The Apparel/Accessories Costing Excellence (ACE) team is a function of Nike’s Global Sourcing and Manufacturing team, driving product cost transparency and excellence through effective costing and cost engineering. ACE also creates the costing frameworks, standards, and systems to enable an integrated costing process for Apparel/Accessories (AP/AC), leading manufacturing cost negotiations and serving as subject-matter-experts and change leaders in costing for Nike.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We’re looking for a Marker Specialist who is based in Singapore and responsible for the seasonal evaluation of apparel, headwear and accessories fabric and trims utilization, enabling cost accuracy/avoidance and reduction of material wastage in long term through marker validation, optimization, and standardization efforts.
Being the subject matter expert, the Marker Specialist will also be collaborating with both internal and external stakeholders, providing technical support and guidance through troubleshooting, discussions and trainings related to material utilization and factory performance improvement.
Operationally, the Marker Specialist is required to prepare seasonal reporting, perform data analysis and regular maintenance of existing SOP (Standard Operating Procedure), tools and documents. In Nike, change is constant. Therefore, the desire and curiosity to constantly identify or explore opportunities for continuous process improvement in existing workflow and practices over time is highly valued.
WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON
On a day-to-day basis, you will be evaluating on seasonal marker validation, analyzing and optimizing material (fabric/trims) utilization by evaluating factories’ costing marker using pattern/marker software during seasonal marker validation. You will be providing cost effective marker lay-up recommendations and accurate justification of usage and percent efficiency standard which contributes to cost accuracy/avoidance for Nike. At the end of each season, you are to provide seasonal cost savings reporting that will be shared with relevant Nike stakeholders.
During the marker validation or material utilization process, whether seasonal or ad-hoc basis, you are
expected to provide technical support & guidance to internal and external stakeholders through area of expertise and knowledge of fabrics, construction, and fit standards to troubleshoot or address on fabric/trims related usage initiatives and enquiries.
You will be presenting findings and/or providing solutions, options or recommendations whenever possible. There is also a need to deep dive with factory and costing team to review factories’ seasonal material efficiency performance whenever required. You will initiate and lead discussion with factory partners to resolve technical matters and drive manufacturing process improvement with the aim to reduce waste and improve efficiency.
In a team setting, you should be actively involved in weekly team meeting to share updates, explore and drive possible process/ system improvement conversation to optimize day to day operational efficiency. Always sharing best practices and ensure standardization and alignment within team through proper documentation
Aside from the daily tasks/activities, there will be a need to perform other operational duties, such as data analytics for internal use or further project study, maintaining, updating or re-design existing tools, guidelines, policies and training materials whenever required. Occasionally, we could be providing trainings for internal and external parties whenever required, such as new process implementation, onboarding new factory etc.
WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH
You will be part of the AP/AC Costing – Material Utilization team reporting to the Material Utilization Manager based in Singapore. The work that our team is leading plays a significant role in enabling cost accuracy/avoidance and reduction of material wastage in long term through validation, optimization, and standardization.
As the subject matter expert for material utilization, you will be collaborating closely with factory partners and supporting Nike internal functions involved in the costing process such as Product Creation and Sourcing team to evaluate apparel, headwear and accessories fabric and trims utilization. In this process, you will be providing findings, analysis, and/or suggestions to achieve material optimization and efficiency improvement.
WHAT YOU BRING
- 4 to 6 years of relevant experience in the apparel industry, specifically in costing/production marker making or equivalent experience with material usage optimization will also be considered.
- Proficiency in CAD/Marker/Nesting software systems such as Optitex and Lectra is preferred.
- Knowledge in applying data visualization tool Tableau and work management tool Smartsheet is preferred. Proficiency in creating dynamic PowerPoint presentations is a plus point.
- Great presentation skills and excellent verbal/written communication skills in English.
- Work Independently with strong analytical and problem-solving skill as well as a good team player to collaborate and communicate effectively with factory partners and cross functional teams.
- Demonstrate initiative, proactiveness and resourcefulness
- Meticulous and detail oriented
