly with our Los Angeles operations and development teams.
Assist in evaluating and interviewing additional manufacturing and QC personnel.
Mandatory Requirements
1. FLUENT ENGLISH IS NONNEGOTIABLE
Candidates must be fully fluent in spoken and written English.
You must be capable of conducting technical discussions, participating in meetings, and preparing professional reports entirely in English.
If you are not fluent in English, please do not apply.
2. DIRECT FACTORY SOURCING EXPERIENCE IS MANDATORY
We are seeking someone with proven experience identifying and sourcing directly from actual manufacturers, not simply using Alibaba, trading companies, or online sourcing platforms.
Candidates must demonstrate the ability to independently identify, verify, visit, evaluate, and qualify manufacturing facilities.
You must have practical experience conducting factory audits, evaluating manufacturing equipment, reviewing production capabilities, assessing quality control systems, and negotiating directly with manufacturers.
Sourcing experience limited to Alibaba, online marketplaces, or intermediaries does not qualify.
During the interview process, candidates will be required to demonstrate their sourcing methods, explain their factory verification procedures, and provide examples of previous factory audits.
3. FACTORY TRAVEL IS REQUIRED
Candidates must be willing and able to travel regularly throughout China to visit manufacturers, conduct factory audits, perform inspections, and oversee manufacturing activities.
Travel schedules will depend on production requirements.
If you are unwilling or unable to travel regularly, please do not apply.
4. RELOCATION AND ON SITE WORK ARE MANDATORY
This is a full time, on site position based at our China office.
Candidates must currently live within commuting distance or be willing to relocate to our China office.
Remote work is not available for this position.
If you are unwilling to relocate or work from our China office, please do not apply.
5. MANUFACTURING EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED
Minimum 5 years of relevant manufacturing and direct factory sourcing experience.
Proven experience working directly with manufacturers throughout China.
Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, materials, printing, finishing, and quality standards.
Demonstrated experience conducting factory audits and qualifying manufacturers.
Proven ability to negotiate manufacturing costs and evaluate production capabilities.
Strong organizational skills, independent judgment, and problem solving abilities.
Interview & Assessment Process
All qualified candidates will undergo multiple interviews and practical assessments before a final hiring decision.
Assessments will include:
1.English Proficiency: Live interviews conducted entirely in English.
2.Direct Factory Sourcing: Demonstration of sourcing methods used to identify legitimate manufacturers independently of online marketplaces.
3.Factory Auditing: Practical evaluation of factory qualification procedures, manufacturing capabilities, equipment, and quality control standards.
4.Manufacturing Knowledge: Technical assessment covering materials, production processes, construction methods, and manufacturing tolerances.
5.Problem Solving: Real manufacturing scenarios requiring candidates to identify risks and recommend corrective actions.
6.Final Interview: Evaluation with our US management team.