Top China Product Sourcing Specialist – Alibaba, 1688 & Direct Manufacturers

We are looking for an extremely experienced China Product Sourcing Specialist to support multiple consumer brands and ongoing new product development.

This is not a basic VA or product research role.

We need someone who knows how to find the right manufacturers, whether through Alibaba, 1688, Made-in-China, Global Sources, direct factory networks, trade fairs, WeChat, or other China-based sourcing channels.

Your Responsibilities
Source qualified OEM/ODM manufacturers in China
Search Alibaba, 1688 and other relevant sourcing/manufacturer platforms
Find manufacturers beyond the obvious suppliers appearing on the first few pages of Alibaba
Identify and verify actual factories vs. trading companies/middlemen
Contact multiple manufacturers for every project
Send detailed product specifications and RFQs
Compare MOQ, pricing, materials/formulations, customization, packaging and lead times
Review factory certifications, testing reports and supporting documentation
Negotiate pricing, MOQ, samples and production terms
Coordinate samples, revisions and product development
Communicate directly with Chinese manufacturers
Arrange or coordinate factory inspections/QC when required
Work with freight forwarders and logistics partners when required
Maintain a clear supplier comparison and sourcing tracker
Recommend the best 3–5 manufacturers for management to make the final decision
Product Categories

Projects may include:

Sports & performance products
Supplements & functional nutrition
Food & beverage products
Personal care & wellness
Fitness accessories
Packaging
Apparel & accessories
Other consumer/FMCG products

Experience with custom formulations and OEM/ODM product development is highly preferred.

Who We Are Looking For
5+ years of serious China sourcing/procurement experience preferred
Advanced experience with Alibaba and 1688
Experience sourcing through other Chinese manufacturer databases/platforms
Strong existing factory/manufacturer network is a major advantage
Strong understanding of OEM, ODM and private-label manufacturing
Excellent supplier negotiation skills
Able to identify factories, traders and sourcing agents
Experience verifying business licenses, certifications and factory capabilities
Experience managing sampling through mass production
Knowledge of QC, freight, EXW, FOB, DDP and international shipping
Able to manage several sourcing projects simultaneously
Strong written English
Mandarin proficiency is highly preferred
Important

We are not looking for someone who simply searches Alibaba and sends us supplier links.

We want someone who can take a product brief and independently:

SOURCE → VERIFY → INQUIRE → COMPARE → NEGOTIATE → SAMPLE → RECOMMEND

You should be able to tell us why you recommend a particular manufacturer, not simply give us a list.

We are looking for someone who can become our long-term sourcing partner/team member across multiple brands and product launches.