PURPOSE & OVERALL RELEVANCE FOR THE ORGANISATION:

Lead the development and execution of Talent Acquisition strategies and hiring plans for defined areas within Market Europe roles based in Herzogenaurach (e.g. Cluster Central, EU Brand, Business Development, Retail Back Office) and Own Retail recruitment across DACH; ensuring delivery of both strategic and operational recruitment goals.

Provide leadership to the Talent Acquisition team, developing capabilities, driving performance, and ensuring high-quality hiring delivery. Act as a strategic recruiting partner to senior business and HR leaders, while also serving as the Market Europe TA SPOC, driving alignment, coordination, and representation across Global TA and Market Europe stakeholders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Talent Acquisition Strategy & Planning

• Translate business priorities into tactical hiring strategies and recruitment plans for supported functions and markets
• Lead workforce planning and hiring demand discussions with senior business and HR stakeholders
• Drive planning processes to identify current and future talent needs and ensure proactive recruitment support
• Develop recruiting strategies and talent pipeline approaches that support business growth and hiring effectiveness
• Contribute to the direction and continuous evolution of Talent Acquisition practices within the supported scope

Recruitment Delivery & Operational Excellence

• Oversee end-to-end recruitment delivery across the supported areas, ensuring consistent quality, speed, and effectiveness
• Ensure effective implementation and adoption of TA processes, standards, and programs
• Own accountability for candidate and hiring manager experience within the area of responsibility and drive high service standards
• Leverage data, market insights, and customer feedback to inform hiring strategies, pipeline priorities, and execution
• Effectively position adidas as an employer of choice by leveraging strong knowledge of the brand, employee value proposition, and relevant market insights

Projects, Change & Continuous Improvement

• Lead or contribute to key Talent Acquisition projects and initiatives that support market and functional hiring priorities
• Drive implementation of global TA initiatives and ensure consistent translation into the supported business areas
• Identify and implement improvements to recruiting processes, tools, and ways of working
• Partner across the broader TA organization to share best practices and drive collaborative approaches to recruitment
• Support change efforts and transformation activities impacting Talent Acquisition delivery and team effectiveness

Market Europe TA SPOC / Coordinator Responsibility

• Lead and connect the Talent Acquisition community across Market Europe, ensuring alignment, knowledge sharing, and consistent approaches across country teams
• Act as the primary interface between Global TA and Market Europe, representing the market in global forums and providing consolidated input, perspectives, and challenges
• Ensure clear and relevant communication of global priorities, translating them into actionable guidance for HRDs and TA teams
• Partner with the Market Europe Talent Lead to align hiring priorities with broader talent, succession, and workforce planning agendas, and ensure relevant capability building across the TA community
• Drive and coordinate market-wide TA priorities and initiatives (e.g. employer branding, transformation topics), acting as escalation point for key risks and dependencies
• Maintain a market-wide view on TA performance, hiring trends, and risks, leveraging data and PMO support to provide insights and inform decision-making

Stakeholder Management & Business Partnering

• Act as the primary Talent Acquisition partner for senior business and HR leaders across the supported areas
• Build strong senior stakeholder relationships to ensure alignment on hiring needs, priorities, and recruitment strategies
• Coach and influence leaders on all aspects of Talent Acquisition, including hiring decisions, candidate collaboration, resource allocation, and process standards
• Manage and resolve complex or escalated hiring challenges in a timely and solution-oriented manner
• Ensure a strong understanding of the supported functions, teams, and talent requirements to provide relevant and value-adding TA support

Team Leadership & People Management

• Lead, coach, and develop the Talent Acquisition team responsible for:
• Set clear objectives, manage performance, and build a high-performing and engaged team
• Drive capability building and ensure strong talent management practices within the team
• Provide clear direction, prioritization, and context aligned with business and hiring priorities

KEY RELATIONSHIPS: 

• Senior business leaders across Market Europe
• HR and Talent Acquisition teams across Market Europe
• Global Talent Acquisition COE
• Talent, Rewards, and other HR expert functions
• External recruiting partners, platforms, and agencies

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Talent Acquisition Expertise

• Strong end-to-end recruiting expertise across multiple functions, levels, and markets
• Strong understanding of talent acquisition strategy, market trends, pipeline building, and employer branding
• Ability to translate business demand into practical and effective recruiting approaches

Leadership & People Management

• Demonstrated people management skills and the ability to lead teams towards achieving objectives
• Ability to set clear goals, manage performance, and build capability within a team
• Strong coaching and leadership skills, with the ability to create a high-performance and collaborative environment

Stakeholder & Consulting Skills

• Strong interpersonal, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to influence senior business and HR leaders and gain alignment on priorities and decisions
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to present complex topics clearly

Project & Execution Capability

• Strong project management skills and proven ability to lead complex initiatives and deliver against targets
• Ability to manage change, solve problems, and navigate ambiguity in a fast-paced environment
• Strong prioritization skills and ability to manage multiple topics simultaneously

Personal Capabilities

• High level of ownership and accountability for results
• Collaborative and team-oriented leadership style
• Strong problem-solving capability and sound judgement
• Comfortable working across local, regional, and international contexts
• Open to innovation, continuous improvement, and new ways of working

REQUISITE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• University degree in HR, Business, or a related field
• Minimum 8 years of experience in Talent Acquisition (agency and/or in-house)
• Minimum 2–3 years of people management experience, including leading teams and developing talent
• Strong experience managing recruitment across multiple functions and/or markets
• Track record of successfully driving recruitment strategies, hiring delivery, and stakeholder alignment
• Experience leading or contributing to Talent Acquisition projects, change initiatives, or transformation topics
• Strong stakeholder management experience, including influencing senior business and HR leaders
• Knowledge of the consumer goods, retail, footwear, or apparel industry is an advantage
• Fluent in English; German language skills are beneficial