Director, Outdoor Apparel Design

Director – Outdoor Apparel Design

Area: GCA

Department: CCS / Outdoor

Direct Reporting Line: Senior Design Director

Indirect/secondary reporting line: n.a.

Subsidiary/country: China

Location: Shanghai

GSMS Grade: M2

Number of Personnel Managed: see org. chart

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

Setting the creative vision/direction for Adidas, overseeing the development of new collections and all aspects of the design process within an organization. This role is to lead the design team to analyse the company's current line of apparel, develop new design ideas, optimize the working process, and leverage the existing designs, as well as ensuring the quality and consistency of the design output across different platforms, channels, and media.

This role also works closely with other leaders, such as product managers, marketing managers, etc. to align the design goals with the business objectives and the user needs.

Responsibilities

• Create and direct the seasonal creative narratives, ranges, and product stories, ensuring alignment across product type, colour, materials, and graphics

• Oversee the complete creative process, identifying industry trends in colour, materials, and graphics, and influence merchandising and assortment strategies

• Distil abstract business concepts and customer needs into creative solutions
• Take responsibility for the creative vision and the standard of output across team members who work under her/him
• Pitch ideas confidently and present the creative vision clearly to stakeholders, as well as communicate in the same manner to members of the design team
• Have strong people management and leadership skills to hire, develop, and inspire the design team
• Ensure that all the team's creative output/visuals are consistent with the overall brand's identity and qualitative level
• Lead multiple projects from conception to completion in accordance with deadlines
• Agility to manage and supervise unexpected projects, feedback, and people factors
• Collaborate with other team members relevant functions to ensure alignment with the strategic priorities of the brands
• Champion new ideas, ask smart questions, take risks
• Drive the identification of long-term and seasonal trends within the industry, contributing to innovative retail strategies that keep the brand ahead of the curve

• Guide and optimize the creative process to ensure that final products not only align with brand image but also meet commercial objectives

• Develop and implement Design and Creation strategies for key projects, setting a high standard for design excellence and expectations throughout the organization

• Lead and mentor the design team both creatively and organizationally, fostering an environment of innovation and collaboration

• lead and inspire a team of talented designers, creating meaningful and engaging experiences for users, and growing and developing your own skills and career
• Ensure the correct execution of Corporate Identity guidelines and against legal restrictions within the category

Key Stakeholders

• Product Marketing (PM)
• Product Development (DA)
• Business Unit (BU)
• Senior Design Director
• Design Team members
• Brand Marketing & Retail Marketing
• External Resources

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree / Masters / Fashion Design, or equivalent professional experience
• A minimum of 8 or more years of experience as a senior-level designer. Preference will be given to candidates who have experience directing outdoor brands, with a proven track record of successful projects
• A minimum of 3-5 years of management and leadership experience, demonstrating the ability to drive teams toward achieving strategic goals
• Exceptional creative vision and leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate a diverse team
• Excellent knowledge and solid hard skill over outdoor/technical wear (e.g. Goretex, Pertex, Polartec, seam-sealing, insulation, etc.)
• Strong Industry knowledge and high sensitivity of trend that able to conduct and incorporate it into the design work
• Experienced in collaboration projects (crossover fashion & functional outdoor) with external partner is preferable
• Ability to work with stakeholders to understand detailed requirements and determine a plan that will ensure they are met or exceeded, be open to receiving feedback and constructive criticism
• Excellent interpersonal skills to clearly and effectively communicate the creative vision, concepts, ideas, and solutions to stakeholders, internal teams, and clients
• Ability to work effectively in a team setting, including synthesizing abstract ideas into concrete design implications
• Extensive supervisory experience (including leadership, team-building, and delegation) leading and managing a creative team
• Be excited about collaborating and communicating closely with teams and other stakeholders via a distributed model to regularly deliver design solutions for approval
• With Performance wear experience is desirable and prioritized
• Fluency in English/ Mandarin with excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Proficient in Adobe Suite and MS Office.

• Suitable candidates should also apply with their portfolios