Manager, Product Creation Footwear 2 (Creation Center)

Purpose:

Manages a designated Lifestyle footwear product portfolio with the adidas Lifestyle Creation Center. Creates and executes against designated areas of responsibility for the lifestyle Business model as defined by the FTW Senior Management Team. Manages the process in all aspects related to product creation, aligning the product brief and initial design direction all the way through to product ex-factory. This role requires strong management, alignment and collaboration with the strategic hub in Germany and with all creation functions at the Asia development center to fulfill product requirements (visual, costing, timing, trend relevant, productive).

Key Accountabilities:

• Drive the product process to deliver against the brief, materials and design innovation, meeting gross margin/profitability objectives
• Manage tools, range plans and create product overviews during development processes and communicate changes to all involved partners, forecast consolidation and analyses
• Maintain all related product systems for designated area of the collection
• Seek continual improvement in processes with a goal to drive leading product process with speed and efficiency.
• In certain instances, provide creative briefs on projects/products that give clear product and information to the service departments (Design, Development and Logistics)
• Work cross functionally with key partners in sourcing/development/manufacturing to realize the vision of the products and category
• Analyze and report category performance and research competitive landscape
• Ensure all product milestones are achieved in a fast paced creation process.
• Present the range internally and to cross functional partners such as the factory group

Working Relationship

• Global Strategic Hub, Design, Sourcing, Factory Groups, T2 Suppliers, Subsidiaries, Materials, Costing, Operations and Go-To-Market

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Broad footwear product knowledge scope across a variety of lifestyle silhouettes with experience in development, working knowledge of product marketing, costing, materials and how to work best with T1 and T2 suppliers
• Strong business acumen in channel distribution, net sales, margin, profit and inventory
• Good numerical skills with the ability to negotiate
• Ability to work with and influence all levels of the organization as well as aligning external partners with FTW strategy
• Thrive in a fast paced product creation environment
• Effective presentation skills
• Skill in MS Office applications (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Fluent in English (verbal and written)
• Ability to travel internationally for consumer trend research and internal meetings and presentations

Qualifications:

• University degree, preferably in marketing/business
• Minimum 5 years related experience in marketing;
• Experience in footwear development, creation and sourcing advantageous
• International marketplace experience and understanding