Footwear Costing Specialist (9 months contract)

Carries out footwear costing activities for assigned products in line with the organisation's costing standards. It works with product creation teams and suppliers to review cost breakdowns, identify cost improvement opportunities, and provide accurate, timely cost information. The position supports costing projects and margin delivery with guidance from the Senior Footwear Costing Lead, and sits within the Global Footwear Costing team alongside product creation, sourcing colleagues, and supplier partners.

• Carry out costing activities for assigned products, following agreed priorities, timelines, and costing methodologies.
• Review cost breakdowns, check material consumption, labour, and overhead assumptions, and clarify discrepancies with relevant teams and suppliers.
• Apply costing policies consistently and escalate discrepancies or exceptions to the Senior Footwear Costing Leads for review.
• Identify practical cost improvements through material utilisation, pattern efficiency, product construction, and manufacturing methods, and assess cost trade-offs with Creation and Sourcing teams while maintaining required performance and quality.
• Prepare cost comparisons and supporting data for negotiations, follow up on supplier cost questions under guidance, and coordinate agreed actions with internal teams and suppliers, escalating unresolved issues promptly.
• Maintain accurate costing records, templates, and system data, and support costing process improvements, system testing and automation, and follow-up on identified issues.
• Check the consistent application of costing standards by suppliers and support costing reviews or audits.
• Work with Development, Materials, Product Strategy, and Sourcing teams to address costing questions at relevant creation milestones, and explain cost findings clearly to support product decisions.
• Deliver product costing updates and assigned project outputs accurately and on time, support assigned costing projects, update progress and savings records, and flag issues requiring review.
• Monitor relevant material and manufacturing cost changes, assess their impact on assigned products, and share costing knowledge while supporting practical training for creation and sourcing colleagues to contribute to consistent costing practices.

• University degree in business, economics, finance, accounting, engineering, or a related field.
• 3–4 years of relevant experience in footwear costing, product development, or manufacturing, with practical exposure to product cost analysis.
• Good understanding of footwear construction, manufacturing processes, and product cost drivers.
• Experience preparing cost breakdowns, checking cost data, and supporting costing activities with internal teams or suppliers.

• Sourcing planning experience is an advantage.