Category Manager - EM South (Maternity Cover) Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organisation: The purpose of the Category Management team is to develop product ranges by category to best meet the needs of the local consumers, profitably. For this role specifically: Deliver a globally aligned and locally relevant product range for EMS, focused on delivering the company sales growth aspirations per sales channel. Sustainably grow profitability and market share for the Sportswear apparel category. Build the seasonal go-to-market (GTM) process for Sportswear to build the optimal product offering, considering the local consumer and channel requirements. Be the product expert and provide the relevant support for all functions locally. Key Responsibilities: Work closely with the CTC Director to develop and define the Sportwear product strategy (including lifecycle management) for the local market. This include the localized product development strategy. Deliver a compelling range/concept selection for EMS by balancing local consumer, global brand and commercial considerations and supporting the overall business strategy of the channels. Support GTM process to engage channels and customers and collaboratively build the strongest viable product mix. Deliver net sales and profitability (GIM) by managing pricing, margin, and the product mix. Ownership of product demand forecasting which most accurately reflects the customer and consumer demand in the market. Seasonal analysis of marketplace to understand trends, competitor product assortments and pricing. Proactively drive cluster range enhancements (including product development) that meet local needs and reflect differentiation in marketplace where required. Work closely with the Sportswear Hub team to deliver these. Own the range architecture for the cluster considering range guidance, brand focus and local pricing requirements. Monitor and maintain the accuracy of product data available to the business via the pricing matrix. Conduct monthly analysis of sell‑through performance, sell out, of the relevant categories and make adjustments to the range where necessary. Support seasonal Brand Activations by aligning with BA/Omni team on Marketing plans; communication tools; activation tools; and by providing sports marketing support to ensure our partners get access to the best of adidas. Key Relationships: EMS Cluster Category Management Team. Cluster Demand Planning team EM BU’s KPIs: Net Sales and GIM% Range efficiency targets; range size and efficiency Market Sales vs Plan Knowledge, Skills and Abilities : Merchandising, category management/planning, assortment planning crucial Commercial experience crucial Deep understanding of the lifestyle market in Sub‑Saharan Africa Strong presentation/communication and influencing skills Strong numerical / analytical skills Intermediate to advanced skills in MS Office – Excel and PowerPoint key Structured, organized and process orientated Ability to work effectively within a team environment under pressure Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications: University degree (Fashion/ Consumer Science/ Marketing) 5‑ 7 years experience in category management/range building preferably in a sport/lifestyle/fashion retail industry AT ADIDAS WE HAVE A WINNING CULTURE. BUT TO WIN, PHYSICAL POWER IS NOT ENOUGH. JUST LIKE ATHLETES OUR EMPLOYEES NEED MENTAL STRENGTH IN THEIR GAME. WE FOSTER THE ATHLETE’S MINDSET THROUGH A SET OF BEHAVIORS THAT WE WANT TO ENABLE AND DEVELOP IN OUR PEOPLE AND THAT ARE AT THE CORE OF OUR UNIQUE COMPANY CULTURE: THIS IS HOW WE WIN WHILE PLAYING FAIR. COURAGE: Speak up when you see an opportunity; step up when you see a need.. OWNERSHIP: Pick up the ball. Be proactive, take responsibility and follow-through. INNOVATION: Elevate to win. Be curious, test and learn new and better ways of doing things. TEAMPLAY: Win together. Work collaboratively and cultivate a shared mindset. INTEGRITY: Play by the rules. Hold yourself and others accountable to our company’s standards. RESPECT: Value all players. Display empathy, be inclusive and show dignity to all. At adidas, we strongly believe that embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into our culture and talent processes gives our employees a sense of belonging and our brand a real competitive advantage. – Culture Starts With People, It Starts With You – By recruiting talent and developing our people to reflect the rich diversity of our consumers and communities, we foster a culture of inclusion that engages our employees and authentically connects our brand with our consumers. #J-18808-Ljbffr