Category Manager - Specialty Sports
Manager Merchandising –Specialty Sports (Tennis and Volleyball)
Area: NAM Specialist Sports BU
Department: Merchandising
Direct Reporting Line: Sr. Manager, Specialist Sports
Indirect/secondary reporting line: none
Subsidiary/country: US
Location: Portland
GSMS Grade: M4
Number of Personnel Managed: none
Cost Center/Budget and/or Revenue Responsibility: -
Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:
- Supports the Senior Manager Merchandising in executing the NAM short and medium-term objectives for the respective category, specifically responsible for delivering across all KPIs.
- Implement global strategies in a locally relevant way for NAM, considering different consumer needs and distribution channels.
- Supports in influencing the development of global strategies through providing clear and relevant commercial input in terms of consumer needs, market particularities, and channel needs.
- Collaborate regularly with global counter parts to identify business opportunities in the market and to maximize net sales and profitability (within global and NAM strategic parameters)
Key Responsibilities:
- Responsible for all aspects of merchandising the range including segmentation to meet all KPIs incl. efficiency, productivity, overlap, top line, margin
- Present ranges for specialist sport categories internally and externally (to key retailers)
- Ensure that all deliverables are fully executed and handed over at go to market milestones.
- Provide regular analysis of sell-through performance BU and contribute to strategic planning based on that analysis.
- Provide regular updates on status, progress, results, key learnings to NAM leadership and global BUs.
- Assist in the strategic assortment plans for relevant strategic channel/account including DTC and key accounts.
- Present the category go to market strategies, range plans and consumer insights to internal teams and key strategic retailers to land range with impact.
- Accountable, in particular, for pricing of the range, including a plan to harmonize pricing across NAM, to meet the KPI’s
- Continually monitor and analyse product range and sales results to determine products that maximize profitability/productivity.
- Develop and collaborate on marketing and product strategies to deliver sales growth
- Potential to lead direct report, ensuring successful motivation, training and development for category and career growth.
Key Relationships:
- Global BU
- Market Place Management
- Sales
- Operations
- Business Development
- Demand Planning
- BU Brand Communication
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Person with passion for Specialist Sports, ideally with professional background
- Advanced knowledge of Retail Management Systems
- Strong analytical skills
- Structured, organized and process orientated
- Attention to detail as error in analysis will have crucial impact to business
- Ability to work effectively within a team environment and under pressure
- High influencing skills and ability to make fact-based decisions
- Intermediate to advanced skills in MS Office
- Fluent in English
- Ability to travel domestic and internationally
- Strong Knowledge of Specialty Sports, with focus on Tennis and Volleyball
Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:
- University degree in business, ideally with marketing and sales focus or equivalent professional experience
- Merchandising/ cross-functional marketing and/or sales experience experience: 3 years
- Previous merchandising experience in the sporting goods industry preferred
adidas celebrates diversity, supports inclusiveness and encourages individual expression in our workplace. We do not tolerate the harassment or discrimination toward any of our applicants or employees. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.