Manager Field Accounts – Action Sports (Western Europe) (m/f)

Job description

Country: Germany                                              
Job Function: Sales

State / Province: Germany                               
Position Type: Full time

City / Location: Herzogenaurach                                   
Brand: adidas Group

Relocation: No Selection

At adidas Group, our love of sport drives who we are and what we do. But just as a ball is more than leather and thread, and a shoe more than padding and plastic, we are bigger than our products. We don’t just work to create faster shoes and lighter fabrics: We strive to help athletes everywhere perform their best. We believe that it’s hard work inventing the future of sport, and that’s why we love it; that when you push your limits, you make it possible for others to push theirs.

At adidas Group, this drive it what connects us, whether we’re working for TaylorMade, adidas, Reebok, or Rockport. We’re all working toward a future motivated by passion, original thinking, and the desire to build upon a proud legacy.

Europe is changing fast: country borders become less relevant for both our consumers and customers. They are looking for the best product and they want it fast. To continue to lead the game on our home turf, we have decided to go forward with one aligned strategy across Western Europe. This strategy combines the potential of our innovative brands and cutting-edge products with excellence in routes-to-markets and back-office functions. Now is your opportunity to join this team. Western Europe is a market of 5 clusters (Central, North, South, France and Iberia) with an annual sales value of around € 4 billion, handling both brands adidas and Reebok across all channels.

As Key Account Manager - Actions Sports you drive profitable and sustainable market share growth within assigned accounts and categories while promoting and respecting the image of the adidas Group brands according to their international initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

Functional

· to establish professional and personal relationships to the relevant key decision makers and buyers of the assigned customers as a prerequisite to making the adidas Group the ‘preferred supplier’
· to support and where needed to represent the assigned accounts internally as an ‘ambassador’ towards all functions and vice versa and help manage all interfaces;
· to understand the assigned accounts and categories and document this by Account Fact Books;
· to support the Director Sales, Action Sports in the development of account strategies, formalizing them in Strategic Account Plans and get these signed off by the Senior Director Sales;
· to sell-in and agree on sell-out support and formalize this by Account Marketing Plans jointly with the Director Sales;
· to collaborate with Global and Local Marketing and Sales to create seasonal GTM plans that include Brand and SMU programs as well as their activation;
· to monitor sell-out and the order book continuously to ensure reliable and cost efficient supply for the account as well as to identify and capture selling opportunities to the account;
· to support negotiation and enforcement of adidas Group trade terms
· leverage your market expertise, in terms of knowledge of the competitive landscape and trends in the lifestyle channel, to influence purchasing decisions resulting in adidas sales
· Proactively develop and execute creative grassroots activities with accounts to positively enhance brand image and increase demand with customers translating into sales growth
· Be the on the ground Action Sports representative for any approaches on marketing partnerships and opportunities and route through Portland HQ

Controlling:

· to measure progress on own KPIs;
· to report to all superiors along MIS guidelines (KAM standard reports);
· to monitor and report on customers and competitors activities and propose/initiate/take actions;
· to support in making realistic plans and forecasts on customer performance;
· to ensure customer compliance with agreements;

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

· Bachelor/Master degree;
· Minimum of 1-2 years Key Account experience
· Exposure: sports, sales, marketing either in apparel/fashion/shoes or FMCG
· Good communication, negotiation and presentation skills
· Good business acumen
· Fluency in German and English is essential
· Advanced knowledge of the MS Office package, with a focus on Excel and PowerPoint;
· In possession of a driving license
· Passion for sales and sport
· A strong understanding of retail sales practices and the ability to lay out practical and logical assortment plans based on retail space, inventory turn, and sell through.
· General knowledge of fashion trends, color, and the consistently changing retail environment
· Ability to lift and carry samples and bags weighing up to 25 lbs
· Ability to travel 50-75% of the time

We´re looking forward receiving your application.