PURPOSE
Recognize sport, elite athlete and consumer insights
Heavily influence category athlete concept direction and drive its implementation
Reduce strategies to tactical plans
Steer a cross-functional product creation team to deliver the category vision
Lead and develop the category team
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Manage a virtual cross functional team and develop their functional and social skills using available resources to create a top performing team
- Set and manage strategic category athlete concept direction; ensure cross-functional alignment
- Identify new business opportunities to drive innovation and / or commerciality
- Develop an "all for one attitude" within the team to ensure smooth cooperation with interlinked departments
- Have full understanding of the product creation process to drive it forward
- Be a role model for all team members in regards to strategic direction and the product creation process
- Show leadership through living the brand values while fostering a performance culture
- Manage and develop optimum relationship with cross-functional teams and with interlinked departments to enable an efficient product creation process
- Challenge the cross-functional team to ensure creation of industry leading products
- Analyse and report category business performance to ensure achievement of category KPIs
- Positively represent the category both internally and externally
- Work with the CtC (Concept to Consumer), Brand Marketing, Innovation, Athlete Service and Sports Marketing teams throughout the season to define strategic marketing direction
- Be a competent partner for category, sponsored athletes and ranging discussions with markets and retailers
- Define projects to optimize category performance and steer to conclusion
Build an understanding of product information systems and the interlinking functions – clarity on respective timelines
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
- Steer a strong relationship and ensure constant dialogue/feedback with
- Your category across all functions, other categories and creation centers (if appl.)
- Cross-functional team (Sports Marketing, Athlete Services, Innovation, Design, Development, CtC, Materials, Costing, Planning)
- Markets and relevant key retailers
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Manage a team to create industry leading products for sponsored athletes
- Inspire, coach and lead; set framework for performance and growth
- In-depth knowledge of respective product category
- Advanced analytical skills, be solution driven and result oriented, strong business orientation
- Ability to thrive in a fast paced environment
- Strong communication skills
- Lateral thinking and challenge status quo
- Profound consumer, market and retail knowledge especially in regards to different needs of different countries/ regions
- Step up to conflicts and work towards a diplomatic solution
- Execute change management
- Cooperate effectively to maintain and develop trustful relationships
- Ability to travel
- Passion for sports
QUALIFICATIONS
- College degree, preferably in marketing/business /textile/fashion
- Minimum of 5 years Product Marketing experience with APP, FTW, ACC or comparable background
- 3+ years managing and developing direct reports
- Strong leadership skills
- Experience in trade or sales is helpful
- Fluent in English
- PC skills (MS Office programs)