Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

• Build a local category strategy and lead the team to execute product merchandizing plan, Go To Market plan to drive brand and business success within the framework set by Global Business Units (BUs)

Key Responsibilities:

• Support to drive & develop a 3–5-year category plan based on overall adidas BU process in collaboration with Global BU
• Deliver financial expectations set out in the category integrated business planning across all channels
• Develop category initiatives to meet key commercial goals
• Manage the development of business mid-long term division plan in alignment with global vision
• Be the interface between Global BU and market stakeholders
• Collaborate with relevant cross functional teams to develop and execute plans
• Own E2E market strategy and execution from Integrated Business Planning, Commercial Input to in season trade and exit
• Own quality delivery toward each GTM milestones
• Own go to market planning excellence in compliance with targets for forecasting, pricing, profitability, range size, range flow, range adoption, APR etc. including system, catalogue and master data maintenance
• Define the category range by channels, by door or trade zone where necessary, within guidelines or alignments
• Materialize business opportunities throughout communication with Global BU, Channels, Wholesale accounts and any relevant external research
• Own key franchise lifecycle and inventory level to ensure brand health
• Perform category insights and analytics including market/consumer/competitor insights and sales analysis and leverage for planning
• Own the input of local product and allocation demand to global
• Responsible for Creation Center Tokyo (CCT) creation from brief to ensure product offers to achieve the category financial target, delivery and sell through and exit
• Lead cross-category specific initiatives (i.e. Lockerroom)
• Present range internally and externally with sufficient sample availability
• Participate in customer interaction in planning phase
• Manage, develop performance, and winning culture with fast action through organization’s people values, coach and motivate team / direct reports in alignment with the market organization
• Development of culture
• Drive employee engagement, leading by example.

KPI’s:

• Category NS, Net Margin, and Contribution
• Sell-out all channels
• Forecast & data accuracy, Drop rate
• Net Promote Score (NPS)
• Market share

Key Relationships:

• Global  BU
• Creation centers including local trading company
• Brand Activation, Culture marketing, Sport marketing
• Channels and External Wholesale partners
• Demand planning, SCM, Finance
• Business development, GTM head office

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to implement strategy
• Strong presentation/communication, negotiation and influencing skills, especially with senior stakeholders within a global matrix organization.
• Distinct track record of success and high-level range management knowledge
• Strong cross-functional and stakeholder management experience across commercial functions (e.g. marketing, sales, etc.) and support functions (finance preferred), as well as different organizational levels (Global, Market, etc.)
• Strong industry knowledge, across divisions—footwear, apparel and accessories.
• Expert understanding of markets’ consumers, accounts, economic environment and commercial needs
• Ability to Manage, Coach and Develop People
• Results Oriented Mindset
• Strong team player with high level of integrity & attention to detail
• Pro-active, collaborative and positive attitude even in changing environments
• Strong data analysis skills and ability to translate and articulate data results into clear business actions.

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• 8-10 years of experience in range management/product required.

• University degree in Business or equivalent professional experience, ideally in Sales and/or Marketing, MBA preferred
• Sporting goods industry experience required
• Fluent in English
• Japanese fluency preferred
• Has substantial experience working with local customers and international stakeholders
• High Business Acumen
• Strong Computer Skills including Outlook, Word, Excel (Pivot), PowerPoint, etc.
• Passion for sports and belief that through sports we have the power to change lives