diff --git a/client/ayon_core/pipeline/usdlib.py b/client/ayon_core/pipeline/usdlib.py
index 095f6fdc57..6b9d19fd35 100644
--- a/client/ayon_core/pipeline/usdlib.py
+++ b/client/ayon_core/pipeline/usdlib.py
@@ -299,7 +299,6 @@ def add_ordered_sublayer(layer, contribution_path, layer_id, order=None,
             sdf format args metadata if enabled)
 
     """
-
     # Add the order with the contribution path so that for future
     # contributions we can again use it to magically fit into the
     # ordering. We put this in the path because sublayer paths do
@@ -317,20 +316,25 @@ def add_ordered_sublayer(layer, contribution_path, layer_id, order=None,
     # If the layer was already in the layers, then replace it
     for index, existing_path in enumerate(layer.subLayerPaths):
         args = get_sdf_format_args(existing_path)
-        existing_layer = args.get("layer_id")
-        if existing_layer == layer_id:
+        existing_layer_id = args.get("layer_id")
+        if existing_layer_id == layer_id:
+            existing_layer = layer.subLayerPaths[index]
+            existing_order = args.get("order")
+            existing_order = int(existing_order) if existing_order else None
+            if order is not None and order != existing_order:
+                # We need to move the layer, so we will remove this index
+                # and then re-insert it below at the right order
+                log.debug(f"Removing existing layer: {existing_layer}")
+                del layer.subLayerPaths[index]
+                break
+
             # Put it in the same position where it was before when swapping
             # it with the original, also take over its order metadata
-            order = args.get("order")
-            if order is not None:
-                order = int(order)
-            else:
-                order = None
             contribution_path = _format_path(contribution_path,
-                                             order=order,
+                                             order=existing_order,
                                              layer_id=layer_id)
             log.debug(
-                f"Replacing existing layer: {layer.subLayerPaths[index]} "
+                f"Replacing existing layer: {existing_layer} "
                 f"-> {contribution_path}"
             )
             layer.subLayerPaths[index] = contribution_path
diff --git a/client/ayon_core/plugins/publish/extract_usd_layer_contributions.py b/client/ayon_core/plugins/publish/extract_usd_layer_contributions.py
index a78767a76d..c6f6497a6a 100644
--- a/client/ayon_core/plugins/publish/extract_usd_layer_contributions.py
+++ b/client/ayon_core/plugins/publish/extract_usd_layer_contributions.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ except ImportError:
 from ayon_core.lib import (
     TextDef,
     BoolDef,
+    NumberDef,
     UISeparatorDef,
     UILabelDef,
     EnumDef,
@@ -340,11 +341,7 @@ class CollectUSDLayerContributions(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
             attr_values[key] = attr_values[key].format(**data)
 
         # Define contribution
-        scope: str = attr_values["contribution_target_product_init"]
-        order: int = (
-            self.contribution_layers[scope][attr_values["contribution_layer"]]
-        )
-
+        in_layer_order: int = attr_values.get("contribution_in_layer_order", 0)
         if attr_values["contribution_apply_as_variant"]:
             contribution = VariantContribution(
                 instance=instance,
@@ -353,19 +350,23 @@ class CollectUSDLayerContributions(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
                 variant_set_name=attr_values["contribution_variant_set_name"],
                 variant_name=attr_values["contribution_variant"],
                 variant_is_default=attr_values["contribution_variant_is_default"],  # noqa: E501
-                order=order
+                order=in_layer_order
             )
         else:
             contribution = SublayerContribution(
                 instance=instance,
                 layer_id=attr_values["contribution_layer"],
                 target_product=attr_values["contribution_target_product"],
-                order=order
+                order=in_layer_order
             )
 
         asset_product = contribution.target_product
         layer_product = "{}_{}".format(asset_product, contribution.layer_id)
 
+        scope: str = attr_values["contribution_target_product_init"]
+        layer_order: int = (
+            self.contribution_layers[scope][attr_values["contribution_layer"]]
+        )
         # Layer contribution instance
         layer_instance = self.get_or_create_instance(
             product_name=layer_product,
@@ -377,7 +378,7 @@ class CollectUSDLayerContributions(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
             contribution
         )
         layer_instance.data["usd_layer_id"] = contribution.layer_id
-        layer_instance.data["usd_layer_order"] = contribution.order
+        layer_instance.data["usd_layer_order"] = layer_order
 
         layer_instance.data["productGroup"] = (
             instance.data.get("productGroup") or "USD Layer"
@@ -574,6 +575,19 @@ class CollectUSDLayerContributions(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
                     items=list(contribution_layers.keys()),
                     default=default_contribution_layer,
                     visible=visible),
+            # TODO: We may want to make the visibility of this optional
+            #  based on studio preference, to avoid complexity when not needed
+            NumberDef("contribution_in_layer_order",
+                    label="Strength order",
+                    tooltip=(
+                        "The contribution inside the department layer will be "
+                        "made with this offset applied. A higher number means "
+                        "a stronger opinion."
+                    ),
+                    default=0,
+                    minimum=-99999,
+                    maximum=99999,
+                    visible=visible),
             BoolDef("contribution_apply_as_variant",
                     label="Add as variant",
                     tooltip=(
@@ -746,7 +760,7 @@ class ExtractUSDLayerContribution(publish.Extractor):
                     layer=sdf_layer,
                     contribution_path=path,
                     layer_id=product_name,
-                    order=None,  # unordered
+                    order=contribution.order,
                     add_sdf_arguments_metadata=True
                 )
             else: