Purpose:

 

As a Senior Manager Digital Programs in the adidas e-com EU organization, your task is to manage and deliver mid- and large-scale digital projects and programs that are of strategic importance to the organization. Your objective is to conduct the projects within the boundaries of time, cost & quality while focusing on consumers’ expectations and requirements. Planning, executing and tracking projects in cooperation with the respective functions and project team members are a few examples of what is expected from this role. You will manage multiple programs at the same time and will deliver your own projects and may also supervise those of junior colleagues. You’ll be the central face representing e-com EU and are expected to interact directly with Director and VP-level leadership from both within and outside the e-com organization, to inform them about the progress, risks and dependencies of your projects as well as drive decision-making and escalations. You are results-oriented and drive KPI-impact. The type of projects you will deliver are typically – but not limited to – new functionalities or services for our e-com consumers (such as new payment methods, new delivery methods or improvements the online customer journey), or foundational capabilities, structures and platforms that underpin the future success of our e-com channel in Europe (such as new distribution channels, new market entries or new tech solutions). You are curious and have affinity with tech/IT solutions. You are the bridge between business and tech, balancing our e-com sales interests and consumer needs with tech constraints and complexity considerations to arrive at a sensible project and solution scope and timelines. You are aware of how business is trending and what is going on outside your own projects, so as to direct your deliveries in the direction the existing business reality requires. Please be aware this is not a marketing/digital activation focused role.

 

Key Responsibilities:

 

Program & Project Delivery:

 

Successfully deliver projects end-to-end, from scoping and planning up to delivery, results reporting and handover. Drive business case discussions ensuring project benefits, costs and effort estimations are clarified Develop detailed plans that allow providing transparency on progress and identifying risks on time. Identify interdependencies with other projects and solve issues proactively. Monitor KPI impact and take corrective action where needed. Capture and document project details, knowledge and learnings. Foster visibility for project and celebrate results and achievements with wider community

 

Resource Planning:

 

Form, lead, manage and monitor multi-functional team resources (direct and indirect resources) to deliver and support projects. Partner with Supplier Management/ Procurement department in order to manage suppliers for the projects & programs in scope, e.g. interviews, staffing, supplier costs.

 

Communication:

 

Act as the key contact person for major local / global stakeholders. Apply appropriate and effective communication methods to senior management and important stakeholders (incl. vendor) for the full portfolio of projects under management. As conflicts and escalations arise within projects, identify solutions and drive their resolution in a timely and appropriate manner. Manage change within projects and ensure changes are smoothly and successfully implemented to achieve lasting benefits.

 

Project Controlling:

 

Collaborate with Finance teams to align on business case and to manage project controlling ensuring that actual project costs are in line the committed budget. Conduct engagement reviews. Verify compliance with quality assurance procedures. Validate if project are delivering against program KPIs. Monitor project variables (cost, effort, scope, etc.) against plan in order to implement corrective or preventive actions.

 

Portfolio Management:

 

Support Director Digital Programs in managing the project portfolio Liaise with Global Digital Product, Global Tech, SCM and other departments to align on strategic priorities and influence roadmaps Drive resource prioritization discussions in line with e-com strategy and business needs

 

People Management:

 

Manage one or more junior colleagues and take care of the related HR and administrative processes Create a supportive work environment in which employees are coached, trained and provided with career opportunities through development. Provide team members/direct reports with clear direction and targets that are aligned with business needs and e-com objectives.

 

Key Relationships: 

 

EU e-com Digital Programs team EU e-com functional teams EU Finance Global Digital Global Tech Global and EMEA SCM Analytics Support functions (HR, Legal, VAT, Internal Controls, Procurement etc.)

 

Requirements, Education & Experience:

 

University degree with focus on Business Administration, IT or related areas, or equivalent combination of education and experience 8+ years of in-depth experience related to project management or similar Experience in e-com Experience with tech/digital solution implementation Proven market business acumen Experience working with stakeholders at various seniority levels as well as subject matter experts across various functions (Developers, business stakeholders, product and marketing teams, etc.) 1+ years of experience in leading a team

 

Soft Skills:

 

Good analytical skills and results-orientation Ability to juggle multiple responsibilities and projects at the same time Ability to maintain a helicopter view and see the big picture Ability to handle ambiguity and untangle complex situations into actionable activities Ability to foster and maintain a collaborative positive working environment in the face of pressure Strong interpersonal skills, good communication skills, especially when interacting with different levels of business Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with different international cultures Solutions-oriented approach and entrepreneurial proactive mindset Self-motivated and able to work independently Proven leadership skills

 

Hard Skills:

 

Strong MS Excel and MS PowerPoint skills Experience with Atlassian/Confluence/JIRA is a plus Experience with Smartsheet is a plus Knowledge of PMI methods ideally with certification Knowledge of Agile working methods e.g. Scrum/Kanban Advanced understanding of IT Fluent English both verbally and written Willingness to travel as needed (occasionally)