Director, Product Marketing, Kids Footwear

Recognises sport and consumer insights and heavily influences category direction, translating strategy into tactical plans. It steers a cross-functional product creation team to deliver the category vision and leads and develops the category team. The position sits within Brand Management & Communications and works with interlinked departments and markets to support an efficient product creation process.

• Manage and develop the category team, building functional and social skills to create a top-performing team.
• Set and manage strategic category direction and ensure cross-functional alignment.
• Identify new business opportunities to drive innovation and/or commerciality.
• Foster an “all for one” attitude and smooth cooperation with interlinked departments.
• Apply full understanding of the product creation process to drive it forward and act as a role model for team members in strategic direction and product creation.
• Lead through the brand values and foster a performance culture while managing and developing effective relationships with cross-functional teams and interlinked departments.
• Challenge the cross-functional team to create industry-leading products.
• Analyse and report category business performance to ensure achievement of category KPIs.
• Represent the category internally and externally and act as a competent partner for category and ranging discussions with markets.
• Define projects to optimise category performance and steer them to conclusion, build understanding of product information systems and interlinking functions with clarity on timelines, and steer constant dialogue and feedback with the category across functions, other categories and creation centres
• As well as with the cross-functional team and markets.

• College degree.
• Minimum of 10 years Product Marketing experience.
• Kids' FTW Product Marketing experience is a must have.
• At least 5 years of experience in managing and developing direct reports.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Fluent in English (oral and written).
• PC skills (MS Office programs).
• Ability to manage a team to create industry-leading products.
• Ability to inspire, coach and lead, and to set a framework for performance and growth.
• In-depth knowledge of the respective product category.
• Advanced analytical skills, solution-driven and result-oriented approach, and strong business orientation.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication skills.
• Lateral thinking and ability to challenge the status quo.
• Profound consumer, market and retail knowledge, especially regarding the different needs of different countries and regions.

• A degree in marketing, business, textile or fashion is preferred.
• Experience in trade or sales is helpful.

The company says it embeds diversity, equity and inclusion into its culture and talent processes to create belonging and competitive advantage. adidas states that recruiting talent and developing people to reflect the diversity of consumers and communities fosters inclusion and connects the brand with consumers.