Senior Manager, Chemicals

PURPOSE

• Key player in Global Sourcing driving the vision to be the Most Agile, Most Competitive, Most Digitalized & Cleanest Supply Base in the industry
• Drive engineering & manufacturing innovations from concept validation to full deployment to enhance industrial competitiveness
• Act as a technical consultant guiding world-class supply of rubber, EVA, PU, injected plastic components, ink/paint, textile coloration, finishing processes, adhesives, and other chemical products and their manufacturing processes

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Research sporting goods, technologies, and supply partners via pulse checks and benchmarking to identify innovation opportunities
• Understand IP landscape and proactively raise potential IP filing opportunities with brand legal
• Collaborate in project teams to drive engineering & manufacturing innovation from validation to deployment, supporting readiness levels and scalability
• Identify challenges and opportunities during innovation stages and initiate necessary workstreams with focus on performance, efficiency, cost, and sustainability
• Maintain accurate project data and engage with PMO for guidance and support
• Receive seasonal compound requests and guide supply partners in experimentation, formulation, testing, and production transition
• Own Material Lifecycle Management system for bottom material creation and clean-ups
• Validate and release new bottom material suppliers and raw materials
• Provide technical consulting for:
  • Tier 2 supplier onboarding via technical assessment
  • Seasonal strategic capacity recommendations
  • Validation of compound and pigment formulations for final price list
  • Solutions for large-scale chemistry-related quality issues
• Update A-01 policy annually for chemistry-related topics and projects
• Ensure sourcing operations comply with adidas’ Responsible Sourcing & Purchasing Policy, standards, and legal requirements
• Role model leadership to foster a culture of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Internal: Global Sourcing (costing, materials operations, sourcing operations, sustainability sourcing, engineering & manufacturing innovation), HQ innovation, innovation management, materials creation, sustainability, Product Development
• External: Sourcing suppliers

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Advanced knowledge of polymer chemistry and chemical products including formulations, processing, machinery, and physical testing across:
  • Solid: rubber, injected plastic components, textiles
  • Liquid: ink/paint, textile coloration, dyes/finishing chemicals, adhesives, primers
  • Gas: EVA, PU, TPU, and other chemical foams
• Strong analytical skills for problem-solving and project planning
• Ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences
• Visionary mindset with awareness of industry trends and consumer needs
• Basic understanding of costing principles
• Strong influencing, presentation, and communication skills
• Proven ability to lead multidimensional teams and manage projects
• Fluent in English (written and spoken)
• Proficient in Microsoft Office

REQUISITE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• University degree in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Textile Engineering, or related fields
• Minimum 7+ years of relevant experience