Manager Global Continuous Improvement (m/f/d)

PURPOSE & OVERALL RELEVANCE FOR THE ORGANIZATION

As Manager Global Continuous Improvement, you will be responsible for guiding and mentoring adidas SCM teams in Kaizen and Continuous Improvement activities. You will ensure adidas operational basics are in place across all warehouses of our own and sub-contracted network globally in collaboration with market CI teams. The role incorporates collaboration with the community of Lean Ambassadors based in our warehouses.

The Manager Continuous Improvement (CI) drives the development, implementation, and sustainment of CI practices across Global Supply Chain. This role ensures operational excellence through the application of lean methodologies, Kaizen, and data-driven improvements in E2E SCM. The position partners with GSCM stakeholders, DC leadership, operations, and cross-functional stakeholders to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, improve service levels, and foster a culture of continuous improvement & Kaizen across the network.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the deployment of CI strategies, methodologies, and frameworks across Global SCM


• Facilitate and coach Large scale Kaizen events- 3-Day/5-Day, workshops, and problem-solving sessions to drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, productivity, and cost in E2E SCM


• Establish performance dashboards and KPIs to track, analyze, and report CI initiatives and outcomes.


• Partner with SCM leaders and regional teams to identify opportunities, prioritize initiatives, and ensure execution of improvement roadmaps.


• Build and sustain a CI culture by training, mentoring, and engaging SCM employees at all levels.


• Ensure knowledge sharing and best practice exchange across the distribution network and wider GSCM Community including back-office functions


• Collaborate with engineering, automation, and global distribution excellence team to scale solutions and innovations.


• Support change management activities during DC transformation projects, system implementations, and network expansions.


• Align with global and Market Supply Chain strategies, ensuring CI efforts contribute to strategic goals (service, speed, cost, sustainability).

Kaizen events & Kaizen Funnel mgmt

• Drive high-impact Kaizen events and maintaining the Global Kaizen Funnel


• Establishing Problem solving culture with TPI-Transactional process improvement


• Deployment of Daily mgmt/Visual mgmt using SQCDP principle


• Guiding teams in refinement of Kaizen Chart, Kaizen pre-work and facilitation of Kaizen events at Gemba with Executive Report out


• Focus on sustainment of Kaizen events with day principle


• Tracking and monitoring of TTI Bowler chart and conducting RCA for key misses

Adidas Performance Eco System (PeS)

• Support the Director Global CI to improve and apply PeS - a framework combined with a global toolbox to drive the continuous improvement Kaizen culture on the shop floor


• Roll out and monitor the PeS globally in close collaboration with market CI; create lighthouses


• Influence/coach SCM leadership to embrace performance and continuous improvement culture; vulgarize Kaizen to drive high acceptance among GSCM community


• Coordinate training, coaching, and mentoring in continuous improvement concepts and techniques via the community of Lean Ambassadors (Global CI Community)


• Work with market teams to drive continuous improvement roadmap with Kaizens


• Developing and owning strategic plan initiatives for Policy deployment/Goal deployment

CI Learning, Certified Community & Best Practices

• Train and coach our community of Lean Ambassadors and wider GSCM Community for Kaizen/CI/Lean toolbox


• Engage in the identification and scaling up of best practices across the regions with your peers and the global community of Lean Ambassadors

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Director Global Continuous Improvement


• Regional SCM Heads


• Local DC Operations Management


• SCM functions


• Lean Ambassadors


• Finance/Controlling


• Regional Project Management team


• Engineering and IT teams


• 3PL providers


• External consultants (as needed)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Hands on knowledge with application of Lean/Kaizen/CI tools like 5S,Value Stream Mapping,Root Cause Analysis, Hoshin Kanri, Visual mgmt.,DMAIC-Six Sigma, SAFe-Lean Agile etc.


• Practical experience of Business mgmt. systems/Production systems like TPS etc.


• Great expertise of operational performance management, Lean, Continuous Improvement principles applied in e2e Supply Chain


• Demonstrated experience in running large scale Kaizen events of 3-Day/5-Day


• Ability to travel, domestic or international, as required (50% or more as required)


• Stakeholder Management on all levels


• Pro‑active (engaging & impact-oriented) mindset, ability to think end‑to‑end with a global mindset


• Ability to lead and influence without formal reporting line


• Ability to think strategically, synthesize complex data and develop innovative solutions


• Ability to be self‑directed while working under tight deadlines


• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment with different international cultures


• Strong communication, facilitation and presentation skills to all levels of the organization


• Demonstrated project management skills


• Strong communication (both written and verbal) and facilitation skills (small and large groups) especially when interacting with different levels of business


• Fluent English (verbal and written) at C level


• Foreign language skills: Additional language skills like Spanish/German/Mandarin etc. would be preferred


• Strong MS‑Office skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), MS Visio, Power BI, MS SharePoint, Smartsheets etc.

REQUISITE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE / MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Excellent academic track record with Bachelors degree in Mechanical/Industrial


• Engineering/Production Engineering with focus on Lean management


• Excellent academic track record with MBA from renowned Business School would be preferred


• Education as a certified Lean Leader or Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. Lean Six Sigma Black Belt would be preferred


• Industry recognized certification in Project management like PMI‑PMP, IPMA or PRINCE2


• Industry recognized certification in Change mgmt. like PROSCI etc. would be preferred


• Minimum 3‑5+ year experience in managing remote teams


• Willingness to travel globally for Kaizen events, in‑house consulting (50% or more as required)


• Minimum 5+ year experience in applying Lean, Kaizen, continuous improvement concepts in End‑2‑End Supply Chain


• Experience working in logistics or in manufacturing operations with focus on Kaizen/Lean/CI activities


• Experience working in international setup with cross‑functional teams including collaboration with senior leadership in a fast‑paced environment


• Professional experience working in foreign countries and strong intercultural competence would be an added advantage


• Consultation/coaching competency‑problem solving attitude, coaching skills, change mgmt

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