Senior Product Manager, Apparel - Originals

Area : adidas brands

Department : BU Originals, Basketball & Partnerships

Direct Reporting Line: Director Speed Product Management

Indirect/secondary reporting line: -

Subsidiary/country : USA

Location: LA

GSMS Grade: M3

Number of Personnel Managed : 1

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

• Be the consumer and sport expert
• Influence and execute the category direction
• Work with all necessary functions to deliver the category business objectives
• Create ranges within the category from both and image and commercial point of view
• Lead and develop your team, if applicable

Key Responsibilities:

• Set the pace for Originals Men’s apparel, with Rapid Creation you will be responsible to inject new and exciting product based on trends and consumer insights
• Influence and implement strategic category direction, proactively set range direction
• Identify new business opportunities to drive innovation and/or commerciality
• Show full understanding and drive the product creation process whilst managing all tasks within the given time frames
• Become a role model for other team members in regards to product creation process
• Show leadership through living the brand values
• Build and maintain a strong relationship with cross-functional teams and with interlinked departments to enable an efficient product creation process; ensure product excellence
• Pro-actively analyse business, draw conclusions and act upon; drive profitability and efficiency
• Strong knowledge of product information systems and the interlinking functions – clarity on respective timelines
• High level of product expertise to create industry leading products
• Be a competent partner for product and ranging discussions with markets and retailers
• Prepare and present ranges and business related topics - with respective audience in mind - by using relevant structure and content
• and steer to conclusion
• If applicable: Build experience in managing direct reports, developing their functional and social skills; ensure clear and structured on boarding process for new team members

Authorities:

• Personnel managed – if applicable
• Budget managed – no

Key Relationships:

• Steer a strong relationship and ensure constant dialogue/feedback with
  • business unit and across other BU´s
  • cross-functional team ( Design, Development, CtC, Sports Marketing, Materials, Costing, Planning)
  • markets and relevant third parties
• Steer the Rapid Creation business in the strategic direction in close collaboration with Category Director

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Deep understanding of men apparel and the fashion/sportwear trends
• Excellent level of understanding the retail landscape and their consumers
• Be open for change, support execution of change management
• In-depth knowledge of respective product category
• Advanced analytical skills, be solution driven and result oriented
• Lateral thinking and challenge status quo
• Communication skill set, including effective negotiation and clear transportation of information
• Step up to conflicts, work towards a diplomatic solution
• Cooperate effectively to maintain and develop trustful relationships
• Basic leadership skills
• Work independently as well as part of a team
• Efficiently plan and prioritize daily work
• Ability to travel
• Passion for sports

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• College degree, preferably in marketing/business/textile/fashion
• Minimum of 5 years Product Marketing experience with APP, FTW or ACC background
• Experience in trade or sales is helpful
• Fluent in English
• PC skills (MS Office programs)