Purpose & Overall Relevance For The Organization 

As part of the Global Procurement Supply Chain Management team, we are seeking an experienced Senior Manager to lead the strategic management of our Distribution Centers Network spend. In this pivotal role, you will drive the best value proposition for adidas while enhancing the efficiency, resilience, and performance of our global supply chain. You will be responsible for shaping and executing sourcing initiatives for 3rd‑party‑logistics‑operated Distribution Centers, building strong relationships with key stakeholders and suppliers, and optimizing total cost of ownership across regions and categories.

Are you excited about transforming procurement at adidas and boosting supply chain efficiency, resilience, and value creation? YOU GOT THIS! This role is made for you!

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Stakeholder Management

• Act as the Single Point of Contact (e.g., escalations) for a dedicated adidas business area in context of all Non-Trade Procurement related topics
• Actively partner up with appointed stakeholders to effectively build business relationships enabling them to achieve their business targets
• Drive demand intake within NTP and provide regular status updates to your stakeholder
• Understand and manage business needs and address solutions
• Manage and challenge business expectations in line with Category strategies and policies
• Build up and drive project pipelines to achieve savings ambitions
  
  

Sourcing Management

• Lead transformational supply chain network projects by sourcing: 3rd Party Logistics distribution centers
• Execute defined sourcing initiatives as per strategic methodologies, negotiate and secure best in class legal agreements with vendors
• Drive analysis, industry/market and supplier intelligence, benchmarking, and business decisions models to address demand and secure best value for money
• Lead/ support contract implementation and drive contract compliance on a global basis
• Negotiate medium sized contracts up to final authorization
• Participate in regular Category strategy upskilling sessions

Category Management

• Drive and lead the development of global strategies (medium sized categories) to address business needs incl. risk and supplier base assessment
• Market Trends: Perform a comprehensive market research to understand the current and potential future market trends and new innovations
• Add, update and maintain all category relevant information (e.g., Supplier Rostering) in the Non-Trade Procurement Database
• Benchmark category practices to identify initiatives for improvement and drive innovative approaches
• Define P2P and buying channel strategies, identify and consider automation potential
• Act as an advisor/escalation point for category (medium sized) related issues towards Sourcing colleagues and drive resolution in line with global Procurement policies
• Consolidate and communicate category’s achievements (financial or other)

Supplier Management

• Act as Point of contact for assigned strategic supplier(s)
• Lead supplier development activities based on supplier partner management strategy
• Set-up cross-functional review meetings with key suppliers in order to improve performance and further cost reductions
• Develop and nurture relationship with supplier to explore further capabilities and drive future innovation
• Communicate any updates from key suppliers towards the Procurement organization
• Monitor the performance of the key suppliers, including key performance optimization such as fulfillment towards their contractual agreement
• Identify and drive potential contract improvement opportunities
• Establish regular Business Review meetings together with the strategic supplier(s)

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

• Global & Market Procurement

• Global Logistics, Distribution & Engineering
• SCM global and market-based teams
• Regional / Local DC Operations Management
• Key business functions like Legal, Finance & Controlling, Insurance, Global Business Services)
• Suppliers Sales, Engineering and Leadership Key Account and Sales Managers

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Strong knowledge in Transport, Logistics & Distribution processes, and supply chain management with related cost driver understanding.
• Strong ability to analyze and challenge solution design and cost of complex 3PL DC offers, to allow preparation of fact-based decision models
• Good knowledge of how to develop and execute a Procurement Category Strategy to achieve competitive value proposition and arrange best in class contracts
• Good knowledge of Procurement methodologies and concepts, category management and business partnering
• Capability to independently interact throughout the adidas organization and to work with virtual teams
• Strong knowledge of procurement tools and data mgmt., content, and automation (E-sourcing, p2p -SRM & Ariba-, e-catalogues, buying channels, etc.)
• Good analytical, presentation, communication, interpersonal and influencing skills
• Action oriented and solution minded team player with high degree of self-management

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

• University degree with emphasis on the areas of Transport & Logistics, Supply Chain, Business, Economics, Procurement
• Minimum 5-10 years’ experience in a functional domain of Procurement, Transport & Logistics category and Distribution Centers Design and Management.
• Fluent in English, spoken and written, additional language is a plus

• STRONG capabilities in Microsoft Office, especially EXCEL