POSITION OVERVIEW

At adidas, we never launch a product unless we consider it perfect. Our product operations teams create every shirt, every shoe, and every piece of equipment for athletes and fashion communities worldwide with uncompromising passion and precision.

As Senior Manager Testing & Quality, you serve as the face of Advanced Creation Testing and Quality for assigned category segments. You lead cross divisional and cross functional perception, concept, and laboratory testing to ensure products are credible to consumers, compliant with external regulations, and differentiated in the marketplace.

This role is a critical connector between Business Unit Creation teams and Testing and Quality functions. Your leadership ensures that quality standards, compliance requirements, and consumer expectations are embedded throughout the product creation process.

By driving strategic initiatives, strengthening testing systems, and building organizational capability, you directly influence product integrity, consumer trust, and long term brand credibility.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Category Testing Leadership: Serve as expert consultant and primary interface for assigned Business Unit segments regarding cross divisional and cross functional product quality evaluation.

Compliance and Standards Stewardship: Create awareness of relevant compliance, safety, and quality standards and ensure adherence throughout the testing lifecycle.

Strategic Initiative Execution: Drive and implement strategic initiatives in Advanced Creation Testing across categories and horizontal functions to strengthen testing frameworks and capabilities.

Testing Oversight: Lead material, component, and product testing execution for assigned segments while managing testing resources and test level assignments.

Stakeholder Management: Coordinate communications with key stakeholders, manage disagreements including exception management, and escalate when required to protect product integrity.

System and Process Optimization: Identify gaps in testing systems, define improvement requirements, and contribute to the evolution of testing methods, processes, and standards in collaboration with Testing and Quality functions.

Benchmarking and Data Analysis: Lead Business Unit specific benchmarking projects, analyze testing data and market feedback, and organize closing the loop sessions with stakeholders in collaboration with the Claim and Reporting team.

Laboratory Excellence: Support lab testing execution, test method enhancement, equipment validation and rollout, and ensure maintenance of Product, Concept, and Lab testing facilities and devices.

Organizational Synergy: Foster cross divisional and cross functional collaboration across operations, brand, sourcing, innovation, athlete servicing, legal, universities, coaches, and athletes to elevate quality standards.

Innovation Translation: Explore emerging industries and scientific advancements to identify opportunities for advanced product development and translate complex science into meaningful consumer benefits.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Four year college or university degree with focus on product engineering, sports science, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Minimum of 4 years of work experience in the sporting goods industry, ideally in Testing, Quality Assurance, or Research and Development.

• Strong leadership and team building skills.

• Expert knowledge of product and manufacturing processes including product and material engineering.

• Strong analytical skills with clear understanding of business priorities.

• Ability to interpret complex sport and exercise science and translate insights to internal and external partners.

• Biomechanical knowledge relevant to product testing and performance.

• Deep understanding of product quality, integrity, and consumer perception.

• Effective communication and presentation skills.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Experience managing and developing a team.

• Experience collaborating with cross functional and global stakeholders.

• Exposure to laboratory management and testing system implementation.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This role follows a hybrid work model requiring in office attendance Monday through Thursday, with flexibility to work remotely on Fridays based on business needs.

The working location of this position is Los Angeles, California. In office attendance may be required on Fridays when collaboration or presentations require in person engagement.

The working language is English. Collaboration across global teams may require flexibility across time zones.

REPORTING STRUCTURE

This role operates within Advanced Creation Testing and Quality and partners closely with Business Unit Creation Triad teams including Development, Marketing, and Design.

Key relationships include AC T and Q execution teams and horizontal functions, POPS horizontal teams, Sourcing Quality, Innovation, Athlete Servicing, Technology teams including Product and Data Analytics and Consumer Insights, Legal, universities, coaches, and athletes.

The position includes people management responsibilities and accountability for building team capability and succession planning.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary Range: $124,000 to $148,000 annually.

Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, skills, competencies, and demonstrated proficiency in the role.

This position is eligible for an annual performance bonus based on company and individual results.

• Comprehensive medical coverage including HSA with employer funding or FSA options, dental, vision, and prescription plans.

• Adoption, surrogate, and fertility support programs.

• Short and long term disability coverage.

• Basic life and AD and D insurance with supplemental employee paid options.

• 401(k) plan and Stock Purchase Plan with employer match.

• Education assistance for eligible full time employees.

• 12 weeks of paid parental leave and generous leave policies.

• Flexible time off accrued at 0.4388 hours per day, increasing with tenure.

• Twelve paid holidays plus milestone Service Time Off.

• Employee product discounts and access to wellness programs.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at adidas means championing individual uniqueness and cultivating a culture of belonging in which everyone can create at their best.

We embrace diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives and seek to build a workforce that reflects the consumers and communities we serve.

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or veteran status.