Senior Manager Category Merchandising at adidas NAM in Portland leads consumer right assortments, manages lifecycles, and drives profitability for the North American market. You translate consumer and market insights into strategic range plans, partner with DTC and key retailers, own local creation projects, and coach indirect reports while collaborating with Global, Brand Ops, and Finance. The role requires a four year degree, at least five years in merchandising, and US marketplace experience; travel up to 15 percent. To apply, tailor your resume to measurable wins in category leadership, highlight GTM and lifecycle planning, show cross functional influence, and confirm your alignment with adidas values and collaboration culture.
Senior Manager Category Merchandising
Through sport we have the power to change lives. Sport is our past, present, and future and connects deeply with our purpose. We will always strive to expand the limits of human possibilities, to include and unite people in sport and to create a more sustainable world. We are defined by our attitude, Impossible is Nothing. We are rebellious optimists driven by action to shape a better future together. We see a world with possibilities where others only see the impossible. In sport, having the right attitude is key to being successful. Our attitude defines us in our industry and is a mindset that goes back to the days of our founder, Adi Dassler. It shapes our stories, products, and action.
As the hub of the brand, the adidas North American Product Merchandising team drives how our products show up to serve the consumer and elevate our experience. We are brand led storytellers who build product offerings that connect with and inspire our consumer. We build assortments that are brand led, consumer right and appropriately segmented to win in the NAM marketplace.
Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization: We are brand led storytellers who build product offerings that connect with and inspire our consumer
Key Responsibilities
• Manage the planning, curating, landing, and measuring consumer right assortments for NAM
• Ensure we are driving the right product, at the right time, to the right segmentation, in the right volume and at the right price
• Provide and communicate consumer, industry, and market insights to Global via the GTM commercial input process to ensure a relevant product range is created to meet NAM market needs
• Manage our key item and franchise models across lifecycles to ensure brand health and growth
• Own the creation of strategic curated assortment plans for relevant strategic channel/account including DTC
• Manage the execution of NAM Local Creation to drive market relevant SMU's
• Inspire and excite through the presentation of the GTM category, range plans and consumer insights to internal teams and key strategic retailers
• Utilize and action the analysis of the product range and sales results to maximize profitability, productivity, and growth of future assortments
• Lead and motivate indirect reports ensuring best in class mentorship, training and development for category and career growth
• Be an expert in NAM trade zones through consumer and customer nuance by region
• Excellent project management with creation teams to ensure NAM relevant creation projects are delivered on time and in full
Key Relationships
• Category and Marketplace Merchandising
• Canada, DTC, and relevant commercial teams
• Merchandising Planning and Systems
• Brand Operations (GTM, Sample, & Merch Ops)
• Brand Communications
• Sports Marketing
• Finance
• Demand Planning and relevant SCM partners
• Global Business Partners
• Local Creation teams
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Skill in MS Office applications (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Strong presentation and planning skills § Strong process and project management skills
• Ability to provide category management leadership, including ability to manage/mentor more junior resources
• Ability to travel both domestically and internationally as needed
• Excellent business acumen in channel distribution, net sales, margin, profit and inventory
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work with and influence across the organization
• A thorough understanding of customer markets and trends
• Category specific understanding preferred
• Strong analytical and planning skills
• Ability to travel domestic and international up to 15% of time
Minimum Qualifications
• Four-year college or university degree, preferably in Business/Merchandising or related field preferred; and
• Minimum five (5) years related industry experience
• Equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be substituted for degree
• Previous merchandising experience in the sporting goods industry preferred
• US marketplace experience preferred