Purpose of the role:

Ensure the profitable and sustainable growth of net sales and market share for the running category in the relevant zone/cluster in alignment with the adidas AG brand and distribution strategy.

What you'll do: 

• Knowledge and application of adidas strategy within the assigned customers and categories.
• Establish strong professional and personal relationships with key decision makers and buyers of assigned customers to position adidas as the 'preferred supplier'.
• Represent assigned customers internally as 'ambassador for the category' to all functions and vice versa and manage interfaces
• Input & support execution on account strategies, formalizing them in strategic account plans and get these signed off by the (Senior) Director Sales
• Execute sell-in / sell-out as well as formalization based on account marketing plans.
• Continuously monitor sell-out and backlog to ensure reliable and cost-effective supply to the customer. Identify and capture sales opportunities for the customer.
• Leverage market insights - in terms of knowledge of the competitive landscape and trends in relevant distribution channels - to influence buying decisions leading to adidas sales and growth.
• Proactively develop, manage and execute creative grassroots activities with customers to enhance brand image as well as drive demand with customers (generating sales growth) 
• Support of the (Senior) Manager in strategic account management (including analysis and preparation of sales figures, participation in the creation of concepts and business models, identification of potentials and measures, analyses of customers, competitors, market environment and market developments, etc.).
• Independent sales management in terms of sales target planning, potential analysis, increase of sell-through, healthy & sustainable increase of market share with defined customers.
• Work in a data-driven manner through targeted use as well as knowledge of customer specific sell-out, sell-in figures and digital KPI's

Head Coach & Training Tasks:

• Drive training, communication and best practice processes into the clusters, to ensure consistency and excellence in execution.
• Organize and ensure availability of relevant training materials.
• Implement seasonal product training to dedicated customers.
• Review training materials received from Global/Europe and adapt the training to the requirements of the local market while maintaining the integrity of the course and its learning objectives to ensure consistent delivery across Europe.
• Represent the brand on events and campaigns.

Skills you'll need:

• Very good commercial knowledge and business acumen
• Negotiation and (re)presentation skills and confident manner
• Ability to speak in public with very good influence and communication skills
• Results oriented
• Strong team player with the proven ability to work cross-functionally in order to achieve objectives and targets
• Ability to influence business partners in other functional areas to build consensus and understanding
• Understanding of retail sales practices and ability to create practical and logical assortment plans based on selling space, inventory turns and sell through.
• Mental agility, self-motivation, and determination
• Fluency in English and local language (written and spoken) mandatory; additional languages are an advantage.
• Advanced knowledge of MS Office package, with emphasis on Excel and PowerPoint.
• Willingness to travel

Main requirements: 

• University degree in business administration or sports economics (preferably Bio mechanics; Sport Science and business administration)
• 3-5 years working experience in Sales department, ideally in the running industry
• Passion for the running category