Key Account Manager - Soccer

Please note:

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at adidas means championing individual uniqueness and cultivating a culture of belonging in which everyone can create at their best. We embrace diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives and seek to create a workforce that reflects our consumers and communities.
• adidas offers robust and progressive medical, including HSA (Health Savings Account) with employer funding or FSA (Flexible Spending Account) options, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, adoption, with surrogate and fertility support, short and long-term disability, and basic life and AD&D insurance, which can be supplemented with employee-paid coverage. Employees are able to enroll in adidas' 401k plan and Stock Purchase Plan with employer match. Full-time employees are eligible for education assistance and generous Leave policies including 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Employees are eligible to earn an annual bonus based on both company and personal performance. Employees accrue prorated flexible time off in the amount .4388 hours per day that increases with years of service, eleven paid holidays throughout the calendar year and Service Time Off during milestone years.
• This is a fully remote position based in Raleigh, NC or within 3 hours driving distance to Raleigh.
• Though our teammates hail from all corners of the world, our working language is English.

Purpose

Implement specific product and brand direction for focus categories within specific key accounts. Lead sell–in and sell-through for those categories along with retail activation and the merchandising team to achieve profitable growth with the account.

Key Accountabilities

Using strong business acumen and retail math abilities drive the top and bottom line number for the account.
Drive account growth and profitability by assessing and building on areas of momentum; capitalize on product/pricing opportunities and course correct with innovative sales tactics to improve sales performance with account.
Develop strategic sales plan for complex retail accounts leveraging account insight and goals to achieve sales targets and align with brand and category objectives.
Leverage market and competitor trends along with buyer preferences at the category level to build strategic sales plan
Based on specific product and brand direction for focus categories at account lead the sell in and especially sell through process in collaboration with marketing and retail
Collaborate with marketing and retail activation partners to drive sell through programs at the account
Develop and maintain strong relationships with all internal departments and assigned key accounts based on respect
Deliver on time reporting and forecasting for all required reports and documents to appropriate parties
Manage all credit claims and issues to resolution
Manage, track and resolve all customer compliance issues regarding freight claims, charge-backs, shipping violations, RTV and DFA

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

Thorough knowledge of key metric levers and how to use them to create increased profitability and sales for both adidas and its' retail partners.
Ability to apply financial data to make decisions and influence outcomes. This includes margins, retail math, forecast/projections, probability and statistical inference, fractions, percentages, ratios, etc.
Ability to lay out practical and logical assortment plans based on retail space, inventory turn, and sell through
Ability to portray a confident and winning attitude in challenging business interactions.
Demonstrated ability to negotiate and influence outcomes with both internal and external contacts.
Proven background that reflects being results-oriented
Agile and confident communication skills with internal and external business partners.
Experience working across a wide range of business partners on projects
Ability to make “on the spot” decisions
Ability to effectively interact with all levels of business via phone, written communication and in person
Strong presentation skills. Effectiveness in a variety of formal presentation settings within and outside of the company. The ability to command attention and manage group process during the presentation. Can change tactics midstream when something isn't working without audience noticing. Ability to understand and incorporate all levels of brand marketing plans and ideals in to presentations
Ability to tell a holistic story verses taking a transactional approach.
Merchandising and planning skills, and the ability to create merchandise plans based on sell through targets.
Ability to enhance consumer interaction/experience at our retail partners.
Strong understanding of retail sales practices
Advanced computer skills ( Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Ability to lift and carry samples and bags weighing up to 25 lbs.
Ability to travel up to 50%
Passion for sport.

Qualifications

Four year degree preferably in Business, Marketing, Advertising or a related field.

Field sales experience, preferably with key accounts within a consumer goods company in the sporting goods industry. The equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.