LO Costing Specialist at Columbia Sportswear Company

Hồ Chí Minh, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Mid-level (3 to 4 years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Apparel, Sportswear, ManufacturingIndustries

Requirements

Ability to train functional teams in root cause analysis, problem-solving techniques, cost benchmarking, and standardization of costing processes
Expertise in studying, improving, and standardizing LO costing processes through collaboration with functional managers
Knowledge to act as LO point person for initiating sustainable process improvements for manufacturing efficiencies and competitive costs
Proficiency in cost engineering, including standardizing costing methodology aligned with global processes
Skills in developing and identifying defined processes and tools for efficient LO costing
Capability to drive compliance and improvement of global costing policies and procedures within LO and suppliers
Experience in creating seasonal benchmarks on standard costs for product creation teams and LO merchandisers
Ability to reduce components negotiated with factories and develop tools/automation shifting costing from negotiation to validation
Proficiency in creating tools (e.g., BA) to reduce overall costing workload at LO
Understanding of economic trends, FOB cost impacts, factory cost structures, and support for price negotiations and sourcing strategy
Ability to support product creation teams and LO merchandisers in achieving brand margin targets
Experience working with global costing team on projects, providing regional feedback for sourcing strategies, policies, and tools
Skills in validating factory information on labor costs, SAMs, and usages; maintaining productivity databases for fact-based negotiations
Knowledge of process improvements at factories aligned with Columbia processes, including long-term carry-over programs
Ability to establish metrics for factory performance on cost, quality, delivery, and compliance
Expertise in commercializing new innovations, evaluating process complexity, feasibility, machinery limitations, labor content, and quality
Capability to support product and quality engineering teams for robust product development and efficient manufacturing
Experience in continuous improvement projects with regional and global costing teams
Negotiation skills for best costs on carry-over and high-volume styles

Responsibilities

Train functional teams to acquire skills in root cause analysis, problem-solving, cost benchmarking, and costing process standardization
Study, improve, and standardize LO costing processes through collaboration with LO functional managers
Serve as LO point person for initiating sustainable process improvements resulting in manufacturing efficiencies and competitive costs
Standardize costing methodology in LO and deliver efficient processes aligned with global standards using defined processes and tools
Drive compliance and improvement of global costing policies and procedures within LO and regional suppliers
Create and publish seasonal benchmarks on standard costs for product creation teams and LO merchandisers
Reduce number of components negotiated with factories; develop tools and automation to shift costing from negotiation to validation
Create tools (e.g., BA) to reduce overall LO costing workload
Communicate economic trends and expected FOB cost impacts prior to development season
Understand factory cost structures to support price negotiations, sourcing strategy, and brand margin targets
Work with global costing team on projects, providing regional feedback for sourcing strategies, policies, and tools
Assist in validating factory information on labor costs, SAMs, and usages; maintain database of productivity for previous seasons to aid negotiations
Drive process improvements at key supplier factories aligned with Columbia processes; manage long-term carry-over programs for lowest cost and improved quality
Establish metrics for factory performance impacting cost, quality, delivery, and compliance
Actively involve in commercializing new innovations by evaluating process complexity, feasibility, machinery, labor, and quality; support product and quality engineering teams
Collaborate with regional and global costing teams on continuous improvement projects for supply chain operational excellence
Negotiate best costs for carry-over and high-volume styles, supporting commercialization teams or directly with key vendors

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Cost EngineeringRoot Cause AnalysisCost BenchmarkingProcess StandardizationPrice NegotiationSourcing StrategyBusiness AnalysisAutomation ToolsProblem Solving

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the employment type for the LO Costing Specialist role?

This is a full-time position.

Is this LO Costing Specialist position remote or office-based?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What key skills are required for the LO Costing Specialist role?

Key skills include root cause analysis, problem-solving techniques, cost benchmarking, standardization of costing processes, and developing tools for automation and business analysis (BA). Experience with cost engineering, factory cost structures, and process improvements at suppliers is essential.

What is the company culture like for this role at Columbia Sportswear?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What makes a strong candidate for the LO Costing Specialist position?

Strong candidates have expertise in standardizing costing methodologies, driving process improvements, collaborating with global and regional teams, and supporting negotiations through fact-based tools and benchmarks.

Columbia Sportswear Company

Designs and sells outdoor apparel and gear

About Columbia Sportswear Company

Columbia Sportswear Company designs and sells a variety of outdoor clothing and gear, including jackets, shirts, pants, shorts, footwear, and accessories like hats and backpacks. Their products are aimed at outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, campers, and active individuals of all ages. Columbia's products are known for their quality and durability, setting them apart from competitors in the outdoor apparel market. The company operates through a direct-to-consumer model, selling via their website, retail stores, and partnerships with other retailers, which helps them reach a wide audience. Their goal is to provide high-quality outdoor gear that enhances the experience of those who enjoy outdoor activities.

Portland, OregonHeadquarters

1938Year Founded

$40KTotal Funding

IPOCompany Stage

Consumer GoodsIndustries

1,001-5,000Employees