Manager, Workplace Management (Facilities & Services) – India

Area- India, Emerging Markets

Department- Workplaces, HR

Direct Reporting Line- Sr. Director HR India

Indirect/secondary reporting line- Director Workplaces EM

Personnel Managed- External/Vendor Managed Resources

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

The Workplaces function is responsible for the end-to-end active management of the adidas Real Estate Portfolio including leases and transactions of all properties, as well as the design, construction and operations of adidas offices, showrooms and Distribution Centres. In this role you are responsible for the workplace operations, quality management, development and coordination of workplace services across the adidas India Market Office portfolio. You will ensure safe, compliant, efficient and engaging workplace environments that support business performance, employee experience and the adidas culture.

As the Workplace Management lead for India, you will drive operational excellence across multiple locations, ensuring the highest quality standards for workplace services, facilities operations and employee experience. You will lead workplace service delivery, vendor management, local workplace projects, budget management and continuous improvement initiatives while ensuring alignment with India HR strategy and priorities, as well as regional and global Workplace standards.

This role will set the highest quality standards for all location-related workplace operations while continuously seeking opportunities to improve service quality, workplace experience, sustainability and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead workplace operations across the adidas India Market Office portfolio, ensuring consistent, compliant and high-quality service delivery across all locations.
• Plan, organise, monitor and continuously improve workplace operational processes, standards, procedures and service delivery models to achieve maximum customer satisfaction and operational excellence.
• Steer, coordinate and manage all assigned workplace services including hard and soft facilities management, reception, catering, hospitality, security, fleet management, workplace maintenance, cleaning and other workplace support services.
• Develop, optimise and continuously improve assigned workplace services to enhance employee experience, service quality, operational efficiency and sustainability outcomes.
• Act as the primary interface between adidas and assigned external service providers, ensuring strong governance, service performance, compliance and value delivery.
• Lead supplier sourcing, tendering, contract management and vendor performance reviews in partnership with Procurement, including commercial evaluation, supplier selection recommendations, mobilisation and ongoing performance management.
• Develop and manage Workplace operating and capital expenditure budgets, including planning, forecasting, reporting and cost control.
• Lead and support workplace projects, refurbishments and operational improvement initiatives, ensuring delivery against scope, budget, timeline and quality expectations, while partnering with Design & Delivery teams where appropriate.
• Support space management activities to ensure effective allocation, utilisation and optimisation of workplace space across the portfolio.
• Manage day-to-day landlord and property management relationships.
• Help shape the future of Workplaces within India and create a sustainable foundation that supports changing business and employee needs.
• Partner closely with HR and business stakeholders to deliver workplace activations, events and employee experiences that bring the adidas culture to life within the physical workplace and support India HR priorities.
• Translate regional and global Workplace strategies, standards, policies and initiatives into practical and effective solutions for the India market.
• Build strong relationships with senior business leaders and key stakeholders, providing workplace expertise, recommendations and solutions that support business objectives.
• Lead and further develop assigned employees and external resources where applicable, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, service excellence and continuous improvement.
• Partner closely with Health & Safety teams to ensure workplace operations operate in accordance with applicable legal, regulatory and company requirements.
• Maintain compliance with applicable IMS requirements within the area of responsibility.
• Implement and ensure compliance with Workplace policies, governance standards and project management requirements.
• Travel regularly within India to support workplace operations, projects, stakeholder engagement and service quality across the office portfolio.

Key Relationships:

adidas employees, Senior Leadership Team, HR, Finance, Procurement, Workplaces regional and global teams, HSEE teams, respective business functions, external suppliers and service providers, landlord and property management partners, external authorities where required. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Service excellence mindset with a strong focus on employee experience
• Proven people management and leadership capabilities
• Strong Workplace Management, Facilities Management or Corporate Real Estate experience within a complex, multi-site organisation
• Project management experience across workplace, facilities and operational improvement initiatives
• Tender management, supplier selection and vendor governance experience
• Strong negotiation and commercial management skills
• Budget and cost control with demonstrated experience managing OPEX and CAPEX budgets
• Proven ability to review, improve and optimise operational processes, standards and service delivery models
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across multiple functions and seniority levels
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Understanding of workplace compliance, risk management and health and safety requirements
• Experience working within regional and global frameworks while adapting solutions to local business needs
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Very good English skills

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• Appropriate qualification in Facilities Management, Business Administration, Corporate Real Estate or a related discipline preferred
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in Workplace Management, Facilities Management, Corporate Real Estate or a related field
• Experience managing a complex, multi-site portfolio
• Demonstrated experience managing outsourced workplace services and vendor partners
• Proven experience managing workplace operational and capital budgets
• Experience leading workplace projects, refurbishment initiatives and service improvement programmes
• Experience working with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams
• Experience leading people, teams and/or outsourced service providers