Job Description

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization: Act as the head of category management for Soccer and Motorsports for NAM. Consistently shape, plan, and execute short, medium, and long-term strategy and objectives for the category. Influence and implement global concepts in a locally relevant way, considering different consumer needs and distribution channels. Drive cross-functional execution and operational excellence.  

Key Responsibilities:

• Own and deliver the North America GTM strategy against global priorities; lead category management team to bring the strategy to life 
• Develop a complete 3-5-year plan for the BU based on the adidas SBP, the respective global BU’s and market strategic plan
• Collaborate with assortment planning, sales, SCM and other relevant cross functional teams to execute the plan 
• Align with Global on product range build, assortment strategy, and market specific needs
• Ensure go to market and merchandising excellence, including system and article readiness
• Build and sell in plans that provide clear product and commercial objectives 
• Develop category initiatives to meet key commercial goals 
• Build market/retailer network to maintain marketplace and consumer awareness 
• Present ranges internally and externally (to key retailers) 
• Continually monitor and analyze product range and sales results to determine products that maximize profitability/productivity 
• Manage the process with effective communication and action steps to achieve margin, profitability, and acceptable inventory levels 
• Ensure organizational efficiency through motivation, training, and development of direct reports 
• Provide performance framework for direct reports by setting SMART performance targets and coach for continuous improvement

Key Relationships:

• Category and Marketplace Merchandising
• DTC, Wholesale and relevant commercial partners
• Merchandising Planning and Systems
• Brand Operations (GTM, Sample, & Merch Ops)
• Brand Communications
• Sports Marketing
• Finance
• Demand Planning and relevant SCM partners
• Global Business Partners
• Local Creation teams

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Advanced cross-functional Merchandising and Marketing knowledge and Market experience in sport and/or fashion/lifestyle categories (sporting goods industry preferred) 
• Leading and managing a diverse team 
• Consumer-focused with deep product and range understanding and the ability to balance Brand and Commercial priorities to build channel- and consumer-specific activation plans that meet KPI targets 
• Advanced user of MS Office suite of products 
• Experience in both market and above market organization preferred 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills 
• Strong presentation, planning, and analytical skills 
• A thorough understanding of the marketplace through the lens of soccer
• Ability to travel domestic and international up to 20% of time

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree, with an emphasis in Marketing/Business preferred, and 
• 10+ years’ sports or other product marketing or related experience, 5 years at the managerial level in the Sporting Goods Industry. 
• Equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be substituted for degree.

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