Analyst, Costing
ABOUT YOUR ROLE:
The Costing Engineer will apply knowledge of apparel costing, garment construction, and manufacturing processes to validate product costs, analyze cost drivers, and identify cost optimization opportunities throughout the product development lifecycle.
Partnering with vendors, sourcing, and product development, the role will support fact-based cost analysis and negotiation preparation to drive cost transparency, informed decision-making, and competitive product costs across VF brands.
This role is an excellent opportunity for a motivated professional to develop a strong foundation in apparel manufacturing, development costing, sourcing strategies, and cost engineering while working in a dynamic global organization.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE (but not limited to):
- Connectivity: Support clear and timely communication of information across vendors and cross-functional stakeholders, within but not limited to the sourcing, brand, material, and planning teams.
- Operations: Support seasonal development costing milestones and calendar activities, including cost sheet follow-up, cost validation, and timely completion of assigned costing tasks.
- Profitability: Review cost sheets, analyze cost drivers, and conduct vendor cost negotiations using fact-based costing methodology and product engineering knowledge. Support manager-led negotiations for more complex or high-impact costing topics.
- Governance: Follow established costing processes and help track key costing information to support accuracy, transparency and process adherence by vendors and internal teams.
- Team: Collaborate with team members and stakeholders in a professional, accountable and solution-oriented manner.
- Process Improvements: Contribute ideas to improve costing activity efficiency, reduce manual work and support more consistent ways of working.
- Project Support: Participate in cross-functional initiatives and support analysis or deliverables as needed in a fast-paced environment.
WHAT WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR IN YOU:
Competency requirements:
- Demonstrates accountability, ownership, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
- Takes initiative to help resolve issues by engaging the right stakeholders and following through to closure, even when challenges extend beyond their immediate responsibilities.
- Curious and eager to learn new processes, tools, products, and ways of working in a fast-paced environment.
- Builds effective working relationships and collaborates well with vendors and cross-functional partners to achieve shared goals.
- Communicates clearly and professionally, with the confidence to engage on assigned topics and seek guidance when needed.
- Applies analytical thinking and data-driven reasoning to support decision-making and continuous improvement.
- Adapts well to change and works effectively in a fast-paced, matrix organization with multiple priorities.
Skill Requirements:
- Min 1 to 4 years of experience in apparel costing, garment manufacturing, product development, sourcing, merchandising, buying office, trading company, or a related environment.
- Good knowledge of garment manufacturing and apparel costing, including garment construction, BOM, materials, trims, labor, overhead, efficiency, factory cost structures, and FOB cost development.
- Ability to review vendor cost sheets, validate cost assumptions, analyze cost drivers, identify cost optimization opportunities, and support fact-based cost negotiations.
- Understanding of apparel manufacturing processes such as knitting, weaving, dyeing, printing, embroidery, finishing, or other related production processes. Exposure to sweater knits or accessories is an advantage.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with vendors and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Exposure to PLM, costing systems, process improvement, system enhancement, or digital tools is an advantage.
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, with good written and spoken English.