VF Corporation Hiring! Full Time Manager, Costing (Altra) in - Ricebowl

About Your Role

The Manager, Costing will manage development costing activities for Altra footwear, supporting accurate, timely and commercially sound product-cost decisions throughout the product development cycle.

This role will partner closely with Product Development, Sourcing, Engineering, Finance, Materials and Product Vendors to establish reliable product costs, identify cost-saving opportunities and support design-to-cost decisions. The Manager will help implement consistent, fact-based costing methodologies and improve the efficiency, accuracy and transparency of costing processes.

The role requires strong footwear manufacturing knowledge, analytical capability and the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders. The individual will also support process improvement initiatives and share costing knowledge and best practices with relevant teams.

Your Responsibilities Will Include

Product Costing and Profitability

• Manage end-to-end development costing activities for assigned Altra footwear products.
• Review and validate product costs, including materials, labour, overhead, tooling and other relevant manufacturing cost components.
• Identify opportunities to improve product profitability through design-to-cost, material optimization, manufacturing efficiency and supplier collaboration.
• Provide clear costing insights and recommendations to support product, sourcing and commercial decisions.
• Monitor cost development against agreed targets and highlight material risks, variances and opportunities.

Costing Governance

• Ensure costing information is accurate, complete and communicated on time across Product Vendors and relevant internal functions.
• Support consistent use of costing standards, tools and methodologies.
• Maintain appropriate costing documentation, assumptions and records to enable transparency and effective decision-making.
• Ensure adherence to agreed costing processes, timelines and approval requirements.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with Product Development, Sourcing, Engineering, Materials, Finance and Product Vendors to support effective cost management.
• Work with stakeholders to understand product requirements, identify cost drivers and recommend practical solutions.
• Facilitate timely resolution of costing issues during the product development process.
• Build effective working relationships across a global and matrixed organization.

Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve costing accuracy, productivity and efficiency.
• Support the elimination of redundant activities and the automation of repetitive costing tasks.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of standardized, scalable costing processes.
• Use costing data and analysis to identify trends, recurring issues and improvement opportunities.
• Participate in cross-functional costing projects and provide relevant analyses and deliverables.

Capability Building

• Share costing knowledge, tools and best practices with relevant team members and business partners.
• Support onboarding and capability development for costing associates when required.
• Provide practical guidance on footwear costing methodologies and manufacturing cost drivers.
• Promote consistent application of costing standards and processes.

Travel

• Approximately 10%, based on business requirements.

What We Will Be Looking for in You

Competencies

• Strong technical understanding of footwear product costing and manufacturing.
• Commercially minded, with the ability to connect product decisions to cost and profitability.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Able to translate complex costing information into clear business recommendations.
• Collaborative and comfortable working across different functions, cultures and locations.
• Able to influence stakeholders and build consensus without relying on formal authority.
• Organized, detail-oriented and able to manage several priorities within seasonal timelines.
• Proactive in identifying risks, gaps and opportunities for improvement.
• Digital mindset with an interest in process efficiency, automation and data-driven decision-making.
• Clear and concise communication style, with the ability to be diplomatic, open and direct.

Skills and Experience

• Relevant experience in footwear product costing, development, engineering, manufacturing, sourcing, a buying office or a trading company.
• Strong knowledge of footwear construction, manufacturing processes and product cost drivers.
• Practical understanding of materials, labour, manufacturing overhead and supplier cost structures.
• Experience reviewing cost breakdowns and supporting cost negotiations.
• Experience working with Product Development, Sourcing, Engineering, Materials, Finance and manufacturing partners.
• Demonstrated experience improving processes, tools or ways of working.
• Strong analytical skills and proficiency in Excel or other relevant costing and data-analysis tools.
• Good commercial acumen and stakeholder-management skills.
• Experience working in a global, matrixed organization would be an advantage.
• Experience with digital costing platforms, automated costing tools or data visualization would be an advantage.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Footwear Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, Finance, Supply Chain or a related discipline.
• Equivalent relevant industry experience may also be considered.