Director Outdoor Apparel Design jobs at Adidas in United States, Spartanburg

PURPOSE & OVERALL RELEVANCE FOR THE ORGANISATION:

• Accurate order and more efficient assortment planning and merchandising were built to achieve the target and to increase profit rate for Franchise stores
• To properly land order with customers and make sure buying structures are being followed and executed
• To review and quickly react based on products’ performance to drive better STR and sold out resluts
• Right product, right time, right place
• New category/ new product implementation strategy
• Product information sharing strategy

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage assortment planning & merchandising for corresponding categories and customers.
• Participant in GTM process to represent the customer’s voice and provide feedback on products, range, etc.
• Product buying for to each stores cluster at the just in time which has been already selected product from product team.
• Be the key interface internally between BU, Products sales, Accounts Sales, and externally with customers
• Merchandizing Operations:
  • Order products to meet customer demand and forecasted sales volume. Follow up on orders.
  • Manage to create a purchase plan which is in-line with the company target.
  • Improve buying efficiency and stock turn of the FRS stores.
  • Work closely with sales team to ensure buy plan and product land to FRS stores.
  • Manage to plan and select the range for stores to meet the open-to-buy budget.
  • Manage to provide product sell-through report with recommended action plan to improve the range offering in the stores.
• Data Analysis and Management:
  • Track performance of highlight and normal product to identify sell-thru efficiency.
  • Preparing sales forecast. Identify business trends and translate them into sales opportunities in the FRS store.
  • Open-to-buy execution / Sales data analysis
• Team Management:
  • Identify developmental needs and contribute to developing training plans and programs

Key Relationships:

• GCA local management team
• BU
• Customers’ key buyers
• Product Sales
• Account Sales

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Manage business (Process and Projects)
• Manage and develop people
• Provide a framework for performance
• Result orientation
• Influencing others
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills
• Communication skills
• Decision Making
• Organization/ People management.
• Coaching skill.
• Financial acumen

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• At least 8 years of work experience in supervisory role in Retail Merchandising or buying or sales related field.
• Possess good fashion sense and consumer trend
• University degree or above
• Excellent written and spoken in both English & Mandarin
• MS office skill advanced

KPI

• Overall business performance
• FRS relevant KPIs
• Sell Through
• Range compliance ratio

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:
Recognize sport and consumer insights
Heavily influence category direction and drive its implementation
Execute strategies to tactical plans
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Manage a team and develop their functional and social skills using available resources to create a top performing team
• Set and manage strategic category direction; ensure cross-functional alignment
• Identify new business opportunities to drive innovation and / or commerciality
• Develop an "all for one attitude" within the team to ensure smooth cooperation with interlinked departments
• Have full understanding of the product creation process to drive it forward
• Be a role model for all team members in regards to strategic direction and the product creation process
• Show leadership through living the brand values while fostering a performance culture
• Manage and develop optimum relationship with cross-functional teams and with interlinked departments to enable an efficient product creation process
• Challenge the cross-functional team to ensure creation of industry leading products
• Analyze and report category business performance to ensure achievement of category KPIs
• Positively represent the Creation team for Outdoor apparel both internally and externally
• Work with the GCA BU (Business unit), Brand Marketing and Sports Marketing teams throughout the season to define strategic product direction
• Build an understanding of product information systems and the interlinking functions – clarity on respective timelines

Key Relationships:
• Steer a strong relationship and ensure constant dialogue/feedback with
• Your category across all functions, other categories and creation centers (if appl.)
• Cross-functional team (GCA Business units, CCS Design, CCS Development and souring, Materials, Costing, Planning)
• Markets and relevant key retailers Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Project management, problem solving, working through ambiguity
• Manage a team to create industry leading products
• Inspire, coach and lead; set framework for performance and growth
• In-depth knowledge of respective product category especially outdoor apparel
• Analytical skills, be solution driven and result oriented, strong business orientation
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Strong communication skills
• Lateral thinking and challenge status quo
• Profound consumer, market and retail knowledge especially in regards to different needs of different regions within GCA
• Step up to conflicts and work towards a diplomatic solution
• Execute change management
• Cooperate effectively to maintain and develop trustful relationships
• Ability to travel
• Passion for sports/outdoor
• College degree, preferably in marketing/business /textile/fashion
• A minimum of 8 or more years of experience as a senior-level Creation of Apparel. Preference will be given to candidates who have experience directing outdoor brands, with a proven track record of successful projects
• A minimum of 3-5 years of management and leadership experience, demonstrating the ability to drive teams toward achieving strategic goals
• Excellent knowledge and solid hard skill over outdoor/technical wear in terms of material and construction, testing requirement (e.g. Goretex, Pertex, Polartec, seam-sealing, insulation, etc.)
• Experienced in collaboration projects (crossover fashion & functional outdoor) with external partner is preferable
• Strong leadership skills
• Experience in trade or sales is helpful
• Fluent in English
• PC skills (MS Office programs)

Director Project Office

Area: GCA

Department: Transformation Office

Direct Reporting Line: VP Project Office

Indirect/secondary reporting line:

Subsidiary/country: China

GSMS Grade: M2

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

· Develop, support and manage key strategic initiatives, from planning to execution, across the organization to achieve adidas China’s top priorities

Key Responsibilities:

· Develop and execute a systematic approach to support senior management to identify the right strategic priorities to take action on

· Coordinate and manage initiative development, planning and prioritization processes across functions

· Drive and guide initiative owners to set initiative objectives, develop detailed plans and define KPIs

· Get alignment with the management team to ensure the PMO is focused on the strategic topics and top priorities

· Engage with initiative owners and senior management to determine role and contribution for each initiative

· Coordinate and drive initiative owners to generate regular progress updates while ensuring consistent planning and execution from function to function, and from head office to regions

Systems and Processes

· Closely track throughout the project life-cycle and organize regular updates with senior management on module/initiative progress

· During planning and execution, provide value-added analytical support to enable the management team to make fact-based decisions

· Coordinate with Human Resources on initiative KPI and performance evaluation

People Management

· Develop and lead the PMO team to fulfill its mission and targets

· Provide senior management with objective perspective on progress, priorities and directions while managing their expectations

· Provide advice and feedback to initiative owners and team to ensure high quality, timely execution

· Actively manage a network across the organization to ensure the PMO and the project portfolio are highly relevant to the business and its priorities

· Drive and guide initiative owners to further develop project management skills and discipline

The responsibilities are not limited to the above; the job holder will also follow other work assigned by his/her immediate supervisor.

· Feedback from cross-functional team

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

· 8-12 years of general business experience

· Experience with leading consumer brand

· Extensive experience in and strong skills of process and project management

· Experience in working closely with middle and senior managers across functions

· Experience in leading management consulting firm is a plus

· University degree or above

· MBA or other business- related qualification High proficiency or expertise with database, statistical and business intelligence systems (e.g., SAS, SPSS, R, SAP)

· Solid skills in Word, Excel, Power Point etc.

· Basic statistics and modelling knowledge

· Strong communication skills – written

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

• To ensure profitable market share and net sales growth within regional accounts

• To passionately lead the regional accounts organization in identifying, developing and implementing strategies for the profitable growth

Key Responsibilities:

• Responsible for regional accounts all business related KPI, includes but not limited to Sell in (net sales), ST, retail KPIs (comp growth and etc), inventory level, POS numbers;

• OTB Planning ,negotiation and SBP (Strategic Biz Plan) preparation

• Work with cross functional teams to provide the strong supports to key account aligned with business growth targets;

• Co-work with Product Sales team to provide range feedback based on regional accounts business reality;

• Work with territory management team to ensure POS allocation are properly managed;

• To ensure the best possible Net Sales result by setting clear targets and action points;
  

• To support negotiation and enforcement of adidas Group trade terms

• To provide realistic plans and forecasts on customers performances

• Manage and maintain a healthy A/R balance

• Control core inventory ratio and structure

• To lead team and foster performance culture within team

• To develop, train and retain key talents

Key Relationships:

• Head of Account Sales, RE, MM, BP, SO, PS, CRM, etc.

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum 10 years of sales experience within large sales organizations, ideally in apparel/fashion/shoes or FMCG

• At least 5 years’ experience of people and operational management

• A passion for and an understanding of SPORTS

• Strong communication and influence skill

• Good analysis and Solid skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, etc.

• University degree

• Willing to travel

KPI

• SI

• OTB

• Assortment Plan Execution (Package… etc.)

• Category SOB

• Account Target

• POS: Net # of POS Opening

• ST

• Trade Inventory

• Scale Growth

• Comp. Store Growth

• Customer Management

• Customer Satisfaction

• Product

• Mandatory Range Realization

• Key City

• Key City net sales

• Key City POS Opening

• Budget: Sales Budget Management

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

• Be the Sportswear Apparel lead by creating and executing GTM plans to drive business success with brand’s KPI and ambition

Business responsibilities:

• Drive & develop short and long term (1-3 year) category plan based on overall adidas SBP process (in collaboration with Global and GCA)
• Provide leadership within category (across all related functions & departments) on vision, strategic objectives/actions & financial targets as defined in brand SBP
• Deliver financial expectations set out in the SBP/IBP across all channels and countries.
• Define category CI and lead the communication with Global BU to deliver solution that address GCA needs.
• Define & implement category availability and pricing strategy across GCA country cluster & channels
• Deliver credible, compelling, commercial, viable range/concept/key franchise selection for GCA to support the overall brand strategy, purpose & direction.
• Create and Own Seasonal Product plan and calendar, collaborate with Brand Activation to align prioritization of category and key concepts allocation.

Team leader responsibilities:

• Lead all creation needs, validate SMU requests for GCA and leverage CCH & CCS to fulfill GCA needs to support the SBP. Effective application of speed to market.
• Lead and guide team on Sell-through and sustainable lifecycle management of the category across GCA, develop performance tracking dashboards and share update with Global BU
• Drive performance and development culture through #MYBEST
• Drive employee engagement for team development and performance rating

CCH: Creation Center Herzo

CCS: Creation Center Shanghai

GCA: Greater China

CI: Commercial input

and Experience:

• Ability to develop and implement strategy. Experience in apparel merchandising. Creation knowledge is a plus.
• Proven leadership and management abilities especially in managing a diverse ~10 people team (incl. remote management)
• Strong presentation/communication, negotiation and influencing skills, especially with senior stakeholders within a global matrix organization.
• Broad Brand management experience, with a distinct track record of success including expert Merchandising knowledge and trading mentality.
• Strong cross-functional and stakeholder management experience across commercial functions (e.g. marketing, sales, etc.) and support functions (finance preferred), as well as different organizational levels (Global, Market, etc.)
• Expert understanding of Asian markets’ consumers, accounts, economic environment, and commercial needs
• Act with agility without losing the strategic focus and ability to lead a team through ambiguity in fast-paced consumer goods market segment.

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualification

• 12-15+ years of experience in merchandising/product, marketing, sales/retail required. Regional experience preferred.

• University degree in Business or equivalent professional experience, ideally in Sales and/or Marketing.

• Previous experience in managing a global matrix organization required

• Sporting goods industry experience required
• Fluent in English
• Fluent in local language (if applicable) preferred
• Has lived and worked in different cultures or has substantial experience working in regional teams
• Willingness to travel upwards of 20% of time

Director – Outdoor Apparel Design

:

: CCS / Outdoor

Direct Reporting Line:Senior Design Director

Indirect/secondary reporting line:

: China

Number of Personnel Managed:see org. chart

Responsibilities

• Create and direct the seasonal creative narratives, ranges, and product stories, ensuring alignment across product type, colour, materials, and graphics

• Oversee the complete creative process, identifying industry trends in colour, materials, and graphics, and influence merchandising and assortment strategies

• Distil abstract business concepts and customer needs into creative solutions
  
• Take responsibility for the creative vision and the standard of output across team members who work under her/him
  
• Pitch ideas confidently and present the creative vision clearly to stakeholders, as well as communicate in the same manner to members of the design team
  
• Have strong people management and leadership skills to hire, develop, and inspire the design team
  
• Ensure that all the team’s creative output/visuals are consistent with the overall brand’s identity and qualitative level
  
• Lead multiple projects from conception to completion in accordance with deadlines
  
• Agility to manage and supervise unexpected projects, feedback, and people factors
  
• Collaborate with other team membersrelevant functions to ensure alignment with the strategic priorities of the brands
  
• Champion new ideas, ask smart questions, take risks
  
• Drive the identification of long-term and seasonal trends within the industry, contributing to innovative retail strategies that keep the brand ahead of the curve

• Guide and optimize the creative process to ensure that final products not only align with brand image but also meet commercial objectives

• Develop and implement Design and Creation strategies for key projects, setting a high standard for design excellence and expectations throughout the organization

• Lead and mentor the design team both creatively and organizationally, fostering an environment of innovation and collaboration

• lead and inspire a team of talented designers, creating meaningful and engaging experiences for users, and growing and developing your own skills and career
  
• Ensure the correct execution of Corporate Identity guidelines and against legal restrictions within the category

Key Stakeholders

• Product Marketing (PM)
• Product Development (DA)
• Business Unit (BU)
• Senior Design Director
• Design Team members
• Brand Marketing & Retail Marketing
• External Resources
  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree / Masters / Fashion Design,or equivalent professional experience
  
• A minimum of 8 or more years of experience as a senior-level designer. Preference will be given to candidates who have experience directing outdoor brands,with a proven track record of successful projects
  
• A minimum of3-5 years of management and leadership experience, demonstrating the ability to drive teams toward achieving strategic goals
  
• Exceptional creative vision and leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate a diverse team
  
• Excellent knowledge and solid hard skill over outdoor/technical wear (e.g. Goretex, Pertex, Polartec, seam-sealing, insulation, etc.)
  
• Strong Industry knowledge and high sensitivity of trend that able to conduct and incorporate it into the design work
  
• Experienced in collaboration projects (crossover fashion & functional outdoor) with external partner is preferable
  
• Ability to work with stakeholders to understand detailed requirements and determine a plan that will ensure they are met or exceeded, be open to receiving feedback and constructive criticism
  
• Excellent interpersonal skills to clearly and effectively communicate the creative vision, concepts, ideas, and solutions to stakeholders, internal teams, and clients
  
• Ability to work effectively in a team setting, including synthesizing abstract ideas into concrete design implications
  
• Extensive supervisory experience (including leadership, team-building, and delegation) leading and managing a creative team
  
• Be excited about collaborating and communicating closely with teams and other stakeholders via a distributed model to regularly deliver design solutions for approval
  
• With Performance wear experience is desirable and prioritized
  
• Fluency in English/ Mandarin with excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Proficient in Adobe Suite and MS Office.

• Suitable candidates should also apply with their portfolios

Key Responsibilities:

• Define, develop, and implement the short- and long-term commercial strategies within the assigned Sales Account Group for adidas in accordance with the Global, Europe and Cluster Sales Strategies.
• Translate the commercial strategies and objectives for Central Europe into functional targets for the respective Account teams and measure performance against given KPIs.
• Together with key wholesale partners execute strategic initiatives for Central Europe and Trade Zones for key focus categories in accordance the corresponding guidelines/framework conditions, also in close cooperation with the adidas Retail and e-com teams.
• Implement the Digital Partner Commerce (DPC) Strategy and ensure achievement of defined digital KPIs.
• Establish an appropriate organizational framework for the Sales organization together with the VP Sales.
• Build business and personal contacts to the main decision makers of key Accounts with the aim of establishing adidas as preferred supplier.
• Conclude constructive trade agreements with defined Accounts based on current sales and delivery policies as well as on current adidas commercial/e-commerce guidelines.
• Develop strategic Account and Account marketing plans to achieve (net sales and market share) growth targets as well as brand marketing objectives.
• Drive adidas brand concepts, ensuring market-leading brand presence at the POS (online and offline, brand-specific, and controlled space, in-store communication).
• Professional and brand-oriented steering of the sell-in process and sell-out support.
• Ensure continuous controlling and order management as well as cost-efficient and reliable demand planning and timely delivery.
• Ensure excellent forecasting and business planning for the defined Account group.
• Ongoing challenging of the status quo and driving of creative and new ideas to improve adidas performance in the respective cluster.
• Consistent market management (i.e., Account audits and exit management) in close alignment with the European Sales Development team.
• Close alignment with Sales colleagues who are assigned to all other Accounts within the cluster (i.e., Alliance key Accounts).
• Provide sell-out analysis and KPI reporting to senior management.
• Initiate analyses and research on Accounts, competitors, and market developments.

People responsibilities

• Lead all direct reports as one integrated team by defining specifications, KPIs, targets and guiding principles for the team.
• Create a high-performance culture and manage the career and succession planning for key talents.
• Encourage, lead, and drive the development of a performance culture within the team.
• Ensure collaboration between all employees and departments.
• Further develop the direct reports’ functional and social core competencies through regular coaching and mentoring.
• Provide leadership based on the Leadership Framework

Authority to sign: Power of attorney (p. V.)

KPIs

• Market share within the defined account group and the main categories
• Achievement of targets in terms of net sales, trade terms and earnings
• DSO goals
• DPC targets
• Compliance with trade investments
• CSD Compliance

Main Contacts:

• VP Sales CE

• Management Team CE

• Head of Sales Coordination CE

• Brand Activation Directors und CTC Directors CE

• Europe Sales Strategy und Development Team

• CtC Teams & Customer Service

• Global Channel Management

External

• CEOs and managing directors / board members
• Head of Purchasing (CPOs) / Purchasing departments
• Head of Marketing (CMOs) / Marketing departments
• Head of Sales (CSOs) / Sales departments
• Interfaces to business development, logistics / operations, finance

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Proven track record in managing medium-sized sales teams
• Proven leadership and management skills
• Excellent commercial knowledge and business acumen
• Negotiating skills, confident demeanor, and representational skills
• Strong strategic and operational skills
• Proven advanced skills in strategic and conceptual management
• Proven methodological competence (e.g., business planning, strategy development)
• Very good knowledge of the adidas Group's business and extensive industry experience
• Excellent team player with a proven ability to work across functions to achieve goals and objectives
• Ability to influence partners in other functional groups in order to achieve consensus and mutual understanding
• Excellent interpersonal skills (e.g., communication, negotiation skills, etc.)
• Mental flexibility, initiative and determination
• Advanced knowledge of MS Office (including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Fluent written and spoken German and English knowledge is a prerequisite.
• Digital mindset and very good knowledge of digital media

Required training and experience / minimum requirement:

• Degree in business administration or similar with a focus on sales / marketing
• 10-12 years of experience in sales
• More than 6 years of management responsibility
• Strong employee management skills and proven commercial success
• Cross-functional experience, ideally in marketing / sales / finance / operations
• Experience in the sporting goods / retail / consumer goods industry
• Sport-specific category / industry knowledge