Apply now »

Senior Manager, Chemicals

PURPOSE

  • Key player in Global Sourcing driving the vision to be the Most Agile, Most Competitive, Most Digitalized & Cleanest Supply Base in the industry
  • Drive engineering & manufacturing innovations from concept validation to full deployment to enhance industrial competitiveness
  • Focus on Apparel: textile - dyeing/ colorimetry - finishing - yarn innovation areas
  • Act as a technical consultant guiding world-class supply of rubber, EVA, PU, injected plastic components, ink/paint, textile coloration, finishing processes, adhesives, and other chemical products and their manufacturing processes

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Research sporting goods, technologies, and supply partners via pulse checks and benchmarking to identify innovation opportunities
  • Understand IP landscape and proactively raise potential IP filing opportunities with brand legal
  • Collaborate in project teams to drive engineering & manufacturing innovation from validation to deployment, supporting readiness levels and scalability
  • Identify challenges and opportunities during innovation stages and initiate necessary workstreams with focus on performance, efficiency, cost, and sustainability
  • Maintain accurate project data and engage with PMO for guidance and support
  • Receive seasonal compound requests and guide supply partners in experimentation, formulation, testing, and production transition
  • Own Material Lifecycle Management system for bottom material creation and clean-ups
  • Validate and release new bottom material suppliers and raw materials
  • Provide technical consulting for:
    • Tier 2 supplier onboarding via technical assessment
    • Seasonal strategic capacity recommendations
    • Validation of compound and pigment formulations for final price list
    • Solutions for large-scale chemistry-related quality issues
  • Update A-01 policy annually for chemistry-related topics and projects
  • Ensure sourcing operations comply with adidas’ Responsible Sourcing & Purchasing Policy, standards, and legal requirements
  • Role model leadership to foster a culture of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

 

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

  • Internal: Global Sourcing (costing, materials operations, sourcing operations, sustainability sourcing, engineering & manufacturing innovation), HQ innovation, innovation management, materials creation, sustainability, Product Development
  • External: Sourcing suppliers

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

  • Advanced knowledge of polymer chemistry and chemical products including formulations, processing, machinery, and physical testing across:
    • Solid: rubber, injected plastic components, textiles
    • Liquid: ink/paint, textile coloration, dyes/finishing chemicals, adhesives, primers
    • Gas: EVA, PU, TPU, and other chemical foams
  • Strong analytical skills for problem-solving and project planning
  • Ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences
  • Visionary mindset with awareness of industry trends and consumer needs
  • Basic understanding of costing principles
  • Strong influencing, presentation, and communication skills
  • Proven ability to lead multidimensional teams and manage projects
  • Fluent in English (written and spoken)
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office

 

REQUISITE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

  • University degree in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Textile Engineering, or related fields
  • Minimum 7+ years of relevant experience

AT ADIDAS WE HAVE A WINNING CULTURE. BUT TO WIN, PHYSICAL POWER IS NOT ENOUGH. JUST LIKE ATHLETES OUR EMPLOYEES NEED MENTAL STRENGTH IN THEIR GAME. WE FOSTER THE ATHLETE’S MINDSET THROUGH A SET OF BEHAVIORS THAT WE WANT TO ENABLE AND DEVELOP IN OUR PEOPLE AND THAT ARE AT THE CORE OF OUR UNIQUE COMPANY CULTURE: THIS IS HOW WE WIN WHILE PLAYING FAIR.

  • COURAGE: Speak up when you see an opportunity; step up when you see a need..
  • OWNERSHIP: Pick up the ball. Be proactive, take responsibility and follow-through.
  • INNOVATION: Elevate to win. Be curious, test and learn new and better ways of doing things.
  • TEAMPLAY: Win together. Work collaboratively and cultivate a shared mindset.
  • INTEGRITY: Play by the rules. Hold yourself and others accountable to our company’s standards.
  • RESPECT: Value all players. Display empathy, be inclusive and show dignity to all.


At adidas, we strongly believe that embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into our culture and talent processes gives our employees a sense of belonging and our brand a real competitive advantage.

– Culture Starts With People, It Starts With You –

By recruiting talent and developing our people to reflect the rich diversity of our consumers and communities, we foster a culture of inclusion that engages our employees and authentically connects our brand with our consumers.

Job Title:  Senior Manager, Chemicals

Brand: 
Location:  Guangzhou
TEAM:  Product Development & Operations
State:  GD
Country/Region:  CN
Contract Type:  Full time
Number:  536168
Date:  Oct 16, 2025
Apply now »