Senior Director Innovation Apparel - CD&I (m/f/d)

PURPOSE & OVERALL RELEVANCE FOR THE ORGANISATION

Lead the cross-functional Innovation apparel incubation team and all apparel innovative initiatives across adidas Innovation. Responsible for driving the development of groundbreaking apparel products from conceptualization to products being worn by our top athletes during the world’s biggest moments in sport, driving industry trends and delivering against performance enhancing athlete opportunities.

The Senior Director’s key role is to orchestrate cross-functional teams to ensure the successful execution of innovation apparel projects that align with our innovation mission and vision, brand direction and business objectives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the strategic planning and execution of innovative apparel initiatives, including product ideation, research, development, and launch.
• Stay on top of emerging trends, technologies, and materials in the apparel industry, and integrate relevant advancements into product development strategies.
• Close cooperation with all Innovation and partner functions, including Business Units Key Stakeholders to drive strategy, concepts and projects for sport categories and horizontal initiatives.
• Foster a culture of innovation within the apparel incubation team encouraging creativity, risk-taking, and continuous improvement among team members.
• Orchestrate collaboration between design, Development, engineering, science, and manufacturing teams to ensure shared goals, alignment, and seamless execution of innovative projects.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with external vendors, research institutions, and industry experts to enhance innovation capabilities and access new opportunities.
• Oversee the management of budgets, timelines, and resources for apparel innovation projects, ensuring efficient use of resources and timely delivery of results.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and guidance to a team of cross-functional professionals, fostering their professional growth and development.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Innovation Teams incl. Innovation SLT
• Creative Direction
• Business Units incl. Key Stakeholders
• Sports Marketing, Athlete Servicing and adidas athletes

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Practical experience in the field of textile manufacturing/engineering, including management experience with focus on apparel innovation.
• Comprehensive knowledge in product manufacturing with a clear understanding of the athletics market and its culture.
• Proven track record of success in leading apparel innovation initiatives, with at least 5 years of experience in a senior leadership role within the apparel industry.
• Extensive knowledge of apparel design, materials, manufacturing processes, and industry trends.
• Experience in integrating sustainable practices into apparel product development.
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate cross-functional teams.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate market insights and consumer preferences into innovative product concepts.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects, budgets, and timelines effectively.
• Collaborative mindset with a passion for driving collaboration and fostering a culture of innovation within the organization.

REQUISITE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE / MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Apparel Design, Textile Engineering, Fashion Merchandising, or a related field; advanced degree preferred or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in the apparel industry.
• At least 5 years experience of leading teams.

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.