PURPOSE & OVERALL RELEVANCE FOR THE ORGANISATION

Contribute to create, run, and consistently improve world class services to elite athletes through athlete assessment, custom product engineering, and steering of production for Athlete Servicing products. Thus, ensuring our contracted partners can perform at their very best with our brand.

Incorporate the elite athletes’ feedback into the inline product creation process and new innovative concepts to support the creation of world-leading performance products.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

People

• Proactively contribute to establish a cross-category learning within the Athlete Servicing (AS) team.
• Contributes significantly to the achievement of department and/or project targets.

Service

• Plan and manage product related athlete visits/ brand induction activities at adidas HQs in Portland or Los Angeles in close cooperation with Sports Marketing & BU.
• Travel to meet athletes frequently. Open and transparent communication with all involved adidas entities is required.
• Discuss and manage any product related issues the athlete/coaches/medical staff may be experiencing and steer dialogue to develop smart solutions.
• Support adidas athletes prior to major sports events (i.e. All Star, Playoffs, Olympic Games, …) and ensure they have the best possible product to perform.
• Collaborate closely with Sports Marketing to conceptualize and install a support function during major sports events for the respective category (i.e. Athlete Servicing Event unit, Quick reaction setup, training camp visits, …).
• Build authentic relationships with adidas athletes to implement new processes re. gathering honest and relevant product feedback from athletes and their professional (coaches) and medical environment (Doctors, Physios, Athletic Trainers).

Product

• Support AS Operations’ development of athlete footwear projects end to end including briefing, modification discussions, distribution from the factory to the athletes, confirmation of modifications, and tracking updates to ensure on-court or on-field activation.
• Broad and deep knowledge in product creation process to generate Pro Athlete Product Insights and to create custom footwear and apparel for all contracted athletes according to their individual needs.
• Expert in specifying the needs and requirements of the athlete for product customization (performance, fit & comfort, and rehabilitation) in close coop. with AS Operations team.
• Educate and train external partners on adidas products to improve their quality of feedback and create an understanding for adidas technologies.
• Gain general product feedback on competitor activities & product on Pro Level.
• Lead adidas partnerships with League Committees (NFL, NBA, etc.) regarding athlete health and safety and product validation for on-field and on-court use.

Process

• Steer the integration of elite athlete insights into the Innovation and Inline creation process for the area of responsibility
• Close cooperation with BU, Development, and Design in terms of support and expert knowledge.
• Strategic lead of respective elite athletes’ product testing: Make sure validated feedback is an implemented part of the adidas Inline and Innovation product creation process to constantly improve adidas performance products.
• Plan upcoming seasons and new product rollouts with all involved entities (Sports Marketing, BU, AS OPS).
• Cooperate closely with BU on footwear and apparel to develop and test all respective inline products with elite athletes.
• Document and evaluate gained knowledge and forward to the BU for future learnings.
• Provide validated feedback on our products during the relevant sample stages.
• Proactively support AS Operations by providing information required for seasonal planning and forecasting.
• Plan and manage the operational business including the maintenance of athletes’ data and feedback.
• Support supervisor in driving projects, creating advanced presentations and/or trainings.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Work closely with all category partners and contracted athletes.
• Collaborate and communicate with external parties (contracted athletes, athlete management, coaches, medical staff) to positively influence the perception of adidas products in the respective category.
• Respective Business Units (Marketing, Design, Development, Sports Marketing, Innovation).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Passion for sports in general and in-depth knowledge of the responsible categories
• Deep sport specific knowledge in athletic training
• Knowledge in anatomy and biomechanics (e.g. functional assessment and profiling; sport-specific movements, wear pattern and injuries; treatment specification)
• Expert product creation knowledge (e.g. materials, components, modifications, technologies, assembly)
• Excellent analytical, presentation, communication, interpersonal and influencing skills
• Experience in project management. Advanced ability to effectively contribute towards multiple priority projects proactively
• Strong problem solving & result oriented skills
• IT (MS office – advanced; knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, Rhino and data analysis is a plus)
• Excellent English skills (additional language is a plus)
• Manage business (project & processes)
• Provide a framework for performance
• Relationship management and ability to influence others
• Ability to work individually, with a high degree of flexibility
• Must lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
• Frequent domestic and international travel (average approximately 25%)

REQUISITE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE / MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Min 6 years of relevant job experience in the sporting goods industry
• Experience in working with high level athletes of advantage
• Education
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience: Engineering science (e.g. Sports Engineering, Sports Science, Biomechanics, …) or medical degree (e.g. Sports Medicine, Pedorthist, Rehabilitation Science, …).
  • Graduate degree (Master’s or PhD) an advantage.