Senior Manager Retail CS Buying

Purpose & Strategic Relevance

This role is accountable for leading the assigned product category, defining merchandise selection, depth, and distribution strategy across regions, formats, and clusters. The Senior Manager provides timely sales analysis, market insights, and in-season actions to drive category growth, strengthen brand positioning, and achieve commercial objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Assortment Planning and Buying

• Formulate seasonal buying strategies aligned with financial targets and consumer insights.
• Develop assortment plans tailored to store formats and clusters, incorporating local market needs and store differentiation.
• Build detailed product and store segmentation or clustering.
• Partner cross-functionally with BU, Operations, Planning, and Demand Planning to deliver pre-season buying outcomes in line with GTM milestones.

In-Season Execution

• Conduct performance analysis and store visits to recommend agile in-season actions.
• Collaborate with Operations, Retail Activation, and Retail Excellence to identify product opportunities and optimize performance.
• Design and implement markdown strategies, manage product lifecycle, and execute tactical adjustments.
• Lead product planning for sports event booths, ensuring alignment with commercial targets.

Systems and Processes

• Contribute to the refinement of buying tools and systems.
• Drive process optimization in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Provide seasonal product walkthroughs with Operations.
• Participate in IT and tools training as required.

Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement

• Coach and mentor team members, supporting career development.
• Act as a key stakeholder in relevant cross-functional projects.
• Undertake additional responsibilities as assigned by the Line Manager.

Key Performance Indicators

• Sell-through rate and net sales achievement with healthy markdown.
• Store inventory levels and stock turn.
• Consumer satisfaction metrics.
• Article ranking and best-seller hit rate.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree or above.
• Minimum 8 years’ experience in merchandising, with proven team management exposure.
• Strong passion for sports and deep understanding of retail and store communities.
• Advanced analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and market trends.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and cross-functional collaboration capabilities.
• Resilience under pressure with a result-driven mindset.
• Strong execution ability and team-oriented approach.
• Proficiency in advanced English.

Culture and Inclusion

At adidas, employees are encouraged to demonstrate courage, ownership, innovation, teamplay, integrity, and respect. adidas is committed to embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into its culture and talent processes.