Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization
As part of the EU eCommerce Product Merchandising team, the Senior Buying Manager drives end-to-end merchandising for the Running, Outdoor & Golf categories across adidas eCommerce Europe. The role ensures the right product is delivered at the right time and in the right quantity to delight consumers and maximize sustainable commercial growth.
You will lead the full buying process for your categories, from range selection to buy execution, aligned with seasonal and commercial targets. You will manage the Running category and work within your team on Outdoor and Golf, using category expertise and consumer insights to help shape the EU eCommerce channel.
Key Responsibilities
- Own the range selection and buy process for the Running category, aligned with defined targets and objectives.
- Act as a key point of contact for the category within the eCommerce channel and between eCommerce and the respective Business Unit.
- Lead range selection in line with brand priorities and commercial strategy, ensuring alignment with seasonal goals and financial targets.
- Manage and guide a team of two people responsible for Outdoor and Golf categories and horizontal buying team support.
- Own pre-season forecasting in collaboration with European merchandising teams, based on agreed Open To Buy and range-size targets.
- Lead range handovers to key stakeholders, including final forecasts, launch phasing and size curves.
- Drive in-season range management with Planning and Trading teams, leveraging data and insights to maximize commercial performance.
- Ensure timely and efficient product launches through alignment with key stakeholders.
- Support financial and range-efficiency targets and contribute to Net Sales, Sell-Through and Standard Margin through effective merchandising decisions.
- Manage and maintain range-management systems for pre-season and in-season activities.
- Align with Product Content, Demand Planning, Digital Visual Merchandising and Digital Activation teams to ensure smooth, timely and impactful online launches.
- Contribute to in-season category trading meetings using sales performance, campaign results and merchandising KPIs to inform data-driven decisions.
- Participate in major seasonal and go-to-market milestones to represent the channel and gain insight into brand and Business Unit strategies.
Key Relationships
Broader Product Merchandising, Performance Buying, Lifestyle Buying, Planning & Trading, Off Price Merchandising, Merchandising Operations, EU Business Units, Digital Sales, Partner Program, Digital Activation, Consumer Experience, Digital Visual Merchandising and Europe Demand Planning.
Skills and Abilities
- Solid expertise in pre-season buying within a multichannel direct-to-consumer environment for a global brand.
- Strong understanding of merchandising and broad exposure to related buying-process functions.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to create clear, concise and visually compelling presentations and reports.
- Ability to influence and inspire teams, foster collaboration and drive results.
- Commercial acumen and a trading mindset to drive profitable growth and respond to in-season developments.
- Analytical proficiency and ability to interpret data into insights for forecasting and decision-making.
- Ability to lead and guide people within the team and horizontally through integrity and collaboration.
- Fluent English, written and spoken.
- Strong category affinity is a plus.
Requisite Education and Experience
- University degree.
- 5+ years of professional experience, ideally in Buying, Trading or Planning roles.
Culture and Inclusion
adidas promotes an athlete’s mindset through courage, ownership, innovation, teamplay, integrity and respect. The company emphasizes diversity, equity and inclusion as central to its culture and talent processes.