Assistant Manager, Product Creation - Footwear

Assistant Manager, Product Creation - Footwear

Location: Gurugram, India
Department: Category Management
Brand: adidas
Reporting Line: Manager, Product Creation - Footwear

About the Role:

We are looking for an Assistant Manager to join our Footwear Product Creation team in Gurugram, India. In this role, you will lead the development of innovative footwear products that exceed consumer and customer expectations across various categories, including Running, SPW, and SPSP. You will collaborate closely with internal teams and external partners to create industry-leading products, while ensuring timely delivery and manufacturability.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with CTC and Sourcing Partners to develop short, mid, and long-term strategies for product creation in India.
• Lead the development of new footwear products and concepts for multiple categories, ensuring they meet market demands and consumer needs.
• Drive speed and service models to ensure adidas can react quickly in-season.
• Identify business opportunities and risks, and initiate actions with relevant teams to address them.
• Present product ranges both internally (Category) and externally (CR1 and CR2 with Partners).
• Ensure the maintenance of all product information systems.

What Were Looking For:

• Strong experience in footwear development, with a deep understanding of product construction and manufacturability.
• A proven ability to manage multiple seasonal projects with competing resources and deadlines.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to simplify complexity for different audiences.
• Experience working closely with vendors and suppliers, ensuring efficient and effective product manufacturing.
• Strong business acumen, with a focus on sales, margin, and inventory management.
• Solid numerical skills, with the ability to negotiate and manage financial aspects of product creation.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook) and Smartsheet.
• A passion for innovation in the sporting goods industry and a keen eye on consumer trends.
• Willingness to travel for the role when required.

Why adidas?

At adidas, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative environment. As an industry leader, we encourage innovation and creativity to drive our mission of creating high-performance, sustainable products. Join us to help shape the future of footwear and make an impact on a global scale.