Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

• Be a trusted partner to the General manager (GM) and to the cluster Senior Leadership Team (SLT) in managing strategic projects and initiatives.
• Steer the cluster agenda by driving change and delivering results through cross-functional business partnering.

• Support business partners to drive profitable and sustainable growth and market share development by creation of cluster/zone/country marketplace transformation plans and execution of strategic priorities.
• Ensure consumer focus is at the core of all decisions through the provision of insights and market intelligence (input HQ EU - led).
• Enhance and evolve management processes to create optimal leadership & decision making.

Key responsibilities:

Strategic Planning

• Co-ordinate local cluster/zone/country integrated business plans covering all levels across brand, category, channel and country from assessment, through framework and ambition, to definition and actions tracking.
• Deliver pulse checks and recommendations around the cluster plan (connected initiatives) to the GM / SLT and allow for decision making.
• Support and drive evolution in processes and organizational adjustment in line with the European frameworks.
• Ensure a consistent narrative of the European Strategic plan in the cluster by securing alignment with Internal Comms and collaborating with European Business Development HQ.
• Act as an end-to-end internal consultant who plays a role of challenger and sparring partner for European Strategic Planning by providing the relevant local insights and data to support informed decision making.

Head Office:

• Lead agenda planning and organization and support ongoing improvement of management processes / ways of working through review and assessment, making agile recommendations and adjustments.
• Support the General Manager in driving engagement and understanding of SLT priorities, action plans and purpose using a variety of communication tools such as All Employee Meetings and written updates (in collaboration with Internal Comms).
• Prepare, facilitate and follow-up on local Senior Leadership meetings as well as key market visits (VIP’s). Prepare needed documentation to ensure General Manager is prepared for key stakeholder interactions.
• Operate as the counterpart to Europe Head Office mutually driving efficiency and harmonization across the organization Market/Cluster.

Strategy Execution / Project Management:

• Ensure all cluster/zone/country projects tie into the European project criteria. Act as the responsible voice for these initiatives by creating visibility across the market.
• Lead, facilitate, manage and support specific cross-functional projects and change management as required, based on EU and local priorities
• Apply Project Management toolkit ensuring consistent approach, successful project outcome and continuous learning.
• Provide ongoing communication and tracking of progress for priority projects to the SLT and identified stakeholders, highlighting successes and interventions required and assessing ultimate impact and learning.
• Serve as experts in Project Management standards, Identifying and leveraging opportunities to upskill the local organization.
• Support business case development for new initiatives through to approval by relevant stakeholders.

Market & Consumer insights:

• Lead the delivery of Market & Consumer insights supporting high quality business decisions.
• Feed into and utilize a European-led standardized insights toolkit approach across the market.
• Provide internal stakeholders with relevant information packages meeting their respective needs through an aligned communication plan and process.

Key Relationships:

• Internal

• GM & Cluster Senior Leadership Team
• Internal Communications, HR, Sales, Brand, Finance, Legal Cluster/Zone/Country teams
• Europe Business Development
• Key City Team
• Key stakeholders identified for specific projects and initiatives

• External

• Market & Consumer insights providers, e.g. Circana, Euromonitor, etc.
• Strategic partners e.g. Universities
• The consumer

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong strategic acting and in addition to operational skills.
• Proven cross-functional project management skills and track record of successfully delivering projects.  
• High degree of commercial and business acumen.
• Proven leadership and managerial skills.
• High personal impact and excellent communication skills, high level of independency and active integration to the organization
• Fluency in written and spoken English essential.
• Mindset: Curios, questioning, agile, pro-active and action orientated.

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum 3 years of project management experience within a large sales organization or in the consulting area.
• Experience in the sport or clothing wholesale industry preferred.
• Experience in successfully leading, managing and developing cross-functional teams and relationships.
• Business or similar degree from leading University/business school.