1. General Purpose

As the Localization Manager (Digital Sports App) at adidas, you will be responsible for managing the localization of digital content for the adidas Running App. You will work closely with various stakeholders to ensure that localized content is delivered with native-like quality, adhering to style guides and brand tone. This role involves localizing our Marketing and Product copy and concepts into your target language, managing the localization process for different languages, ensuring consistency, and optimizing localization strategies to enhance user experience across different markets. 

2. Key Responsibilities 

Scope:    Responsible for all the localization of the Marketing and Product copy for the adidas Running app in your target language, with special focus in target markets with the required language

1. Localization of Digital Creative Concepts and Solutions

• Deliver translations and transcreative copy for all digital marketing campaigns requested in your target language.
• Localize app and website strings to adapt the user experience to local expectations and linguistic needs.
• Define localization strategies to adjust our creative digital concepts in your target language and markets.
• Write appealing copy that attracts, inspires and engages our consumers in your target markets.
• Review copy and concepts and contribute to creative direction to ensure cultural adequacy in your target markets.
• Review translations to ensure brand voice and high quality standards are met in your target language.
• Test the user experience and interface of our digital products to ensure the quality of localized versions of our app, website and all other digital content in your target language.

2. Creative Standards

• Develop localization guidelines and drive implementation through templates, toolkits and translation memories, enabling consistency and raising the quality of execution.
• Guide and manage internal stakeholders (e.g., Marketing, Product, or Engineering) as well as external ones (such as third-party companies) to drive localization operations.
• Conduct creative reviews and create brand consistency across all localized deliverables.
• Drive continuous improvements and pro-actively initiate new projects to elevate localized copy and/or optimize localization processes.

3. Localization Consultation & Collaboration

• Consult stakeholders on digital localization.
• Understand business needs and collaborate with the Marketing and Product teams to create effective localization solutions.
• Onboard and educate other teams into localization-specific topics to ensure general understanding of localization challenges and needs, as well as translation software.

4. Research & Trends 

• Keep up to date with trends in digital technologies, localization and copywriting in your target language.
• Conduct research on current localization trends and ideas to inform the development of innovative localization strategies.
• Utilize data-driven insights to optimize localization activities and outcomes.

3. Additional Responsibilities: Project Management

• Manage translation requests for a variety of languages with external vendors.
• Support other Localization Specialists and external partners on a day-to-day basis with regard to briefings and projects.
• Drive the efficient delivery of projects within the expected – time, cost, and quality.
• Coordinate localization QA tasks to ensure the quality of our localized experiences in different languages and markets.
  
  

4. Key Relationships: 

• Product Teams
• Content & Marketing Teams 
• Legal & Compliance Teams
• QA Teams
• Digital Activation Teams
• External translation agencies and freelance translators

5. Requirements

1. Education & Professional Experience

• Degree with focus on Translation, Linguistics, Creative Writing, International Relations, Marketing & Communications, Media and related areas.
• Strong translation skills between German and English (both written and verbal).
• 4+ years of experience as a Localization Specialist (or 5+ years as a Translator or Copywriter with at least 2 years of experience in Localization within the Mobile App Development or Video Game industries)
• Knowledge of digital industry and ability to be on top of trends.
• Experience developing localization strategies and working in collaborative multi-functional teams
• Experience in leading a team or managing freelance translators is a plus.
• Experience working in any of the following jobs is a plus: UX/UI Designer, iOS or Android developer, QA Engineer, Product Owner, Scrum Master, CRM Manager, ASO Manager.
• Please include a cover letter with your application. We would love to understand more about your motivation to join us and how your experience aligns with the role.

2. Soft-Skills

• Team-oriented work attitude with an ability to work independently.
• Good organizational and time management skills.
• Strong self-motivation and high level of commitment.
• Ability to work under pressure and multitask.
• Great communication skills and solution oriented.
• Passionate about localization and creative writing.
• Ability to work in cross-functional roles.
• Good research and analytical thinking skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to translate complex concepts from one language and culture into another.

3. Hard-Skills

• Expert knowledge of Translation & Localization software such as CAT and TMS tools. 
• Experience in agile methodologies and continuous localization.
• Familiar with implementing AI in localization workflows to enhance efficiency and quality.
• Experience in Localization QA.
• Experience with UX and Graphic Design tools like Figma or Sketch.
• Deep understanding of cultural nuances in target market.
• Good understanding of product development and marketing strategies (including UX/UI Design, User Research, QA, etc.).
• Experience in SEO copywriting.
• Experience in ASO copywriting.
• Solid knowledge of at least one localization specialization field (AVT, Transcreation, UX Localization, etc.).
• Perfect written skills in your target language, both in grammar and in style.
• Proficient in English.
• Familiar with a linguistic testing process, specifically related to mobile apps.
• Advanced level in any of the following languages is a plus: French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Polish, Turkish, Korean.