Manager Category Management, Future of Style, Apparel

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization

Drive sustainable Future of Style (FOS) apparel business growth through a product strategy reflecting consumer, online and offline behavior, and distribution across e-commerce platforms and physical retail.

Key Responsibilities

• Deepen consumer connection: Obtain and deliver consumer insights to support product and marketplace management decisions.
• Merchandising strategy and planning: Deliver seasonal merchandising plans covering range architecture, segmentation, lifecycle, pricing, product range and store layout.
• Product creation planning: Plan, brief and manage the product creation process to deliver competitive products and drive special-channel growth.
• Business planning management: Manage seasonal sell-in, product range plans and sell-in margin to achieve sell-out and financial targets.
• Routine management: Track and review business performance through DNA and MicroStrategy, and manage systems and files including Master Range File, HUB, DMT and RMA.
• Cross-division collaboration: Collaborate with internal BU SPW teams on category strategies, seasonal ranging, segmentation and exclusivity.
• Cross-functional communication and alignment: Align seasonal strategy and assortment with sales, channels, GCA and Global organizations.

Key Performance Indicators

• Category net sales, net margin and contribution across GCA
• Sell-out forecast and data accuracy
• Market share
• Achievement of key SBP initiatives
• FOS store MPSA

Key Relationships

GCA BU team, GCA PP&O team, Creation Center Shanghai, offline buying and sales teams, GCA Brand Communications and SPW.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Expert understanding of the China market, consumers and commercial needs, especially apparel.
• Strong presentation, communication, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Strong data analysis skills and ability to translate results into business actions.
• Successful track record and advanced category management and merchandising knowledge in the sports industry and apparel.
• Strong cross-functional and stakeholder management experience.
• Positive, organized and solution-oriented work ethic, teamwork, integrity and attention to detail.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in range management or product.
• University degree in Business or equivalent professional experience.
• Sporting goods industry experience.
• Fluent English.
• Strong computer skills, including Outlook, Word, Excel with PivotTables and PowerPoint.
• Passion for sports and willingness to travel 20–30% of the time.

Culture and Inclusion

adidas fosters an athlete’s mindset through courage, ownership, innovation, teamplay, integrity, respect and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.