Director HR (m/f/d) temp until end of Dec 2026
Purpose:
To lead and enable a people eco-system around moments that matter – delivering value at every touchpoint by ensuring the implementation of the People Strategy for the respective function/business area. Act as "Strategic HR Partner” to the organization and our People and lead the HR team locally, regionally, and globally.
Key Responsibilities:
- Trusted advisor and key HR contact on people issues to Senior Leadership Team members; coach and mentor Senior Leaders to be empowered around people, culture, engagement and performance topics and decisions
- Drive and execute the People Strategy for the area of responsibility, focussing on any areas of strategic importance
- Drive complex transformation, change and organizational design programs, redesigning structures around strategic objectives; identify and build skills and capabilities against strategic initiatives
- Independently manage priority projects on a global level, in close collaboration with business counterparts, market peers, and HR COEs
- Manage talent processes and pipelines with robust succession plans for senior positions within the area of responsibility and develop talent bench for the future
- Use insights from data, analysis and dashboards to shape organizational strategy
- Manage consistent execution of core HR Processes in full compliance with adidas Group policy, legal and regulatory boundaries
- Quickly respond to complaints, questions, needs from senior managers
- Ensure a global HR reporting for respective functional area in close cooperation with controlling and global partners, anticipating/forecasting people trends
- Build, maintain and lead a high performing local HR team that is able to respond to and lead future changes and ensures operational excellence for their area of responsibility
- Drive and support on-site activities positively contributing to employee engagement, cultural development, or employee relations in our SCM HQ, in close collaboration and communication with Management, local stakeholders and support groups
- Highlight business priorities to Rewards, Talent and Strategy Office to ensure local and global needs and requirements are embedded in new initiatives, programs and systems
Key Relationships:
- Leadership Team of support organization Board -1/2 level
- HR team members, locally, regionally, and globally
- HR Leads for all relevant locations globally
- Talent, Talent Acquisition and Rewards Partners
- HR Services
- SCM head office and learning team
- Finance
- Talents in area of responsibility- M1/VP and below
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- HR Capabilities: Employee relations, HR Subject Matter Expert, use of HR Metrics, change delivery, organizational design delivery, maintain external perspective, anticipating people trends, workforce planning
- Organizational transformation and change leadership skills paired with excellent project management abilities
- Business Capabilities: Commercial Awareness, business acumen, customer focus, aligning business & HR Strategy, knowledge of the value chain and key processes to use and impact on the people outcome and strategy
- Consulting Capabilities: Brokering solutions to meet business needs, ability to customise HR solutions in creative ways and express own perspective in a compelling way. Trusted Advisor, impact & influence, facilitation and coaching, project delivery and leadership development
- A team leader with excellent management skills
- Strong customer orientation, coaching and mediation skills
- Articulate and clear in written and verbal communication. Engaging presentation and facilitation skills to large groups and teams on various levels of the organization.
- Thought leadership on people topics. Confident, creative and collaborative and role models this within the team, coaching others across the team.
- Drives innovation and fosters the development of new ideas, approaches and methods
- Shows deep understanding of the overall strategy and derived goals. Translates goals in actionable projects or tasks
Requisite Education and Experience:
- Master’s degree focusing on Business Administration, Human Resources Management, or related field
- Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive experience in a multinational company with proven experience as strategic HR partner, who supported business leaders and contributed to the further development of standard global HR tools and programs
- International experience and mindset
- Knowledgeable in leading complex transformational initiatives
- Experience in handling complicated employee relations issues (including labor relations issues, discrimination claims, harassment investigations, etc.).
- Good understanding of labor relations management (knowledge of EU and/or Swiss labor law would be a plus)
- Experience in Rewards, Talent or business function are an advantage
- Track-record of managing a direct team in a matrix organization
- Fluency in English is required; German language skills would be a plus
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.