Costing Engineer at Allbirds

Vietnam, Nhinh Binh | Asia Production Team | Reports to Director, Manufacturing 

Who is Allbirds?

At Allbirds, we believe in using business as a force for good. We’re a global footwear and apparel brand with roots in New Zealand and our headquarters in San Francisco. Since 2016, we’ve been on a mission to prove that comfort, design, and sustainability aren’t mutually exclusive. Our commitment to creating better things in a better way is fueled by a belief that the fashion industry needs to focus less on flash and more on thoughtfulness. And as a certified B Corp, we’re dedicated to making the most sustainable products we can using premium natural materials - designed for life’s everyday adventures.

* Where we need help

This is a pivotal position, leading the costing team in Vietnam managing global footwear costing, driving long and short term cost saving opportunities to maximize margin ,  establishing a fact based costing SOP;  working closely with cross-functional teams, to drive the long term strategy to strengthen our business through sustainable cost saving.

* What does the job entail? 

• Work collaboratively with US Costing,  and Finance teams, to inform, drive and facilitate decisions throughout the initial product creation process to deliver increased margin on new product creation using pre-coting tools aligned with Allbirds profitability expectations
• Collaboratively drive continuous improvement in cost reduction, by identifying better ways of working driving efficiency in our processes delivering post costing savings to our bottom line.
• Work closely with Asia PD, Planning, and Manufacturing teams to actively manage cost drivers in the initial Bill of Labor and Bill of Materials, Including detailed review/analysis of documentation and actual manufacturing processes for complete, accurate and optimized product costing.
• Be responsible for managing all costing functions in Centric, keeping these up to date on a daily basis. 
• In collaboration with US Costing, bring experience of fact based costing, and costing framework models to contribute to a  sustainable and standardized costing model for all products.
• Collaborate with factory partners to capture value through innovation initiatives.
• Support continuous improvement and open and transparent costing across the supply chain.
• Collaborate with VN Costing Engineer (continuous improvement) providing  inputs to product costing, raw material prices, material waste impacts, construction/labor costs, and tooling cost and amortization
• Track, analyze and benchmark development overhead costs, including sample drop rates, and sampling charges.
• Build strong partnerships with suppliers, track their performance based on costing accuracy and efficiency , collaborate with T1/T2 suppliers for continuous improvement in development material/sample efficiency.
• In collaboration with US Costing, partner with Planning (SF) and  supply chain team on product volume forecasts, identify potential bottlenecks and actively advise on  volume discount opportunities
• Track, analyze and benchmark factory development overhead costs
• Document and manage inputs to product costing, such as raw material prices, material waste impacts, construction/labor costs, and tooling cost and amortization
• Partner with product management, material, and development teams through product development cycle and line reviews, to achieve margin goals
• Track and monitor fabric liability on a seasonal basis, and advise best usage plans.

*What are we looking for?

• Passionate about sustainability and making things in a better way
• Low ego and high horsepower, you are continuously seeking improvement processes for Allbirds and for your own development.
• Perpetually curious, always seeking to improve your understanding of Allbirds’ businesses, and identify new opportunities by questioning assumptions and taking the initiative to solve problems 
• Entrepreneurial, self-directed and resourceful, you thrive in a highly dynamic, and unstructured environment, and never hesitate to get things done.
• 2-5 + years experience working at a premium footwear brand
• Commercial and analytical mindset
• Proficiency in Excel.
• Strong price negotiation skills and impeccable integrity
• Technical experience and knowledge of product construction and manufacturing methods
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills in a fast-paced, cross-cultural, and cross-functional environment
• Fluent in English spoken and written 
• Able to influence at all levels of an organization, and vendor base.
• Able to work independently with minimal direction.
• High learning agility, to implement processes across footwear and apparel.
• Exceptional analytical and organizational skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Ability to work under pressure, meet established timelines and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to travel domestically 

Nice to Have 

• Bachelor's degree in Management, Business, Engineering or related field preferred.
• Understanding of Materials Development process.
• Understanding of Centric or other PLM systems 
• Proficient use of Microsoft Excel
• Strong project management background
• Demonstrated success in the management of people and very strong leadership skills.
• Excellent written/verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Strong analytical, numerical and reasoning abilities; problem analysis and problem resolution at both a strategic and functional level.
• Ability to identify areas of improvement, and create project plans for continuous improvement.
• Proven relationship builder, creating open and transparent vendor relationships and accountability across the T1, and T2 vendor base.
• Mandarin speaker a bonus! 

 Education requirements

• BS or above in Engineering, management, or business, or industry experience equivalent.

What do we offer?

• Competitive salary
• Medical/Dental/Vision insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Fitness benefits
• Free shoes
• Pup friendly office!

Diversity

Allbirds is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. Allbirds policy prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, marital or veteran status, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member), sexual orientation, pregnancy, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. It also prohibits discrimination based on a perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics. All such discrimination is unlawful.