Manager Category - Sportswear Footwear - Europe(m/w/x)

# Manager Category - (m/f/d) - Sportswear Footwear - Europe PURPOSE & OVERALL RELEVANCE FOR THE ORGANIZATION * Supports the Director Business Unit and Senior Manager Category in executing the Europe short and medium-term objectives for the respective category, specifically responsible for delivering across all KPIs * Implement global strategies in a locally relevant way for Europe, considering different consumer needs and distribution channels * Supports in influencing the development of global strategies through providing clear and relevant commercial input in terms of consumer needs, market particularities, and channel needs * Collaborate regularly with global counterparts to identify business opportunities in the market and to maximize net sales and profitability (within global and Europe strategic parameters) KEY RESPONSIBILITIES * Responsible for range selection and alignment process within the parameters set by the Europe CTC Range Architecture team to meet the KPI’s * Responsible for all aspects of category management in the range including segmentation to meet all KPIs incl. efficiency, productivity, overlap, top line, margin * Accountable, in particular, for pricing of the range, including a plan to harmonize pricing across Europe, to meet the KPI’s * Accountable for supporting Global and Country sell-ins to both retailers and assets where required * Accountable for the input into Global to get the best possible sell-in tools for the category and create augmented tools where required with Category Brand Comms * Responsible for Commercial Input into Global, and creating and embedding a process with the Countries to ensure their input is made * Responsible for all KPI reporting of the Category * Accountable along with the BU Analyst for any scenario analysis required relating to the Category * Accountable for inputting into the overall seasonal, year and SBP for Category * Understands the European consumer retail environment including distribution points, share of buy, competitor ranges and pricing strategies * Support major product launches and presentations providing necessary sales support to ensure an effective sell-in launch process * Provide a suitable framework for the performance management of the team, coaching and developing junior team members to meet requirements of their role KEY RELATIONSHIPS * Global BU (PM & Merch) * AKA CTC, DTC assortment and Cluster CTC Managers * Europe Demand Planning * Europe BU Leadership team (VP & Director) * Europe BU Brand Communication * Europe Finance * Europe Sales Development KPIS * Net Sales * Go in Margin * (Standard) Margin * Brand KPI’s Category Market share – top 5 markets Category & Range efficiency; in particular global range components KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES * High professional maturity * Highly collaborative with strong communication skills * High influencing skills and ability to make fact-based decisions * Strong analytical skills * Structured, organized and process-orientated * Cross functional marketing knowledge and market experience in sport and/or fashion/lifestyle categories. * Consumer-focused with product and ranging experience with an understanding of balancing brand and commercial aspects to build channel specific GTM solutions * Previous experience in category management/merchandising/ranging * Strong business acumen, ability to assume a broader perspective (cross-markets/global) * Attention to detail as error in analysis will have crucial impact on business * Ability to work effectively within a team environment and under pressure * Strong organizational skills * Flexibility to travel internationally * Strong engaging presentation style * Intermediate to advanced skills in MS Office * Fluent in English * Additional language is an advantage REQUISITE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE / MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS * University degree in business preferred, ideally with marketing and sales focus or equivalent professional experience * Merchandising/ cross-functional marketing and/or sales experience experience: 3 years * Experience in a European market is required AT ADIDAS WE HAVE A WINNING CULTURE. BUT TO WIN, PHYSICAL POWER IS NOT ENOUGH. JUST LIKE ATHLETES OUR EMPLOYEES NEED MENTAL STRENGTH IN THEIR GAME. WE FOSTER THE ATHLETE’S MINDSET THROUGH A SET OF BEHAVIORS THAT WE WANT TO ENABLE AND DEVELOP IN OUR PEOPLE AND THAT ARE AT THE CORE OF OUR UNIQUE COMPANY CULTURE: THIS IS HOW WE WIN WHILE PLAYING FAIR. * **COURAGE:** Speak up when you see an opportunity; step up when you see a need. * **OWNERSHIP:** Pick up the ball. Be proactive, take responsibility and follow-through. * **INNOVATION:** Elevate to win. Be curious, test and learn new and better ways of doing things. * **TEAMPLAY:** Win together. Work collaboratively and cultivate a shared mindset. * **INTEGRITY:** Play by the rules. Hold yourself and others accountable to our company’s standards. * **RESPECT:** Value all players. Display empathy, be inclusive and show dignity to all. adidas celebrates diversity, supports inclusiveness and encourages individual expression in our workplace. We do not tolerate the harassment or discrimination toward any of our applicants or employees. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. # Job Title:  Manager Category - (m/f/d) - Sportswear Footwear - Europe Brand: Location: Herzogenaurach TEAM: Merchandising & Planning State: BY Country/Region: DE Contract Type: Full time Number: 520089 Date: May 20, 2025