Senior Manager Executive Search

The Senior Manager, Executive Search leads and delivers executive search projects for adidas as part of the People & Culture team. The role acts as the end-responsible point of contact for the client, defining executive hiring needs and delivering cost-effective, results-oriented search strategies that yield the best internal and external hires. A large part of the role involves interacting with senior leadership, advising on their talent needs, market trends and insights, and supporting them throughout the hiring process.

• Manage executive-level search projects, both internal and external, from kick-off meeting to signature/closing on a global level.
• Create search documentation and materials in line with global templates.
• Creatively and proactively recruit, assess and present high-quality executive candidates.
• Develop appropriate and consistent communications with internal clients and senior human resource partners to ensure a positive client and candidate experience.
• Provide strategic direction and counsel to hiring executives and senior human resources managers regarding recruiting trends, concerns and possibilities for opportunistic hiring.
• Participate in the continuous building and updating of an executive database with a viable network of talented professionals, focused on best-in-class talent at adidas' direct competitors as well as best-in-class companies.
• Ensure the presentation of high-quality executive candidates in accordance with diversity goals and objectives for both internal and external searches.
• Manage and conduct thorough reference and background checks on final candidates.
• Effectively utilise comprehensive knowledge of company benefits, general compensation strategies, affirmative action programme awareness and recruiting sales techniques.
• Partner closely with other centres of excellence such as Talent Management, Succession Planning, Rewards and Mobility, including on the internal talent pipeline, visibility on succession plans and status, and negotiation of complex executive offer packages.

• 7+ years of recruiting experience recruiting executive-level talent.
• Retained executive search experience is required.
• Proven track record in delivering a high-quality, thoroughly assessed slate of candidates under very tight timelines.
• Strong project management skills, with the capability to develop and execute thoughtful project and recruiting strategies and then work those projects methodically to successful completion together with the search team.
• Experienced and knowledgeable in all executive search techniques, from formulating search strategy and target companies to recruitment methods (executive referrals, research, direct sourcing, executive search firm management), vendor relationship management, executive compensation strategies
• And external community and agency relationship management.
• Experienced in the assessment of talent using behavioural-based interviewing and assessment techniques, with the ability to formulate clear and objective assessments taking into account fit to the role as well as fit to the organisation.
• Strong client-facing capabilities, personable with consultative sales and persuasion skills for reasoning and negotiations; engaging, able to establish rapport quickly, engage and assess challenging executives as well as internal stakeholders, and develop trusting relationships.
• Strong communication and listening skills.
• Competence and ability to multitask, work in a fast-paced environment, make quick decisions and work with highly confidential information.
• High proficiency with CRM software or executive search database tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with fluency in English being a must.
• Minimum MA/MSc degree required.

• Ideally combined with 2+ years of in-house executive search experience.
• Direct experience having worked on searches in the consumer goods industry is preferred.

The company believes that embedding diversity, equity and inclusion into its culture and talent processes gives its employees a sense of belonging and its brand a real competitive advantage.