Category Manager OG Footwear

Purpose & Overall Relevance For The Organization
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.

We are brand-led storytellers who build product offerings that connect with and inspire our consumer.

Key Responsibilities

• Build seasonal Canadian specific range plans that maximize our DTC partner needs and the strategic plans of our key wholesale accounts. Ensuring Canadian range aligns with the US range; as well as NAM category growth expectations and sku count projections to ensure article efficiency.
• Price all locally ranged articles to align with USD conversion, ensure we are competitive in the market and hit local margin targets.
• Work closely with the US product teams, providing market insights and feedback to build a best-in-class NAM range and GTM strategy.
• Work with US counterparts to execute in season opportunities: SMUs, Speed, In Season Injections packs to complement range and bring us closer to market.
• Develop and maintain an athletic and sporting goods expertise of the Canadian marketplace and consumers; as well as competitors/products that compete in this environment. This includes regular visits to key retailers to flag opportunities in our market/differences to the US market to ensure we remain competitive.
• Develop long term business plans with a focus on key items and franchise models across lifecycles to ensure brand health and growth. For certain categories this means building out allocation plans on key franchises to ensure we are driving sustainable growth and a successful sell out.
• Ensure all samples are ordered, organized and merchandized for key milestone meetings.
• Build and present the GTM category to Canadian stakeholders in Sales & DTC. This includes building and maintaining all sell in tools for the market and presenting the range to both internal and external teams.
• Work closely with Marketing Communications to ensure product highlights and key brand messages are aligned and brought to market.

Key Relationships

• US Category Merch teams
• Canadian DTC and WHLS Sales partners
• Key External Retail Partners
• Canadian Trade & Brand Communications Marketing teams
• Brand Operations
• Brand Communications
• NAM Demand Planning & Finance
• Global Business Partners

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Proficiency with MS Office Suite and working with systems/applications
• Strong presentation and communication skills, written and verbal
• Ability to work within a team environment
• Strong attention to detail and organization
• Ability to travel both domestically and internationally as needed
• Strong business acumen in channel distribution, net sales, margin, profit and inventory
• Ability to work with and collaborate across the organization
• A thorough understanding of customer markets and trends
• Category specific understanding preferred
• Strong analytical and planning skills

Minimum Qualifications

• Four-year college or university degree, preferably in Business/Merchandising or related field preferred; and
• Minimum three (3) years industry related experience
• Equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be substituted for degree.
• Previous merchandising experience in the sporting goods industry preferred
• At adidas we offer a Hybrid work policy which requires attendance in the office Monday through Thursday, with the flexibility to work remotely on Friday each week. For work requiring a high degree of collaboration or an in-person presentation, in-office attendance is required even on Friday
• The anticipated low and high end of the base pay range for this position is $80k - $100k. Actual salary will be based on various factors, such as a candidate's experience, qualifications, skills and competencies, proficiency for the role.

Health & Safety Duties & Responsibilities
The following are the duties and responsibilities of all adidas Canada full-time, seasonal-temporary and contract workers:

• Keep workplace safe and orderly.
• Report all accidents, injuries, contraventions of the Act and unsafe conditions to the Supervisor / Manager.
• Inspect immediate workplace daily and maintain to standards and report any hazards to Supervisor / Manager immediately.
• Use and wear the personal protective equipment or clothing required by the Occupational health & Safety Act and / or the Company and shall not remove or make ineffective any protective device required by the regulations or by the Company without providing an adequate temporary protective device.
• Work in compliance with the provisions of the Act and the Company safety policies.
• Report to Supervisor / Manager the absence of, or any defect in, any equipment or protective devices of which s/he is aware, and which may endanger her/himself or another worker; and any hazard of which s/he knows.
• Not use or operate any equipment, machine, device or thing or work in a manner that may endanger him/herself or any other worker, nor engage in any prank, contest, feat of strength, unnecessary running or rough and boisterous conduct.
• Know and employ established rules and procedures for handling hazardous materials, equipment and processes.

adidas celebrates diversity, supports inclusiveness and encourages individual expression in our workplace. We do not tolerate the harassment or discrimination toward any of our applicants or employees. We are an equal opportunity employer.