Senior Director, Innovation Apparel – CD&I
adidas
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Office
Location: Herzogenaurach • 🇩🇪 Germany
Visit company websiteJob Level
Senior
About the role
- 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.
- Drive industry trends and deliver against performance-enhancing athlete opportunities.
- 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.
- 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 and alignment.
- 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.
Requirements
- 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.
- 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.
Benefits
- Health insurance
- Professional development opportunities
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard skills
apparel designtextile engineeringfashion merchandisingtextile manufacturingapparel innovationproduct manufacturingsustainable practicesmaterials knowledgemanufacturing processesindustry trends
Soft skills
leadershipmentorshipteam collaborationcreativityrisk-takingcontinuous improvementstrategic thinkingcommunicationproject managementcross-functional teamwork