דרושים Designer Color & Materials Footwear ב-Adidas ב-China, Yangpu District

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

Responsible for driving a creator culture to deliver against leading stories and product collections in the Kids' Footwear segment.

Be unapologetically consumer obsessed generating relevant stories and products that excite the China market.

Have a professional balanced approach to work within a dynamic and creative environment whilst balancing the need for operational excellence and speed to market.

Key Responsibilities:

● Be a Consumer Obsession champion with a special emphasis on winning the China consumer

● Extend Kids' FTW strategy in the given segment and maintain connectivity to Germany HQ creatives to ensure a one brand consumer facing message

● Advocate story telling throughout the design team and drive intuitive visual solutions in product concepts

● Design concepts and products that maintain consumer advocacy whilst delivering against the product brief

● Be a creator and an innovator always exploring fresh executions and materialization

● Motivate and guide junior designers on the journey to winning consumers and market share whilst adhering to the strategic vision articulated by management

● Present stories and ideas cross functionally with effectiveness to gain consensus

● Always stay up to date on the latest trends both externally and internally

● Be responsible to drive team members and work within the constraints of close to market dynamics and speed

● Live the behavior philosophy of the brand built around creativity, collaboration and confidence

Key Relationships:

• Fellow designers
• Product Marketing
• Product Development
• Global Design Lead

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

● Strong communication skills to articulate concepts, ideation and collections seamlessly to various members of the organization

● Have key insights into kids FTW market landscape

● Ability to excel and thrive in a team environment with a high level of diversity

● Deep knowledge of footwear creation process and how cross functional members contribute

● Ability to create leading propositions whilst also being a guru of commercializing trends with adidas codes

● Mature approach and ability to persuade, negotiate and compromise to produce win/win scenarios

● Knowledge of design, development and marketing processes with a passion for ideation sharing

● Intellectually curious and always seeking the new

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

● Bachelor or University Degree in industrial design or related educational experience and at least 8 years related work experience

● Experience in Kids' footwear design with totally new experience being a must

● Cross functional expertise in addition to Design would be advantageous

● IT: Superior experience in usage of all key design software and systems, expert in Design apps, AI, etc.

● Basic communication skills in English

Key Responsibilities

Creative Direction & Design Excellence

• Actively shape and develop compelling design concepts that push creative boundaries for key product initiatives.

• Ensure visual identity and design language remain consistent and aligned with the brand’s creative direction at every stage.

• Champion originality and innovation in apparel design.

• Translate concepts into refined sketches and tech packs with precision, handing over complete, accurate design packages to the development team within deadlines.

• Good cross-functional collaboration and communication ensure shared creative ownership and in-house synergy.

Project & Workflow Management.

• Enforce disciplined design processes that uphold quality, timelines, and creative integrity.

• proactively address potential delays, ensuring flawless execution from concept to delivery.

Innovation & Market Insights

• Conduct continuous trend research across sport culture and technology to ensure Adidas Sportswear stays culturally relevant and forward-thinking.

• Integrate new materials, technologies, and sustainable innovations into the design process to future-proof product offerings.

• Maintain a sharp understanding of the China consumer landscape, using those insights to influence design direction and product storytelling.

Key Relationships

• Design Director / Senior Designers

• Product Marketing

• Product Development

• Sourcing & Materials Teams

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Exceptional design sensibility with a keen eye for form, function, and aesthetic balance.

• Expert-level proficiency in industry-standard design software (Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and etc.).

• Strong storytelling and communication skills—both visually and verbally.

• Understanding of product creation from concept through to production.

• Proven ability to work in fast-paced environments and manage multiple priorities with agility.

• Fluent in English (written and spoken); Mandarin proficiency is a plus.

Education & Experience

• Degree in Fashion Design, Sportswear Design, or a related field—or equivalent industry experience.

• 6–8 years of proven design experience in outdoor brands, fashion, or sports industry.

• Demonstrated success in owning and driving design projects end-to-end, with tangible impact on brand and business.

• Experience working in or for the China market preferred.

• Passion for sport, fashion, and innovation—and a strong belief in the Adidas brand mission.

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization

As a key member of the China Creation Center, this role is critical in driving both strategic long-term planning and agile short-term execution across the Sportswear apparel calendar. You will lead with creativity and purpose, delivering progressive, culturally relevant design solutions tailored to the China market. By crafting compelling products that blend global innovation with local insights, you will elevate brand desirability and deepen Adidas’ connection with next-gen Chinese consumers.

Creative Direction & Design Excellence

• Actively shape and develop compelling design concepts that push creative boundaries for key product initiatives.
• Deliver visually powerful storytelling and design assets that clearly communicate strategy and creative intent.
• Ensure visual identity and design language remain consistent and aligned with the brand’s creative direction at every stage.
• Champion originality and innovation in apparel design, inspiring excellence through breakthrough ideas and high-caliber execution.
• Translate concepts into refined sketches and tech packs with precision, handing over complete, accurate design packages to the development team within deadlines.
• Drive strong cross-functional collaboration and communication to ensure shared creative ownership and in-house synergy.

Project & Workflow Management

• Lead design workflow across multiple capsule collections, ensuring smooth and efficient project execution.
• Partner across milestones with marketing and development to steer product direction toward excellence.
• Enforce disciplined design processes that uphold quality, timelines, and creative integrity.
• Maintain a strategic, priority-based approach to managing complex design initiatives across varying timelines and scopes.
• Monitor critical path and proactively address potential delays, ensuring flawless execution from concept to delivery.

Innovation & Market Insights

• Conduct continuous trend research across sport culture and technology to ensure Adidas Sportswear stays culturally relevant and forward-thinking.
• Benchmark against global and local competitors, providing critical market insights that inform creative strategy.
• Integrate new materials, technologies, and sustainable innovations into the design process to future-proof product offerings.
• Maintain a sharp understanding of the China consumer landscape, using those insights to influence design direction and product storytelling.

Key Relationships

• Design Director / Senior Designers
• Product Marketing
• Product Development
• Sourcing & Materials Teams

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Exceptional design sensibility with a keen eye for form, function, and aesthetic balance.
• Expert-level proficiency in industry-standard design software (Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and etc.).
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Strong storytelling and communication skills—both visually and verbally.
• Deep understanding of product creation from concept through to production.
• Proven ability to work in fast-paced environments and manage multiple priorities with agility.
• Fluent in English (written and spoken); Mandarin proficiency is a plus.

Education & Experience

• Degree in Fashion Design, Sportswear Design, or a related field—or equivalent industry experience.
• 3–5 years of proven design experience in the sporting goods, fashion, or sports industry.
• Demonstrated success in owning and driving design projects end-to-end, with tangible impact on brand and business.
• Experience working in or for the China market preferred.
• Passion for sport, fashion, and innovation—and a strong belief in the Adidas brand mission.

*We actively encourage individuals with disabilities to apply and will provide reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Continuously aware and guides team on information needed to design a consumer and brand relevant collection. Should include all possible sources to gain this information
• Trade fairs, cultural events, and sporting events, athlete insights
• Trade publications, general interest press, trend services, fashion and sportswear magazines and websites
• Store checks, market visits, and team travel as provided
• Relevant forecast and sell-through numbers from our Marketing counterparts

Is a stakeholder in driving seasonal and long-term design direction and strategy for their category within the following topics
• Footwear Color and Materials
• Footwear Silhouettes
• Color and Material Direction
• Creating digital product information for an accurate development, feedback, decision-making and representation process

Is a stakeholder in curating aforementioned design direction by, but not limited to
• Providing trend forecasting content relevant to our consumer and brand
• Providing direction and assisting in developing materials with the Material Team
• Providing direction and vision in developing color & material strategies with Creative Direction
• Working with Local and Global counterparts to provide category relative Color and Material direction when required
• Leads as a Color and Trend conduit to Marketing, Product Managers, Designers and in between Key Account and Inline
• Acts as a brand ambassador between all categories looking for opportunities to connect direction, product, and people
• Assisting in creating and creating color design direction presentations

Works closely with members of the category’s design team. This includes but is not limited to:
• Providing Color and Material direction and content
• Collaboration and critiquing
• To understand technical details of the product
• To understand market needs and desire of product

Works closely with members of the categories design team. This includes but is not limited to:
• Providing Color and Material direction and content
• Collaboration and critiquing
• Sets a leading example within the team and mentors
• Transfers prior experiences and knowledge to those around them
• Viewed within the team as a Color and Material leader, expert and senior

Leads top-line range strategy in their categories. This includes but is not limited to:
• Leads their team in creating holistic franchise direction, category overviews, rollouts, and merchandising strategy for the category
• Communicate content to Footwear, Apparel, and Graphics Teams to align strategy
• Inform horizontal brand moments and category moments by leading products, Color and Material narratives/executions, and tiered rollout plans in partnership with Design, Marketing, and Concept To Consumer. This is a collaborative effort across disciplines & functions together.

PRODUCT EXECUTION

Manages in designing Footwear Color and Material executions for Inline and Key Account ranges with input from Design, Marketing, and Development. This includes but is not limited to:
• Seasonal prep and research stated above
• Creates product design presentations; both physical and digital
• Exploratory process to reach final solution
• Creates Color CADs, Color ranges, Material Maps, & Graphic Maps.
• Guides their team in creating a quality and merchandisable range by having a detail to top-line view of all products
• Works closely with Development to assist in development process & costing; meet development timelines and calendar deadlines per seasonal milestone.
• Travel to Asia for development trips
• Collaborate, guide and workshop with markets and accounts where applicable
• Assists in communicating inspiration and storytelling to Marketing and Concept To Consumer

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability and desire to manage others, which includes but is not limited to:
• Influencing and leading a team
• Productive critiquing and mentoring
• Creating more efficient, creative, and positive working environment
• A strong working knowledge of footwear construction and production
• A detailed understanding of the creation process
• A strong knowledge of material suppliers, material production, and technical material feasibilities
• Implement the creative vision for a multitude of color concepts with a focus on Footwear color application and expression, including Graphics
• Guide color labdip, finishes trials and graphic strikes-off process to ensure color quality meet standards and aesthetic direction.
• Computer Skills
• Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop
• Power Point/Key Note/InDesign
• Apple Mac Operating system
• Understanding of brand history and current positioning
• Understanding of marketplace (Footwear/ Running/performance Sports/ Culture/ Lifestyle) history, consumer, and current positioning
• Has a strong understanding of Color and Material trends, application, and cycles
• Ability to understand design concepts and think conceptually
• Ability to create designs that meet category needs and commercial opportunities
• Ability to design for new initiatives and products with a fresh, innovative perspective
• Ability to operate agile in a fast pace, ever changing work environment
• Works well in a team environment. This position requires employee to engage with many stakeholders, as well as manage various information and relationships
• Ability and desire to push themselves, others, and the brand forward
• Ability to influence, negotiate, and collaborate with key business partners
• Strong presentation skills
• 3D skills and knowledge of virtual tools are beneficial but not required

REQUISITE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE / MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Four year college or university degree in industrial, graphics, apparel or footwear design
• Direct experience in footwear design, fashion design or any design relevant environment
• Thorough knowledge of art and design with clear understanding of visual design or any design related environment
• Six years relevant work experience
• Equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be substituted for degree

• A key player in Global Sourcing's in driving Sourcing's vision to be the Most Agile, Most Competitive, Most Digitalized & Cleanest Supply Base in the industry.

• Drive the development, commercialization, product integrity, manufacturability, Create to Value (CTV), performance to target (FOB) for all the products in the designated representative of the categories.

[KEY RESPONSIBILITIES]

• Lead the development/commercialization for one or more categories being assigned to ensure that products consistently exceed customer expectations in respect to fit, comfort, design integrity, performance, perceived value, manufacturability, and quality.

• Oversee the direct development process among the teams, including the Headquarters/Creation Center, and Tier 1 factory. Manages the development of cohesive and customer-focused, across Sourcing Functional teams to ensure that product integrity and Create to Value is the paramount priority and focus.

• Manage the relationship with the factory development team leaders to continually upgrade sports category competence, development innovation capability, and technical expertise.

• Exhibits “product eyes” and sports competence to influence and drive the overall product direction of the specific category(s) he/she manages.

• Make decisions within the defined development and commercialization scope for the categories. being assigned.

• Give input to issue directives in development, commercialization, and related areas.

• Influence HQ (Design, Marketing, Brand Ops, Quality) and external parties and drive change using principle-centered vs policy-driven with adidas' standards as the center of focus in managing/solving conflicts.

• Ensure all sourcing operations and practices fully comply with adidas’ Responsible Sourcing & Purchasing Policy, adidas standards, and legal requirements, while managing the relevant processes internally and externally.

• Develop and coach the team to ensure the best standards of performance, appropriate skill set, and strong succession plans are in place. Page 2 of 2 • Role model leadership to foster Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion culture that strives for an inclusive workplace.

[KEY RELATIONSHIPS]

• Global Sourcing: Manufacturing, Costing, Material, Planning, Product Quality, Product Testing & Compliance, E&MI

• Global Brands: HQ Product Teams (Design, Marketing, Brand Operations)

• Global Operations

• Other Global Functions Team: Social and Environmental Affairs/Government Affairs, etc.

• External stakeholders: Sourcing Suppliers (Factory head of development or commercialization, the factory's development/ commercialization team, the factory's sample room heads, and T2 / T3 suppliers)

[KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES]

• Have relevant knowledge and expertise and can drive LO/regional-based projects within the defined scope of development & commercialization.

• Strong Project Management skills

• Strong influencing, presentation, and communication skills

• Proven ability in leading multidimensional teams

• Fluent in English (written and spoken)

• Strong Microsoft Office skills

[REQUISITE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE]

• University degree in engineering or related areas

• Minimum 7+ years of relevant experience in the industry with technical capability and managerial experience.

• Experience in pattern engineering, product creation, mold making, grading, materials processing, etc.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop the seasonal design direction of the relevant scope according to market trends as well as Brand Design Direction and ensure consistency through products and ranges
• Steer and drive the conceptualization process within of the category
• Drive Design team toward objectives and implement process changes
• Mentor Design team members and their creative processes
• Inspire and motivate teams to pursue cutting edge ideas that are innovative and original in the market, by researching functional criteria for product and product concepts and outlining areas of innovation
• Ensure the correct execution of Corporate Identity guidelines and against legal restrictions within the category.
• Verbally present category design strategies with clarity and expertise.
• Disseminate Design Strategy into category and x-functional teams
• Create professional level presentations of ideas; from loose sketch to detailed renderings to Digital Presentation
• Ensure efficient processes and communication between external and internal teams

Key Relationships:

• Product Marketing
• Product Development
• Global Design Lead
• Fellow designers
• External partners

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Profound knowledge of sport products and fashion design/industrial product
• Innovative and collaborative mind
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong influencing skills
• High level of initiative & maturity
• Ability to inspire, think creatively and strategically as well as to act tactically
• Problem solving attitude & can-do personality
• Fluent in English (reading and written)
• IT skills: Photoshop, Illustrator, Excel, Word, PowerPoint: advanced /Outlook

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university in a relevant Design subject or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum of 8 years’ practical experience in a relevant area
• Proven experience with the entire design process (project scope and time planning, design steps, production/execution of design solution)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Secure company targets by driving T2 performance and compliance in line with sourcing strategy.

• Ensure effective implementation of materials strategy and sourcing priorities.

• Develop supplier capacities and capabilities in line with strategic direction.

• Identify potential supply bottlenecks and actively guide mitigation efforts.

• Promote collaborative culture through continuous sharing and exchange among internal and external stakeholders.

• Support product and manufacturing innovation pilots at select T2s.

• Lead cross-functional initiatives and drive assigned projects as needed.

• Role model brand values and foster a culture of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

• Team: develop and coach team members, identify and grow key talent, build and establish succession plans.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Senior Sourcing Leadership

• Global Sourcing: Sourcing Operations, Costing, Materials, Engineering & Manufacturing Innovation, Allocation and Planning, Quality

• Global Operations: Sustainability Strategy, Global Strategy & Programs, Global Product Supply, Product Operations, Supply Chain Management

• Global Legal: Global Social & Environmental Affairs

• Product Operations: Business Unit Operations

• External stakeholders: T2 and T3 leadership

• Government & None-Governmental Organizations (NGO)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively across functions and regions.

• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills.

• Strong business acumen; problem solving, analytical and negotiation skills.

• Experience translating strategic direction into operational actions and results.

• Proven track record identifying and developing talent.

• Possess growth mindset and ability to challenge the status quo.

• Proficient in Microsoft office, Analytics and ERP/MRP a plus.

• Fluent in English communication, knowledge of another language (Mandarin, Vietnamese, Bahasa, or German) an advantage.

REQUISITE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• University degree in Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Textile Technology or Business Management is preferred.

• Minimum 7~10 years progressive work experience in multinational environment.

• 5+ years of relevant experience in Sourcing, Materials, Product Creation or another related field.

• 3+ years of people management experience with large diverse teams.

• Experience in project management a plus.