The Senior Manager – Sourcing, Costing & Product Engineering is a strategic and technical leadership role responsible for optimizing product cost structures and ensuring engineering excellence across our categories and collections. The ideal candidate brings minimum 10+ years of hands‑on experience in sourcing, costing, and product development within premium apparel & accessories, with deep expertise in knitwear cotton base, outerwear & accessories manufacturing, raw materials, yarns, knitting & weaving, dyeing & finishing techniques, in a multi‑country production ecosystem.
This role requires a unique blend of technical product knowledge, commercial acumen, supplier management, strong analytics and sustainability awareness to deliver best‑in‑class product value and margin performance.
Senior Manager – Sourcing, Costing & Product Engineering
Belgium (HQ)
Full-time
Permanent employee
Your purpose at Stanley/Stella
Your role and impact
1. Costing Leadership & Margin Optimization
- Execute costing & product engineering strategy, under leadership of the Head of Global Sourcing, and collaborate with company product development, design, product manager, marketing, operations, quality, sustainability and margin goals.
- Get into the end‑to‑end costing process for all styles from proto to bulk.
- Partner with Finance to provide full understanding of Stanley Stella costing structure and provide future estimation of cogs.
- Build detailed cost breakdowns including yarn, knitting, weaving & dyeing, trims, packaging, overheads, and logistics.
- Partner with design, merchandising, and planning teams to align product architecture with target costs and margin expectations, expected selling forecasts.
- Analyse cost drivers and propose engineering solutions to optimize cost without compromising quality, sustainability or performances.
- Ensure costing integration and accuracy within company’s systems (PLM, ERP etc)
- Monitor market trends in raw material, yarn & material prices, labour rates, and currency fluctuations to anticipate cost impacts. Follow-up on Industry direction related to Circularity and recycling.
- Translate design concepts into cost‑efficient products, in collaboration with Product development, Liaison offices & partners.
- Participate to fit sessions and provide directional recommendations improving cogs, while ensuring premium quality.
- Ensure all products meet sustainability requirements (e.g., preferred fibres, certifications, supply chain transparency and traceability).
- Report to the head of Global Sourcing of the company
- Work closely with design, product development, Product Management, marketing, operations, liaison offices, sustainability, and quality teams to deliver aligned seasonal collections.
- Support Finance, planning and logistics teams.
About you
Required
- Minimum 10+ years of proven experience in sourcing, costing, and product engineering within the apparel industry from multiple global production regions.
- Deep specialization in knitwear (circular knit), and to some extend into outerwear, and accessories.
- Strong technical understanding of yarns, gauges, knitting & woven machines, dyeing & finishing processes, stitch structures, and garment construction.
- Demonstrated success in strategic costing and detail negotiation with international suppliers.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to build detailed cost models.
- Excellent communication, cross‑cultural collaboration, and supplier‑relationship skills.
- Ability to travel internationally as needed. Good command in English.
- Experience in mass- production apparel industry, with a strong understanding in premium Apparel.
- Knowledge of sustainable materials & certifications (GOTS, GRS, OCS etc), Compliance certifications (BSCI, SEDEX), fair purchasing practices, and traceability systems.
- Familiarity with PLM, ERP systems and advanced Excel costing tools, BI environment. Agile with data management.
- Technical mastery, Textile engineering, knowledge in economics & geopolitical environment.
- Strategic negotiation & commercial mindset with high analytics capabilities
- Supplier relationship management. Cost modelling & financial acumen
- Problem‑solving and technical troubleshooting
- Sustainability‑driven mindset
- Strong communication and cultural adaptability
About us
Founded in 2012, Stanley/Stella has become Europe’s leading brand for premium and sustainable blank apparel. Our mission is simple yet ambitious: to redefine how responsible fashion is made, distributed and experienced.
We combine contemporary design with uncompromising quality and a deeply embedded commitment to sustainability. Every choice, from the fabrics we select to the long-term partnerships we build, reflects our belief that doing better is not optional; it is essential.
At Stanley/Stella, excellence is not a slogan. It is our way of working. We operate with transparency, respect and an entrepreneurial spirit that empowers every team member to make an impact. Together we are shaping a more conscious and inspiring future for our industry and for everyone who wears our products.
Join a company that leads by example, grows with purpose and creates change that lasts.