Senior Specialist, Engineering Efficiency, SMV

Role Purpose 

Establish and scale a newly created SMV specialist capability within the Create pillar. Build and govern operation-level rate cards that support the costing framework, using GSD and other approved work-measurement methods to create consistent, credible and auditable standards. 

Partner with Product Engineering / Commercialization specialists, Cost Engineering and vendors to validate operation schedules and exceptions. Continually refine standards as products, processes, data and technology evolve, while identifying opportunities to optimize SMV through method improvement, equipment and automation. 

Key Accountabilities 

1. Rate Cards, Standards & Governance 

• Build, own and maintain SMV rate cards, operation libraries, methodologies, assumptions and governance supporting the costing framework. 

• Create scalable benchmarks across product categories, construction types, machine types and manufacturing methods. 

• Apply GSD knowledge and other approved work-measurement methods to establish operation-level standards, validation criteria, allowances and exception rules. 

• Review, refine and revalidate standards using product learning, vendor evidence, process changes, new equipment, automation and recurring exceptions. 

2. Operation Schedule Validation & Exceptions 

• Validate operation schedules / operation bulletins and SMV assumptions using product construction, operation sequence, manufacturing method, equipment and process knowledge. 

• Collaborate closely with Product Engineering / Commercialization product specialists and vendors to assess new, complex or exception operations and agree evidence-based standards. 

• Distinguish legitimate product or process complexity from method, productivity or data issues before approving exceptions or changing rate-card standards. 

• Provide validated SMV inputs to Cost Engineering while maintaining clear ownership boundaries between SMV engineering and end-to-end product costing. 

3. SMV Optimization & Innovation 

• Identify and validate opportunities to reduce SMV through method engineering, operation simplification, work aids, attachments, equipment changes, automation and manufacturing innovation without compromising product quality or manufacturability. 

• Manage a pipeline of SMV-optimization opportunities, documenting the baseline, technical intervention, validated time impact and potential for broader application. 

• Lead or support vendor trials for new methods, equipment and automation; incorporate proven improvements into rate cards, standards and capability building. 

• Use exception, variance and operation-level data to prioritize systemic productivity improvements and future standard refinement.

4. Technical Influence & Capability Building 

• Build trusted influence through strong product construction, manufacturing and GSD expertise, constructively challenging assumptions with evidence. 

• Translate technical findings into practical recommendations for technical and non-technical stakeholders. 

• Share benchmarks, lessons and best practices across regions to establish a consistent global SMV capability. 

5. Data, Tools & Continuous Improvement 

• Maintain governed rate-card data, operation libraries, exception records, benchmarks and technical documentation with clear version control and traceability. 

• Partner with cross functional team to use analytics to identify trends, prioritize review and communicate risks, opportunities and business impact. 

• Explore industrial-engineering methods, software and AI that can improve SMV accuracy, productivity insight and standard maintenance. 

Leadership & Core Competencies 

• Strong technical credibility grounded in product, construction and manufacturing knowledge. 

• Confident influencer who challenges constructively and builds alignment through evidence rather than authority. 

• Analytical, curious and improvement-oriented, able to convert detailed findings into scalable action. 

• Self-directed and organized, with the urgency and discipline to establish a new capability in a fast-paced, cross-cultural environment.

 

Technical Skills & Knowledge 

• Strong knowledge of construction, sewing operations, manufacturing methods, equipment and production flow. 

• Proficient in SMV / standard-time principles, operation breakdowns, method study, performance rating, allowances and labor-productivity analysis. 

• Practical knowledge of GSD, including use of GSD codes and methods to analyze operations, establish standard times and validate exceptions. 

• Ability to interpret operation-level data, build benchmarks and communicate findings clearly. 

• Knowledge of sewing and handling automation, industrial-engineering tools and digital data analysis. 

Qualifications & Experience 

• 6+ years of relevant experience in apparel industrial engineering, SMV / work measurement, manufacturing engineering or a closely related technical field. 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in Industrial Engineering, Apparel / Garment Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Textile / Apparel Technology or a related discipline; equivalent relevant experience may be considered. 

• GSD Practitioner certification, formal GSD training or demonstrated practical GSD knowledge is required; advanced certification is preferred. 

• Demonstrated experience building or maintaining SMV standards / rate cards and validating operation schedules in apparel manufacturing. 

• Experience working with apparel factories, product specialists and cross-functional stakeholders across multiple vendors or regions is beneficial. 

• Experience training, calibrating and influencing without direct authority is strongly preferred; fluent written and spoken English is required. 

Role Scope & Decision Authority 

• GL05 Senior Individual Contributor responsible for establishing and scaling the SMV capability; no direct people-management accountability. 

• Makes technical recommendations and validation decisions within approved methodology, governance and delegated authority; escalates systemic or material business risks. 

• Leads assigned rate-card, validation, calibration, training and optimization workstreams without formal authority over participating teams. 

• Owns SMV / engineering expertise and inputs; Costing remains accountable for the broader product costing framework. 

R-20261103-0018