Manage a team of product developers in the creation and commercialization of assigned products.
Actively monitors development calendars to ensure deadlines, costing KPIs and quality standards are met.
Acts as an advocate for product integrity by working closely with cross functional creation center teams as well as all related support services.
Key Responsibilities:
Team Leader
• Partner with Marketing and Design to achieve the goals and objectives set by the business unit
• Proactively communicate on an on-going basis with the development team and cross functional teams to ensure a smooth product development process
• Research new technologies and materials and communicates to Design and Marketing on new potential development options
• Supervise the costing process to achieve the best possible cost from throughout the creation process
• Communicate to internal and external teams seasonal product initiatives, process changes and longer-term category vision
• Take responsibility for Buy Ready performance through strong interfaces with Marketing, Design, Materials Development, Pattern, Logistics and Sourcing (Technical Services, Materials, Merchandising and Production)
• Manage team to achieve high performance by fostering a positive team environment, through effective delegation, objective setting, performance assessments, motivation, and training and development
Product Developer
• Communicate all necessary information to Marketing, Design, Suppliers and Liaison Office to ensure the effective and efficient creation of outstanding product
• Ensure target price and product designs are aligned through predictive costing.
Review, validate and approve factory costing information throughout the entire creation process.
Ensure compliance to agreed standards.
Negotiate with factory as needed
• Manage handover from design to factory to ensure that all information provided to factory is complete.
Manage factory feedback to design and marketing and incorporate where quality or cost can be improved without sacrificing product aesthetics
• Ensures timely and accurate data entry by factory regarding Article Description/Bill of Materials, costing or other data as required at calendar milestones
• Evaluate all prototypes for compliance with article description, manages fit approval/size specification, approval of color, accessories and materials.
Manage comments to factory
• Ensure that all materials and accessories as well as prototypes are tested and adhere to adidas quality, safety and A01 standards.
Manage quality exceptions with senior management as needed
• If required, review size sets for accuracy of measurements and merchantability of complete size range including logo placement and fit.
(Liason office to approve size sets not requested/approved by Competence Center after buy ready release)
• Review and sign off sealing sample with complete article description including all related documents prior to buy ready dates.
Ensure full conformity to published policies to ensure a final legal article description for final product
• Researches innovation from market or supply chain as far as garment construction, pattern/fit, embellishment, trims.
Work cross functionally with Brand Operations teams, IT, Sourcing and factory/mill to implement into product creation
Key Relationships
• Marketing
• Design
• Sourcing ( Brand Strategy, Merchandising, Costing, Materials, tech Services)
• Product Operations (Materials, Costing, Pattern)
• Global Supply Planning, Supply Chain,
• factory/mill
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Strong communication (both written and verbal) and facilitation (small and large groups) skills
• Ability to create, plan and effectively deliver presentations in formal and informal settings
• Ability to manage and motivate a team
• Ability to anticipate problems and develop solutions through to resolution
• Ability to cope with change, make decisions and act comfortably with risk and uncertainty
• In-depth Knowledge of production garment construction and manufacturing
• Advanced Knowledge of material construction and related testing
• Advanced Knowledge of wear and physical product testing
• Advanced knowledge of costing and ability to negotiate as required
• Ability to fit a garment and comment to factory on changes required
• Fluent in English (written and spoken)
• Strong IT skills ( MS office, PDM, CAD ) and ability to work with Product Data Management Systems
• Travel, domestic and international as required by business needs
Qualifications
• Four-year college or university degree with emphasis on clothing technology and/or manufacturing
•.
Minimum 8+ years of progressive work experience in the garment/textile industry
• Proven record of accomplishment in the field of apparel development
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 – THE 3CS: CONFIDENCE, COLLABORATION AND CREATIVITY.
• CONFIDENCE allows athletes to make quick decisions on the field, to reach higher.
For us at adidas confidence means acknowledging that we don’t have all the answers.
But we are willing to take risks, we try new things.
And if we fail, then this is part of our learning – it helps us improve.
• COLLABORATION. Every elite athlete relies on partners: coaches, teammates, and nutritionists.
We, too, know that we are stronger together.
Winning as one team takes open and candid dialogue, inclusiveness and trust in each other’s abilities and talents.
• Being the best sports company in the world takes CREATIVITY.
No great athlete succeeds by copying their predecessors’ training plans and strategies.
We have to be open to new ideas, explore, gain an edge and stand out.
Only then can we succeed.