Head Product Line Management Footwear & Apparel

Leads and drives the assigned product team, setting strategic priorities, allocating resources and guiding decision-making to achieve long-term success. It manages, supports, motivates, coordinates and develops the RCC INDIA PLM team, including hiring, performance appraisal, goal setting and budget planning. The position works closely with merchandising, design and development, PUMA Group Sourcing, regions and other stakeholders to ensure that the final collection reflects market needs and to align the apparel and footwear assortment across all product segments.

• Manage, support, motivate, coordinate and develop the RCC INDIA PLM team, including hiring, yearly performance appraisal, goal setting, budget planning and redundancies.
• Provide strategic oversight of organisation-wide stakeholder management, advocate for stakeholder interests and provide strategic input and support to the Sr Director RCC APAC/INDIA/EMEA.
• Foster cross-functional, transparent and diplomatic communication, encourage open dialogue, set clear communication channels and lead by example.
• Drive organisational strategy development and implementation, anticipate future trends and challenges, and own delivery of product strategy across all business segments, including pre-seasonal alignment.
• Work with product teams to develop unique and relevant collection-based India market needs.
• Manage product costing and its impact on product quality, margin and net sales to achieve set goals within the assigned product category.
• Present strategy and product lines to national and international partners and key accounts, represent the team as spokesperson at internal and external meetings, and undertake international and domestic travel as required for key account meetings, market research, trend and inspiration trips
• Consumer insights, and factories/development centres.
• Implement and oversee accurate reporting and KPI management, and drive close cooperation with Inline Teams, other RCCs and other product areas (Accessories) to ensure strong collaboration and 360 design concepts when needed.

• Graduate studies in Business Administration, International Business, Sports Management or similar, with a focus on Marketing, Textile, Fashion or Sports.
• Minimum 15 years' experience in Business Development, Sales, Marketing and Merchandising with a top-tier international sports company.
• Strong leadership skills, including the ability to motivate and mentor other leaders cross-functionally, with at least 5 years of leadership experience.
• High initiative, high energy, passion, decisiveness, attention to detail and confidence.
• Ability to convincingly present.
• Highly flexible and agile, able to manage a cross-functional team and report to a Sr Director in a different location.
• Awareness of agile working methods to foster collaboration with key stakeholders.
• Proficiency and refinement in all stages of presentation.
• Excellent market and retail knowledge.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of the sport industry, consumer trends and the fashion/lifestyle market.
• Broad knowledge of all aspects of product development.
• Developed product sense and taste level, with strong awareness and understanding of the Sportstyle INDIA consumer and marketplace.
• Strong written and verbal communication, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Excellent MS Office skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Very good analytical skills.

PUMA is a global sports brand creating footwear, apparel and accessories that inspire athletes and everyday movers. The PUMA Group owns PUMA, Cobra Golf and stichd, operates in 120+ countries, and has around 22,000 employees worldwide. PUMA provides equal opportunities for all job applicants, regardless of race, colour, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or disability, and all genders are welcome to apply.