Director Merchandising Systems

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 North America marketplace (NAM).

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization

The Director, Merchandising Systems & Tools is responsible for the implementation of digital tools utilized by the merchandising organization, change management, and is the long-term business process owner of these tools in NAM. It is the responsibility of the Director, Systems & Tools to have a thorough understanding of the digital tools, business processes, and how to leverage and enhance the systems to meet business requirements.

Prepare the scalability of NAM specific tools, reports, and solutions that have proven to be successful within our market to be adapted to the launch of M3 and the new tech stack for the benefit of all markets and sales orgs. Focusing on automation of current processes and accessibility of merchandising information for data consumers across the NAM market and market partners.

Key Responsibilities

Overall

• Deliver Speed through Data Quality & Readiness through Data Automation, Tool Enhancements, and Systems to support product merchandising.
• Remove friction, drive data accuracy, integration and unified & sustainable tools.
• Drive the transformation from manual tools to automated by continually introducing innovation in how data is leveraged​.
• Influence the acceleration of modern solutions (M3, Databricks, etc) to solve system issues for PM/NAM.
• Standardize and educate on how systems and product data should be used.
• Manage relationship with external vendors to deliver system enhancements on time and within budget constraints and to ensure quality control of releases.
• Communication to the project leaders and stakeholders at key milestones to ensure teams are mobilized and informed.
• Critical thinking: consider market issues from a business perspective and develop/implement solutions with cross-functional partners.
• Create training materials for Digital Brand Solutions and lead training sessions where appropriate.

M3 (new integrated platform) Integration, Planning and Rollout to NAM Market

• Lead the alignment of all markets for the adaption of M3 and the move to data driven processes utilizing current NAM innovation and incorporation the needs of other markets.
• Lead system integration, requirements and adapt process to new systems.
• Lead the training & rollout to NAM, drive system testing.
• Lead the localization of the global training documentation for the NAM market and users, based on globally provided templates.
• Ensure training of all NAM users in Feb/March 2025 in line with training plans.
• Organize the UAT 1 and UAT 2 rounds in NAM with all identified testers according to the protocol provided by the program team – provide daily feedback on testing results during UAT timelines.
• Take accountability for executing all NAM-relevant go-live preparation tasks according to schedule in April/May 2025.
• Lead the cut-over phase for the NAM biz teams and act as SPOC for any question/training requirement/escalation required to HQ.
• Finalize the determination of local key users and co-ordinate the participation of the NAM key users in the boot camp trainings in HZA for Feb 2025.
• Support program team in the harmonization of solutions across markets, by sharing best practices with other markets and support standardization efforts until end of '24.

Merch Systems & Tools

• Connect roles, tools, data, and ways of working to strategic concepts and initiatives across the brand organization.
• Work collaboratively across markets to synchronize business processes and requirements within systems. Share and obtain best practice from other markets.
• As the owner of the merchandising digital tools in NAM, serve as the single point of contact for both the NAM organization and global counterparts within Digital Brand Solutions and Global IT. Consolidate, document, and prioritize demand for required system/process enhancements and/or new capabilities.
• Implement a structured change management approach to support the education of individuals and teams to deliver a holistic understanding of the new tools and the product-led organization. Ensure a smooth transition and roll-out of solutions.
• Deliver on Speed & Data Readiness through leading the creation of an automated multi-market solution for the creation of Click and SAP catalogs.
• Drive data readiness through automation, and tool enhancements.

Data

• Act as the product owner for merchandising led data, defining attributes, their usage, and rolling out to the NAM organization.
• Oversight and creation of tactical controls to identify data inconsistencies so that they can be proactively resolved through cooperation with the origin of the data, system owners, or via manual updates with the SAP team.
• Accountable for the data quality and article readiness and associated reporting to successfully prepare the sales organization for sell-in.
• Accountable for the local reference data set up to allow automated processes.
• Manage reporting and tool creation for the product merchandising led activities.

Key Relationships

• Global Digital Brand Solutions
• Global/Local DNA
• Merchandisers BU/CTC/DTC/ATS
• Range Architecture & Franchise Management
• Market and Global IT
• Supply Chain
• Demand Planning – including adidas Golf, Outdoor and Canadian teams

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal skills be able to work successfully both independently and cross-functionally with system users and stakeholders and translate their business needs to IT and software developers.
• Either a merchandising background with an aptitude for digital tools or an IT background with evidence of merchandising acumen.
• Self-starter: learn new complex tools and processes both quickly and resourcefully.
• Problem solver: natural curiosity, desire to define problems, establish facts, analyze root cause(s), draw valid conclusions, and propose viable business solutions.
• Solid knowledge of the adidas Group business or significant industry experience in this area.
• Ability to be detail oriented and manage multiple priorities to accomplish assignments simultaneously under tight timelines with a strong attention to detail.
• Leadership skills to drive cross-functional change.
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Access, Excel Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint) and familiarity with data visualization and tools.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, stakeholders, cross functional business leaders and peers.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, written and oral.

Requisite Education and Experience/ Minimum Qualification

• University degree in business or IT
• 7 – 10 years' experience with merchandising or product management systems
• Previous industry experience preferred
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at adidas means championing individual uniqueness and cultivating a culture of belonging in which everyone can create at their best. We embrace diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives and seek to create a workforce that reflects our consumers and communities.
• adidas offers robust and progressive medical, including HSA (Health Savings Account) with employer funding or FSA (Flexible Spending Account) options, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, adoption, with surrogate and fertility support, short and long-term disability, and basic life and AD&D insurance, which can be supplemented with employee-paid coverage. Employees are able to enroll in adidas' 401k plan and Stock Purchase Plan with employer match. Full-time employees are eligible for education assistance and generous Leave policies including 14 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Employees are eligible to earn an annual bonus based on both company and personal performance. Employees accrue prorated flexible time off in the amount .4388 hours per day that increases with years of service, twelve paid holidays throughout the calendar year and Service Time Off during milestone years.
• We officially returned to office in a hybrid work environment, working 3 days in office and 2 days remote. The working location of this position is Portland, Oregon.
• Though our teammates hail from all corners of the world, our working language is English.