Manager Costing Apparel - Lifestyle - Temp until 30.11.2027 (m/f/d)

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

Adidas is seeking a Manager Product Costing Apparel for a temporary assignment until 30 November 2027, full-time and onsite in Herzogenaurach. You’ll bring cost engineering expertise to product creation, drive cost savings to hit seasonal FOBs and margins, and develop tools that empower design, development and manufacturing teams. Key tasks include advising on cost drivers, producing FOB and margin milestones, and leading costing process improvements across Brand, Product and Global Operations while maintaining costing systems. Ideal candidates hold a university degree in clothing technology, manufacturing, engineering or business (or equivalent) with at least 2 years of product costing experience, strong Excel skills and fluent English, and the ability to work independently and cross-functionally. Tips: tailor your CV with quantified cost savings, FOB and margin improvements, and cross-functional projects; highlight Design for Manufacturing experience and landed cost optimization; show how you communicate with diverse stakeholders and train others; indicate your ability to work onsite in Germany and any accommodations needed.

adidas is an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from people of all ages, genders (incl. gender identity), ethnic and social backgrounds, nationalities, sexual orientations, religions and beliefs, and those with apparent or non-apparent disabilities*. We do not tolerate harassment or discrimination toward any of our applicants or employees.
 
*We actively encourage individuals with disabilities to apply and will provide reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process.


Purpose:

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, 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 Qualifications:

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