Adidas is an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from people of all ages, genders (incl. gender identity), ethnic and social backgrounds, nationalities, sexual orientations, religions and beliefs, and those with apparent or non-apparent disabilities*. We do not tolerate harassment or discrimination toward any of our applicants or employees. *We actively encourage individuals with disabilities to apply and will provide reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process.
Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:
The Senior Manager Merchandising, Planning & Buying is responsible for the merchandise planning and purchasing of a selected portfolio of sports and lifestyle brands for a multi-brand factory outlet store. This role ensures the product assortment reflects current market trends, meets consumer expectations, and delivers on the store’s sales, margin and inventory goals. The position plays a key role in shaping the store’s brand- and product mix while fostering strong relationships with brand representatives to drive commercial success.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the implementation of seasonal and long-term assortment strategies aligned with commercial KPIs and the store’s profile based on consumer insights
- Manage the seasonal OTB planning by brand, category and product group based on historical sales data, the store’s financial targets and market analyses
- Manage buying budgets responsibly, ensuring alignment with company financial goals
- Build assortments based on consumer- and commercial needs, acknowlediging space, option and capacity requirements
- Manage the buying process and define right buy volumes to ensure optimal stock availability while minimizing excess, inline with OTB plans and space, option and capacity requirements
- Manage size breakdowns assuring they are created according to store needs and incorporated in the buying process
- Drive and execute pricing strategies from initial pricing to markdown management based on sell through, inventory position and markdown targets
- Analyze product performance, sales data and KPIs to assess profitability and make data-driven purchasing adjustments
- Monitor market trends, competitor activities and consumer to identify future sales opportunities
- Manage replenishment for NOS concepts
- Drive re-order business for fast-moving products and bestsellers based on stock levels, sell-through, and product flow
- Build and maintain strong relationships with brand representatives
- Negotiate pricing, payment terms, delivery schedules and promotional support to maximize margins
- Work closely with cross-functional teams, including marketing, VM and store operations to ensure a cohesive and profitable merchandising approach
Key Relationships:
- Brand representatives
- Store Manager
- Store staff
- Retail Director
- Retail Operations
- VM and Activation
- Finance
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Broad and deep knowledge of the merchandise planning and buying process for a multi-brand retailer with strong practical experience
- Analytical mindset with strong numerical skills
- Detail-oriented with strong organizational and planning abilities
- Strong business acumen
- Excellent negotiating, communication and relationship management skills
- Self driven and entrepreneurial mindset
- Understanding of sports brands, consumer behavior and market trends and product intuition
- Ability to work effectively within a team environment and under pressure
- Fluent in German and advanced in English
- Advanced skills in MS Office & MicroStrategy
Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:
- University degree in Business, ideally with Marketing and Sales focus or equivalent professional experience
- 5-8 years relevant work experience at a multi-brand retailer as Merchandise Planner and Buyer, ideally in the sporting goods industry
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.