OTB Group Costing Manager — Footwear Division
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- Posted
- May 25, 2026
About %s
Staff International is an international fashion production and development company operating within the OTB group. The organisation supports global brand portfolios with product development, industrialisation and commercial operations, combining Italian craftsmanship sensibilities with a multinational distribution footprint. As part of OTB, Staff International interfaces closely with creative, sourcing and commercial teams to bring premium footwear and apparel to market.
OTB / Staff International in Milan seeks a Costing Manager — Footwear Division to lead footwear cost modelling, supplier negotiations and margin analysis.
Role & Responsibilities
- Own end-to-end costing for the footwear division: prepare and maintain detailed cost sheets, bills of materials (BOM) and component cost breakdowns for all models and collections.
- Collaborate with design, product development, sourcing and production to validate materials, constructions and assembly methods from a cost and manufacturability perspective.
- Develop margin and price-to-market analyses to support merchandising and commercial teams in retail and wholesale pricing decisions.
- Implement and maintain costing systems and databases (ERP/PLM integration), ensuring data accuracy and version control across the product lifecycle.
- Negotiate component and production costs with suppliers and contract manufacturers; drive cost-reduction and value-engineering initiatives without compromising quality.
- Produce regular reporting and forecasts on cost variances, margin performance and key cost drivers for senior management.
- Lead, mentor and coordinate a small costing team; define workflows, best practices and KPIs to ensure timely delivery of costing outputs.
Qualifications
- Proven experience in footwear costing or product costing within fashion/apparel/leather goods (typically 5+ years, including managerial responsibility).
- In-depth understanding of footwear construction, materials, components and manufacturing processes.
- Strong numerical and analytical aptitude; demonstrated ability to build and interrogate cost models and margin scenarios.
- Negotiation experience with suppliers and manufacturers in an international sourcing environment.
- Practical experience with ERP/PLM systems and integrating costing processes into product lifecycle management.
- Ability to lead a small team, set priorities and communicate complex cost information clearly to commercial and design stakeholders.
Skills
Experience
Several years of progressive responsibility in product costing for footwear or leather goods, including experience interfacing with product development, sourcing and manufacturing partners; prior leadership of a small technical or costing team is expected.
Education
Bachelor's degree in Economics, Industrial Engineering, Fashion Business, Supply Chain Management or a related discipline; equivalent professional experience will be considered.
Workplace
This position is based in Milan, Lombardy, Italy.
Culture
Staff International operates at the intersection of Italian artisanal know-how and global commercial ambition as part of the OTB group. The workplace favours cross-functional collaboration between creative, sourcing and commercial teams and values technical rigor, pragmatic problem-solving and continuous improvement.
About %s
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like OTB Group, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Footwear Costing Lead», «Head of Costing — Footwear», «Costing & Pricing Manager — Shoes», «Product Cost Manager — Footwear», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.