Job Overview
This role executes the Brand’s footwear costing strategy in Zurich, ensuring consistent and fact-based cost and margin management throughout the product creation lifecycle. Acting as a strategic partner to cross-functional teams, the Lead – Footwear Costing translates global costing direction into robust processes, tools, and insights that facilitate profitable growth. This role reports to the Head of Footwear Costing, who defines the global footwear costing strategy and operating model while providing strategic direction and governance for the global footwear costing function.
Your Mission
- Execute and continuously evolve the footwear costing strategy and operating model in Zurich, in alignment with the direction set by the Head of Footwear Costing.
- Embed end-to-end costing into all key product creation milestones, from early concept through commercialization.
- Own and develop costing tools, templates, dashboards, and core assumptions, ensuring data quality, version control, and a single source of truth.
- Partner closely with Product Strategy, Design, Development, Materials, Sustainability, Sourcing, Finance, and Controlling to integrate costing effectively from the start.
- Deliver reliable product cost and margin reporting, ensuring timely delivery, quality, and adherence to decision-making gates.
- Represent the costing function with clarity and credibility, enhancing cost literacy and decision quality across functional creation teams.
Attributes of a Successful Candidate
- Ownership: Takes accountability for cost and margin outcomes across the footwear creation process.
- Fact-based & Structured: Brings rigor, transparency, and clarity to cost discussions and decision-making.
- Collaborative: Builds strong partnerships across cross-functional teams, which is key to success.
- Adaptable & Resilient: Thrives in dynamic environments with shifting priorities and complexity.
Your Story
- University degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Engineering, or a related field, with a strong passion for value engineering.
- 5+ years of experience in footwear costing, sourcing, supply chain finance, or product economics within a premium or performance footwear brand.
- Strong understanding of footwear construction, manufacturing processes, and key cost drivers.
- Proven experience in owning or driving costing processes and tools in a cross-functional environment.
- Advanced analytical capability with strong proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint, combined with sound commercial judgment and high integrity.
- Adaptable, resilient, and an effective communicator in fast-paced, cross-cultural environments.
- Fluent in English (written and spoken).
Your Team
The Footwear Costing Team supports the Brand by delivering fact-based cost transparency, margin discipline, and decision-ready insights across the entire footwear creation process. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered. Apply online using the form below.