The North Face: Costing Manager

Job title: The North Face: Costing Manager

Company: VF Corporation

Job description: Now that you’ve found the job description, what’s next?At The North Face we dare to lead the world forward through Exploration. We were born to Explore, Disrupt and to Lead. We were born to Love Wild Places and to Spark Curiosity. We believe that exploration is a mindset – both on the mountain and off the mountain – and it infuses everything we do. As a community of explorers, we stay curious about new ideas, places, and people.So, before we get to the job details, take a minute to learn a little more about us – our values and our culture. If you can see yourself working side-by-side with a team of adventure-loving people, The North Face just may be the place for you.To learn more about our values and our culture, visit or .What will you do?We are excited to find a candidate that loves numbers & product development. The primary responsibility of the Global Costing Manager is to ensure seasonal developments are in line with The North Face’s & VF’s Financial goals. This person will play a crucial role in ensuring that The North Face’s apparel products are developed and produced in a cost-effective manner while maintaining quality and meeting planned business objectives. They will own managing the process of determining costs associated with development and production under the umbrella of the Global Product Development team.The Global Costing Manager role involves a combination of financial analysis, product development, cost engineering and driving collaboration with various departments to accomplish or exceed in-season & future financial goals. This entails managing the day-to-day communication with our Product Management, Technical Development, Materials, & Design teams as well as with Sourcing offices (Costing, Sourcing & Regional development teams) as well as Finance.Let’s break down that day-in-the-life a bit more.

• Set Seasonal Development Cost Targets: Provide pre-concept material and FOB targets leveraging historical data analytics aligned to seasonal & future financial targets. This involves collaboration with Pricing & Profitability, Finance, Product Management, Materials, Design & Sourcing to estimate the costs involved in developing and producing new seasonal developments.
• Adherence to Development FOB: Confirm FOB targets during the pre-cost & initial allocation stage. Be the active spokesperson to ensure all cross-functional partners adhere to fabric, and material costs to achieve the target. Partner with regional Costing teams to ensure negotiated labor & overhead support in season and growth strategies for new developments. Be transparent at every development milestone of FOB & margin as well as provide technical costing expertise that permits teams to design into profitable product.
• Sourcing: Collaborate with Sourcing to ensure allocation strategies achieve margin maximization. This includes being the liaison between Merchant teams & Sourcing teams to present seasonal Brief & providing context for strategic initiatives. It involves sharing projected forecasts, style development needs & regional costing expectations so that Sourcing can determine appropriate Vendor allocation that will support regional financial & volume/capacity investment goals & product execution needs.
• Financial Analysis: Analyze cost data, market trends, and industry benchmarks to develop accurate cost estimates and projections. Identify areas for cost savings and efficiency improvements on all new & carryover developments
• Global Costing Management: Manage the entire development costing process pre-concept to bulk buy for multiple seasons for all regions. Ensure that cost targets align with strategic objectives & are favorable for global adoption. Support definition of product costing performance as well as the framework & KPIs that measure success. Provide final costing in time to support cross-functional deliverables. Develop costing tools and/or support development or enhancement of systems and tools to ensure teams are continuously seeking ways to improve margins
• Team Collaboration: This person will work closely and collaboratively with Global Product teams, Category Planning, Supply Chain, Global/Regional Planning teams, GTM and Finance departments to gather relevant data and insights required for accurate costing. This can include implementing the strategy and the execution plan to achieve brand strategies, financial, pricing and distribution goals. It will also involve partnerships with Sourcing teams to understand supplier costs and ensure Brand needs are communicated to support the negotiation of favorable terms
• Reporting: Maintain detailed records of cost estimates (pre-cost tool). Provide transparent costing/margin documentation for immediate teams and leadership for business decision-making & planning. Ad hoc reporting and special projects, primarily related to understanding product costs, factory output, and the enhancement of financial performance
• Risk Assessment: Identify potential cost-related risks and work with stakeholders to mitigate them. Anticipate challenges that could impact the accuracy of cost estimates. Collaborate to identify risks and opportunities throughout the line and GTM process
• Continuous Improvement: Continuously refine and enhance costing methodologies and tools based on feedback, changing market conditions, and industry best practices. Proactively seek ways to communicate complex data in a format agreeable for various audiences
• Active Participant in Development Decisions: May recommend materials and construction techniques that meet will allow garments to meet or exceed gross margin targets
• Achieve Global & Regional Margin Goals: Ensure Global and Regional product merchandising targets by product category and classification align with financial and brand strategies. This will be done through partnership with Global Pricing and Profitability & Finance teams to track progress against targets to achieve global and regional revenue & margin goals. Working closely with Planning, Pricing & Profitability, PM, Materials, and Merchandising to identify opportunities to improve the margin on new and carryover products, ensuring costs are in line with critical path, from predictive through to latest factory quoted costs

What do you need to succeed?We all have unique skills that we bring to work and celebrate every day. For this role, there are foundational skills you’ll need to succeed and excel.The skills you will need in this position are:

• 5+ years of professional experience in product development, pricing, costing, merchandise planning, forecasting, or buying
• 3+ years of experience in the apparel industry
• Educational/Position Requirements: Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of financial principles, cost accounting, and budgeting techniques.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to gather, analyze, and interpret data to make informed cost estimates and projections.
• Computer/Software Applications: Microsoft Office Suite – very strong Excel skills required
• Attention to Detail: Thoroughness in collecting and validating data, as small errors in estimation can lead to significant cost discrepancies.
• Technical Knowledge: Familiarity with the industry, product development processes, and manufacturing methods to accurately assess cost factors.
• Communication: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and present cost estimates to stakeholders. Communicate strategic direction – organize well, set a clear and simple course of action
• Project Management: Proficiency in managing multiple projects simultaneously (i.e. managing multi seasonal development), adhering to deadlines, and ensuring proper resource allocation.
• Business Acumen: Proven ability to work with and lead a cross-functional team. Able to address challenges to guide practical and meaningful change in the business
• High Process Orientation: Can identify opportunities and transform ways of working across groups & is efficient with time management
• Flexibility with Availability: Ability to work some flexible hours because of varying time zones and regions

What do we offer you?At The North Face, we know you expect as much from us as we do from you. That is why we make a commitment to support and grow our people. We offer extensive development and growth opportunities for your current and future positions, a competitive compensation package, and a strong benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and 401(k).Our commitment extends beyond this and into your daily work life. We strive to foster a diverse and inclusive culture based on respect, connection, and authenticity. Our focus on DEI is at the foundation of who we are and what we do.To learn more about The North Face’s benefits package, follow this and click “Looking to Join VF”.To learn more about The North Face’s Diversity and Inclusion efforts, go to www.thenorthface.com.Now WE have a question for YOU.Are you in?Hiring Range: $95,040.00 USD – $118,800.00 USD annuallyIncentive Potential: This position is eligible for additional compensation awards that may include an annual incentive plan, sales incentive, or commission potential. Specific details of the additional compensation eligibility for this position will be provided during the recruiting and interview process.Benefits at VF Corporation: You can review a general overview of each benefit program offered, including this year’s medical plan rates on and by clicking Looking to Join VF? Detailed information on your benefits will be provided during the hiring process.Please note, our hiring ranges are determined and built from market pay data. In determining the specific compensation for this position, we comply with all local, state, and federal laws.At VF, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. If you are unable to submit your application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at . VF will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities to the extent required by applicable law.Pursuant to all applicable local Fair Chance Ordinance requirements, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, VF will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Expected salary:

Location: Denver, CO

Job posting date: Thu, 07 Nov 2024 08:36:57 GMT

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