Director Inbound Planning

PURPOSE

Provide strategic leadership and oversight for end‑to‑end inbound product flow visibility and prioritization across the European (EU) supply chain network. This role ensures that inbound fulfilment and network planning operate in full alignment with business objectives, enabling the organization to deliver products on-time and in-full (OTIF) according to customer expectations.

The Director Inbound Planning is accountable for optimizing the balance of cost, capacity and product availability, driving cross‑functional decision‑making and shaping long‑term strategies that enhance resilience, efficiency and scalability across the supply chain.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Set the medium‑ and long‑term strategic direction for the Inbound Planning function, ensuring alignment with adidas’ Global and EU supply chain strategies
• Drive the development of a resilient, scalable inbound planning framework that supports future business growth, network evolution and customer experience goals
• Oversee and optimize the inbound flow of goods into the EU network, ensuring alignment with network capacity, deployment strategies and directship customer requirements
• Oversee risk assessment and scenario planning for inbound flows, proactively identifying risks and guiding cross-functional mitigation actions
• Establish governance and decision frameworks that ensure product availability targets are met while balancing cost, service and operational constraints
• Build strong partnerships with Global Logistics, EU Inbound Transportation, EU DC Operations, EU Order Fulfillment & Deployment and Global Product Supply to proactively address constraints and ensure synchronized inbound strategies
• Represent Inbound Planning in EU and Global SCM leadership forums, providing clear insights, risks and recommendations
• Direct the definition, approval and communication of optimal intake plans, ensuring the right balance of cost efficiency, product availability and service level commitments.
• Oversee development and continuous improvement of tools, analytics and reporting that provide visibility into inbound planning performance and support data‑driven decision‑making
• Establish KPIs, benchmarks and operating rhythms to monitor inbound planning performance and drive accountability across the function
• Build, lead, and develop a high‑performing Inbound Supply Planning team by fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and cross‑functional collaboration
• Identify future capability needs (skills, tools, processes) and drive the development of talent and systems to meet those needs
• Oversee key regional and cross‑functional initiatives, representing the Inbound Planning perspective in transformation programs, network expansions, system implementations and process redesign
• Champion digitalization efforts within inbound planning, including automation, advanced analytics and system enhancements
  
  

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• EU Inbound Transport
• EU Order Fulfillment & Deployment
• EU DC Operations
• EU SCM Finance
• EU Supply Chain Development
• Global Logistics
• Global Product Supply
• Advanced Analytics

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Hard Skills

• Strong expertise in end‑to‑end supply chain, inbound logistics and DC operations
• Solid understanding of cost drivers, forecasting and financial impacts of inbound decisions
• Ability to navigate regulatory, trade compliance and network capacity considerations
• Ability to translate supply chain and business strategy into clear functional plans
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with a data‑driven mindset
• Skilled in scenario planning, risk assessment and decision‑making under uncertainty

Soft Skills

• Proven experience leading and developing high‑performing teams
• Ability to coach, inspire and build capabilities in a fast‑paced environment
• Strong delegation, prioritization and organizational planning skills
• Effective in driving cross‑functional alignment and resolving complex issues
• Strong communication skills with the ability to simplify complex topics
• Comfortable leading change and driving adoption of new processes, systems and tools
• Skilled in leading meetings, presenting insights and gaining alignment across functions

REQUISITE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE / MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• College or university degree in Supply Chain Management or related field
• 8-10+ years of experience in Supply Chain or Logistics roles
  
• Minimum 5 years of people leadership experience
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications
• Fluent in English (oral and written)