Category Merchandising Director - Running Footwear North America
Posted on July 31, 2025 by adidas
- South Portland, United States of America
- $129577.0 - $208297.0
- Full Time
Through sport we have the power to change lives. Sport is our past, present, and future and connects deeply with our purpose. We will always strive to expand the limits of human possibilities, to include and unite people in sport and to create a more sustainable world. We are defined by our attitude, Impossible is Nothing. We are rebellious optimists driven by action to shape a better future together. We see a world with possibilities where others only see the impossible. In sport, having the right attitude is key to being successful. Our attitude defines us in our industry and is a mindset that goes back to the days of our founder, Adi Dassler. It shapes our stories, products, and action.
As the hub of the brand, the adidas North American Product Merchandising team drives how our products show up to serve the consumer and elevate our experience. We are brand led storytellers who build product offerings that connect with and inspire our consumer. We build assortments that are brand led, consumer right and appropriately segmented to win in the NAM marketplace.
PURPOSE & OVERALL RELEVANCE FOR THE ORGANIZATION:
We are brand led storytellers who build product offerings that connect with and inspire our consumerKEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead the Footwear Category Merchandising team for North America Running.
- Represent the North American consumer needs, industry and market insights to Global creation and merchandising teams via the Go To Market process, to ensure a relevant product range is created to meet market needs.
- Own the planning, curating, and measuring of the footwear range for the North American market inclusive of productivity, segmentation, volume and price.
- Manage footwear franchise models across lifecycles to ensure category health and sustained growth. Affect invest, harvest and divest decisions and ensure sufficient relevant innovation, storytelling and product freshness to sustain category growth ambitions.
- Collaborate with wholesale marketplace and Direct to Consumer buying and merchandising functions regarding the creation of assortment plans for relevant strategic channels/accounts with awareness of in store experience and space.
- Influence and impact the execution of North Amercian local creation via market relevant SMU's
- Conduct engaging, knowledgeable and credible product presentations to influence, educate and motivate internal teams and key strategic retailer partners regarding seasonal product offer.
- Leverage the analysis of the product range and sales results to maximize profitability, productivity, and growth of future assortments
- Lead and motivate direct reports ensuring best in class mentorship, training and development for category and career growth
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
- Category and Marketplace Merchandising
- Canada, DTC, and relevant commercial teams
- Merchandising Planning and Systems
- Brand Operations (GTM, Sample, & Merch Ops)
- Brand Communications
- Sports Marketing
- Finance
- Demand Planning and relevant SCM partners
- Global Business Partners
- Local Creation teams
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Skill in MS Office applications (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
- Strong presentation and interpersonal skills
- Ability to provide merchandising leadership, including ability to manage/mentor team
- Ability to travel both domestically and internationally up to 20% of the time.
- Excellent consumer understanding and ability to interpret data and insights against strategy
- Financial planning and forecasting capability
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work with and influence all levels of the organization
- A thorough understanding of North American customers, market and trends
- Running category specific understanding/affinity preferred
- Strong analytical and planning skills
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Four year college or university degree, preferably in Business/Merchandising or related field preferred; and
- Seven (7) years related industry experience
- Equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be substituted for degree
- Previous category merchandising experience in the sporting goods industry strongly preferred or related function such as marketplace merchandising, product creation, merchandising planning or consumer insights considered.
- US marketplace experience strongly preferred
- 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.
- adidas offers robust and progressive medical, including HSA (Health Savings Account) with employer funding or FSA (Flexible Spending Account) options, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, adoption, with surrogate and fertility support, short and long-term disability, and basic life and AD&D insurance, which can be supplemented with employee-paid coverage. Employees are able to enroll in adidas’ 401k plan and Stock Purchase Plan with employer match. Full-time employees are eligible for education assistance and generous Leave policies including 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
- Employees are eligible to earn an annual bonus based on both company and personal performance. Employees accrue prorated flexible time off in the amount .4388 hours per day that increases with years of service, twelve paid holidays throughout the calendar year and Service Time Off during milestone years.
- At adidas we offer a Hybrid work policy which requires attendance in the office Monday through Thursday, with the flexibility to work remotely on Friday each week. For work requiring a high degree of collaboration or an in-person presentation, in-office attendance is required even on Friday. The working location of this position is Portland, Oregon.
- Though our teammates hail from all corners of the world, our working language is English.
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.
JOB TITLE:
Category Merchandising Director - Running Footwear North America
BRAND:
LOCATION:
Portland
TEAM:
Merchandising & Planning
STATE:
OR
COUNTRY/REGION:
US
CONTRACT TYPE:
Full time
NUMBER:
531455
DATE:
Jul 25, 2025
Advertised until:
Aug. 30, 2025
Are you Qualified for this Role?
Click Here to Tailor Your Resume to Match this Job
Share with Friends!
Similar Internships
No similar Intern Jobs at the Moment!
Recent Internships
Get Email Updates!
