Strategic Procurement Manager - 8 Months

Sits within Global Business Services (GBS) and the Corporate Services team. Non-Trade Procurement in GBS is responsible for managing and procuring indirect goods and services needed to support business operations, ensuring standardised processes, cost control, policy compliance and effective supplier management across the organisation. The role leads end-to-end sourcing projects for indirect goods and services, managing priorities, risks, timelines, SLAs, savings and documentation quality.

• Own the assigned procurement sourcing projects portfolio, managing priorities, risks, timelines, SLAs, savings and documentation quality.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing projects from request intake through supplier award and project closure.
• Lead complex sourcing initiatives by defining the sourcing approach, aligning business requirements, budgets, technical validations, category strategies and stakeholder expectations, and providing commercial guidance while managing commercial, operational and supplier-related risks.
• Lead competitive eSourcing events, including RfX execution, supplier communication, market and commercial analysis, fact-based negotiations and award recommendations, ensuring effective supplier participation, savings identification and complete sourcing documentation.
• Drive stakeholder decisions, technical evaluations and approvals, acting as the escalation point and resolving alignment gaps, supplier challenges, delays, exceptions, compliance risks and competing business priorities.
• Lead contract finalisation for assigned projects, working closely with the business and Legal to ensure the appropriate agreement or legally required document accurately reflects the scope and commercial terms agreed with the supplier and is properly approved and signed.
• Ensure assigned projects comply with Procurement policies, category guidance, sourcing procedures and documentation standards, and maintain accurate records in the required internal systems.
• Deliver committed Procurement savings and GBS SLAs and KPIs through timely, compliant and high-quality project execution and accurate savings reporting.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying recurring sourcing patterns, process gaps, standardisation opportunities and improvements to approved buying channels, in alignment with Category Leaders and Local NTP teams.
• Provide functional guidance, quality reviews, coaching and knowledge sharing to Senior Specialists and other team members. Where direct reports are formally assigned, manage their performance, development and workload.

• Bachelor's degree in business, economics, finance, supply chain, or a comparable field.
• At least five years of relevant experience in Procurement, strategic sourcing or a comparable commercial role within a mid-sized or large organisation.
• Advanced knowledge of sourcing approaches and methodologies, contract management and procure-to-pay processes.
• Strong ability to analyse specifications, challenge requirements and influence demand where appropriate.
• Good understanding of category strategies, compliance requirements and procurement analytics, with the ability to apply category guidance to sourcing projects.
• Practical experience in supplier management and project management.
• Strong analytical judgment, with the ability to assess risks, evaluate alternatives and make sound recommendations.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and interact independently across different organisational levels.
• Action-oriented and solution-focused, with a high degree of ownership and self-management.
• Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint and procurement or eSourcing systems.
• Fluent written and spoken English and Spanish.
• Demonstrates leadership behaviours across EXCEL: acts as a confident brand ambassador, spreads enthusiasm for adidas, its culture, products and consumers, shares brand updates, understands diverse consumer needs and adapts accordingly
• Balances global strategy with local needs, aligns team goals, seeks process improvements and drives sustainable growth and profitability
• Anticipates change, embraces ambiguity, encourages innovation, supports calculated risks, challenges the status quo and drives continuous improvement.
• Demonstrates leadership behaviours across EMPOWER: builds diverse, high-performing teams in an inclusive, fair environment, encourages open dialogue, values different perspectives and celebrates individual and team achievements

• Master's degree is preferred but not required.
• Experience in one or more indirect procurement categories, such as IT, Professional Services, Marketing or Facility Management, is preferred.
• Experience with Ariba is preferred.

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