Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

Leads and manages a team of product developers to complete the footwear product creation process for the assigned business unit (BU). Actively monitors development calendars to ensure deadlines, costing KPI and quality standards are met. Acts as an advocate for footwear product integrity by working closely with Business Units, Design, Tier 1 suppliers, Liaison Office’s (LO) to uphold quality standards and achieve BU and GOPs strategy and targets.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the Development organization to implement and develop the strategic BU direction and ensure cross-functional alignment within the Creation teams
• Ensure achievement of OKR (Objectives & Key Results) set by the BU through partnership with Marketing and Design
• Identify new business opportunities and drive key product and/or process innovations. Provide input to short-, mid- and long-term planning and budgeting
• Work with adidas Innovation and Materials Development, and support research into new technologies and materials and communicate to Design and Marketing on potential new  development options
• Manage the material development and costing related aspects in cooperation with the functional teams to ensure the BU objectives are met and that strategies (i.e. material tool box strategy, costing framework) set forth by the Functional Heads of Material Development and Costing are supported
• Supervise the Costing process in alignment with Costing Framework and assume responsibility in alignment and cooperation with BU and Design to meet category margin targets for your area of responsibility.
• Ensure continuous product and process improvement with emphasis on leading and Right First Time development of products in accordance with the operation calendar
• Be responsible for Buy Ready performance through strong interfaces with T1, Quality Assurance, Sourcing and Product Marketing         
• Manage your team Budget to yearly targets as set by BOPS
• Manage workload and organizational efficiency with the support of the process and capacity management organizaiton
• Allocate/delegate the different products/projects to the respective development teams considering experience, product complexity and workload
• Work with Development organization to support and develop the T1, Sourcing / Allocation and QA strategies
• Provide team with clear direction, projects and targets that are aligned with business needs and GOPS objectives
• Create a motivational, supportive work environment in which employees are challenged, coached, trained while being provided with performance feedback and career development  opportunities
• Take ownership for the entire development process for assigned products and/or projects with an emphasis on quality product development and timely completion of all tasks in accordance with the applicable product creation calendar

Key Relationships:

• Marketing
• Design
• adidas innovation
• Tier 1 supply partners
• Tier 2 supply partners
• Material Development
• Costing Department
• Sourcing
• Fit and Wear Test Department
• Quality Assurance
• Supply Chain Management

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong communication (both written and verbal) and facilitation of meetings with (small and large groups) skills
• Ability to deliver effective and persuasive presentations on complex topics to diverse audiences
• Ability to think strategically, anticipate and define problems, synthesize complex data and develop innovative solutions
• Ability to think end-to-end with a global mindset
• Ability to manage through change, make decisions and act comfortably with risk and uncertainty
• Ability to provide a clear framework for performance to direct reports
• Ability to coach, guide, manage and develop a team
• Good understanding of sourcing allocation impact on product from a quality and cost perspective
• Fluent in English (written and spoken)
• Strong IT skills (MS office, PDM, CAD )
• Travel, domestic and international as required by business needs

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• Four-year college or university degree with emphasis on footwear technology and/or manufacturing
• Minimum 7 years of progressive work experience in the athletic footwear industry, specializing in product development, design and / or marketing.
• 1-2 years of experience in Merchandising, Production or Development
• Minimum 3 years of experience managing a team
• Exposure to the latest in materials, components, processes, and concepts