Product Cost Engineering Manager

Peter Millar LLC; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Peter Millar LLC in North Carolina seeks a Product Cost Engineering Manager to lead costing strategy across Apparel, Footwear and Accessories. This role combines deep costing expertise with hands-on analysis, modeling and vendor collaboration to protect margin, inform pricing decisions and enable commercially viable product development.

You will build and maintain cost models, analyze BOMs and yields, and partner with Merchandising, Design, Sourcing, Supply Chain and Finance to ensure costing

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Finance, Supply Chain, Textile/Fashion, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 7+ years of experience in apparel, footwear or accessories costing, sourcing, product development or technical design, with direct exposure to vendor or factory environments.
• Familiarity leveraging AI tools to improve efficiency and decision-making preferred.
• Deep understanding of BOM structure, fabric costing, garment construction, yields and landed cost components (freight, duty, tariffs, COO).
• Proven ability to develop and execute cost strategies that drive margin improvement without compromising product quality or brand standards.
• Advanced Excel and financial modelling expertise, including scenario analysis, forecasting and cost benchmarking.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable business recommendations.
• Effective communicator with the ability to influence cross-functional partners and senior stakeholders through clarity, insight and commercial reasoning.

Responsibilities

• Lead margin and IMU strategy across Apparel, Footwear and Accessories, developing scenario-based cost models to evaluate profitability and risk.
• Own style-level costing from concept through bulk production, ensuring costs align with target margins at every stage.
• Build and maintain cost models covering materials, trims, labor, construction, overhead, freight, duty, tariffs and COO.
• Audit and validate vendor costing structures to ensure integrity and alignment with internal cost standards.
• Standardise cost templates and methodologies to enable consistency across vendors, categories and regions.
• Partner with factories and mills to validate costing assumptions and resolve discrepancies.

Skills

Financial modelling

Advanced Excel

Cost analysis

Data-driven decision making

Cross-functional influence

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Finance/Supply Chain/Textile/Fashion

Tools

Centric PLM

AI tools

Job description

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing! We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business. Peter Millar was founded in 2001 with a single cashmere sweater offered in 24 colors. Based in Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina, the American lifestyle brand has grown to include luxury performance sportswear, seasonal resort and country club apparel, sophisticated classics, casually refined tailored clothing and sartorial accessories. We strive to capture timeless style upgraded with signature innovations, in designs that are in tune with modern life. We embrace working hard, being kind and doing right by our customers, aiming to set a higher standard for the apparel industry.

The Product Cost Engineering Manager is a key technical and commercial partner responsible for driving product costing strategy and execution across Apparel, Footwear and Accessories. This role serves as the organization’s central cost authority, combining deep costing expertise with hands‑on analysis, modeling and vendor collaboration to protect margin, inform pricing decisions and enable commercially viable product development.

This individual will build and maintain advanced cost models, analyze BOMs and material yields, and partner closely with Merchandising, Design, Product Development, Sourcing, Supply Chain and Finance to ensure costing accuracy and alignment from concept through production.

Cost Strategy, Modeling & Margin Leadership

Lead margin and IMU strategy across Apparel, Footwear and Accessories, developing scenario-based cost models (fabric, construction, MOQ, COO, vendor changes) to evaluate profitability and risk. Serve as the organization’s central cost authority, partnering with Merchandising and Finance on pricing architecture, margin trade-offs, forecasting and long-range planning.

Style-Level Costing & End-to-End Analysis

Own style-level costing from concept through bulk production, ensuring costs align with target margins at every stage of the product lifecycle. Build and maintain detailed cost models covering materials, trims, labor, construction, overhead, freight, duty, tariffs and COO. Analyse BOMs, material yields and construction methods to identify simplification, efficiency and value-engineering opportunities without compromising quality or aesthetics. Track estimated vs. actual costs, analyse variances and identify root causes to drive continuous improvement in cost accuracy and execution.

Vendor Partnership & Cost Transparency

Lead pre-costing analysis and support bulk negotiations using data-driven insights, ensuring vendor cost breakdowns are accurate, comparable and transparent. Audit and validate vendor costing structures to ensure integrity and alignment with internal cost standards. Standardise cost templates and methodologies to enable consistency across vendors, categories and regions. Partner directly with factories and mills to validate costing assumptions, resolve discrepancies and strengthen supplier relationships. Travel as needed to support development, resolve cost issues and maintain alignment across the supply base.

Systems, Governance & Data Integrity

Ensure alignment between PLM systems, negotiated costs and financial reporting, maintaining consistent and accurate costing data across platforms. Develop advanced Excel-based models and dashboards to provide leadership with visibility into margin performance, risks and opportunities. Establish and maintain costing SOPs and governance processes to ensure consistency, accuracy and scalability. Continuously improve costing tools, templates and workflows to increase efficiency and enhance decision-making.

Cross-Functional Influence & Leadership

Act as the go-to cost expert across Sourcing, Merchandising, Design, Development, Supply Chain and Finance. Influence senior stakeholders through data-backed recommendations, clear communication of trade-offs and strong commercial acumen. Support seasonal development cycles, product presentations and go-to-market readiness from a costing perspective. Model professionalism, collaboration and a continuous improvement mindset, driving alignment across teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Finance, Supply Chain, Textile/Fashion, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 7+ years of experience in apparel, footwear or accessories costing, sourcing, product development or technical design, with direct exposure to vendor or factory environments.
• Familiarity leveraging AI tools to improve efficiency and decision-making preferred.
• Deep understanding of BOM structure, fabric costing, garment construction, yields and landed cost components (freight, duty, tariffs, COO).
• Proven ability to develop and execute cost strategies that drive margin improvement without compromising product quality or brand standards.
• Advanced Excel and financial modelling expertise, including scenario analysis, forecasting and cost benchmarking.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable business recommendations.
• Effective communicator with the ability to influence cross-functional partners and senior stakeholders through clarity, insight and commercial reasoning.
• Experience with PLM systems (Centric a plus).
• Demonstrated ability to work independently in a fast-paced, seasonal product environment with multiple priorities.

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us! Peter Millar & G/FORE are equal opportunity employers.

In accordance with anti-discrimination law, it is the purpose of this policy to effectuate these principles and mandates.

Both Peter Millar & G/FORE prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and they afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, genetic information, marital status, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.

Both Peter Millar & G/FORE comply with applicable state, county and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment.

Peter Millar was founded in 2001 with a single cashmere sweater.

Interested in exploring a different side of the brand family? G/FORE is where style meets personality - take a look at current opportunities here