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.

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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