Senior Manager / Manager Category Management Originals FTW

Builds the local category strategy and leads a team to execute the product merchandising and go-to-market plans that drive brand and business success within the framework set by the Global Business Units. It sits within the Merchandising & Planning team and owns end-to-end market strategy and execution for the category, from integrated business planning and commercial input through to in-season trade and exit. The position acts as the interface between Global Business Units and market stakeholders, working with cross-functional teams, channels, wholesale partners and support functions to deliver against commercial targets.

• Support the development of a 3–5 year category plan based on the adidas BU process in collaboration with Global BU, the financial expectations set out in the category integrated business planning across all channels
• And the business mid-to-long-term division plan in alignment with the global vision.
• Develop category initiatives to meet key commercial goals.
• Act as the interface between Global Business Units and market stakeholders, collaborating with relevant cross-functional teams to develop and execute plans, supporting cross-category and functional-specific initiatives, and materialising business opportunities through communication with Global BU
• Channels, wholesale accounts and relevant external research.
• Own end-to-end market strategy and execution, from integrated business planning and commercial input through to in-season trade and exit.
• Own quality delivery against each GTM milestone and go-to-market planning excellence in compliance with targets for forecasting, pricing, profitability, range size, range flow, range adoption and Article Performance Review, including system, catalogue and master data maintenance.
• Define the category range by sales channel, by store or trade zone where necessary, within guidelines or alignments.
• Own key franchise lifecycle and inventory levels to ensure brand health, and perform category insights and analytics covering market, consumer, competitor and sales analysis to inform planning.
• Own the input of local product and allocation demand to global, and lead Creation Centre Tokyo creation from brief to ensure product offers achieve the category financial target, delivery, sell-through and exit.
• Present the range internally and externally with sufficient sample availability, and participate in customer interaction during the planning phase.
• Manage and develop performance and a winning culture with fast action through the organisation's people values, motivating the team and direct reports in alignment with the market organisation, and drive employee engagement by leading by example.
• Deliver against category KPIs including net sales, net margin and contribution, sell-out across all channels, forecast and data accuracy, drop rate, Net Promoter Score and market share.

• 5 years of experience in range management/product.
• University degree in Business or equivalent professional experience.
• Sporting goods industry experience.
• Business level in both Japanese and English.
• Substantial experience working with local customers and international stakeholders.
• High business acumen.
• Strong PC skills including Outlook, Word, Excel (Pivot) and PowerPoint.
• Passion for sports and belief that through sports we have the power to change lives.
• Ability to implement strategy.
• Strong presentation, communication, negotiation and influencing skills, especially with senior stakeholders within a global matrix organisation.
• Distinct track record of success and high-level range management knowledge.
• Strong cross-functional and stakeholder management experience across commercial functions (e.g. marketing, sales) and support functions, as well as different organisational levels (Global, Market).
• Strong industry knowledge across divisions — footwear, apparel and accessories.
• Expert understanding of markets' consumers, accounts, economic environment and commercial needs.
• Ability to manage, coach and develop people.

• MBA.
• Degree specialisation or professional background in Sales and/or Marketing.
• Experience of working with finance as a support function.

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