PURPOSE & OVERALL RELEVANCE FOR THE ORGANISATION 

We’ll never launch a product unless we consider it perfect. Our product development teams create every shirt, every shoe and every piece of equipment for thousands of athletes and fashion lovers as if it was one of a kind. And it truly is, as they weave their passion into every single product. But translating designs, drawings and renderings into real products requires a lot of decision making.

As Manager Product Costing Apparel / Footwear, you are Contributing to the Brand growth and profitability by gaining a full understanding of its business potential, anticipating requirements, proposing cost-based solutions to achieve Brand adidas objectives. You will be responsible for providing cost engineering expertise, identifying, prioritizing, and implementing cost savings initiatives to hit seasonal product target FOBs and margin. You will develop costing tools and insights to enable product teams for manufacturing and to achieve optimal product cost and maximise product value.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES  

• Provide product costing expertise during product creation cycles to advise on key cost drivers and options to maximize product value and optimize costs to meet margin targets
• Provide technical costing expertise to enable design for manufacturing, facilitating conversations to maximize product cost value with cross-functional teams
• Create FOB & margin report at each of milestone and analysis gaps. Ensure follow up with leaders, development, and product line manager for any variation’s vs target margin/FOBs.
• Increase awareness and understanding for cost process within organization through effective communication and training 
• Drive or support projects to enhance Costing processes & framework in collaboration with Brand, Product & Global Operations
• Participate in Sourcing meetings, sharing BU challenges & opportunities, to find solutions
• Contribute to allocation decisions, by creating transparency of landed cost optimization
• Ensure costing standards, policies and & practices are shared, followed accurately from start to finish while following established timelines and calendars.
• Prepare & communicate additional analysis as required, Cost driver trend / FOB & Margin analysis
• Ensure all relevant costing systems are maintained, partnering with relevant stakeholders

KEY RELATIONSHIPS  

• Brand: Design, Marketing, and Merchandising
• Product Operations – Development, Materials, Pattern and Planning 
• Global Operations: LO/OC Merchandising, Technical Services and Costing
• T1

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES  

• Technical training in product engineering, development or production. 
• Computer literacy (Microsoft Word, Excel, Power-Point / e-mail management). 
• Good written and verbal communication skills and fluent in English
• Clear, logical analytical approach to problem-solving
• Ability to investigate data, find trends, forecast performance and provide insightful recommendations
• Ability to work both independently and cooperatively with a diverse group of people

REQUISITE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE / MINIMUM QUALIFICATION 

1. University degree in clothing / footwear technology, manufacturing, engineering or business, or technical degree as clothing / footwear technician
2. Alternatively, combination of relevant education, experience, and training
3. Minimum 2 years of relevant work experience in Product Costing