Senior Manager Merchandising, Planning

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 insightsManage 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 goalsBuild assortments based on consumer- and commercial needs, acknowlediging space, option and capacity requirementsManage 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 requirementsManage size breakdowns assuring they are created according to store needs and incorporated in the buying processDrive and execute pricing strategies from initial pricing to markdown management based on sell through, inventory position and markdown targetsAnalyze product performance, sales data and KPIs to assess profitability and make data-driven purchasing adjustmentsMonitor market trends, competitor activities and consumer to identify future sales opportunitiesManage replenishment for NOS conceptsDrive re-order business for fast-moving products and bestsellers based on stock levels, sell-through, and product flowBuild and maintain strong relationships with brand representatives Negotiate pricing, payment terms, delivery schedules and promotional support to maximize marginsWork closely with cross-functional teams, including marketing, VM and store operations to ensure a cohesive and profitable merchandising approach  Key Relationships: Brand representativesStore ManagerStore staffRetail DirectorRetail OperationsVM and ActivationFinance  Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Broad and deep knowledge of the merchandise planning and buying process for a multi-brand retailer with strong practical experienceAnalytical mindset with strong numerical skillsDetail-oriented with strong organizational and planning abilitiesStrong business acumenExcellent negotiating, communication and relationship management skillsSelf driven and entrepreneurial mindsetUnderstanding of sports brands, consumer behavior and market trends and product intuitionAbility to work effectively within a team environment and under pressureFluent in German and advanced in EnglishAdvanced skills in MS Office & MicroStrategy  Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications: University degree in Business, ideally with Marketing and Sales focus or equivalent professional experience5-8 years relevant work experience at a multi-brand retailer as Merchandise Planner and Buyer, ideally in the sporting goods industry