Purpose:
To lead, drive and strengthen the impact of the adidas environmental sustainability program by
* Inputting into the adidas strategy, during the strategy cycle;
* providing cross functional direction and guidance on the company’s environmental sustainability ambitions and priorities;
* ensuring effective delivery against environmental targets and milestones;
* keeping consistency in the end-to-end execution of agreed initiatives.
* Representing the company externally on adidas corporate sustainability efforts.
Key Responsibilities:
* Provide environmental and sustainability strategic input into the adidas strategy
* Develop cross functional direction and guidance on the company’s environmental sustainability ambitions and priorities
* Develop measurable environmental targets KPIs, drive and execute related initiatives, track and report on progress
* Review and drive process and technology innovations to meet reduction targets in close collaboration with Futures, Advanced Concepts and Manufacturing Excellence Teams
* Develop and mature the company’s in-house environmental management systems
* Ensure end-to-end alignment and consistency in program management and communication to all internal stakeholders
* Represent adidas externally as a spokesperson on our corporate sustainability efforts.
* Drive the development of a sustainability data infrastructure and contribute to the establishment and maintenance of a company-wide environmental sustainability reporting structure
* Manage and build an international high-performance team by providing performance objectives and feedback, addressing development needs, implementing training plans and structuring the team for optimal impact
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
* Develop cross functional environmental direction on water, chemicals, climate and circularity based on defined strategic priorities that effectively address environmental needs and complement brand specific consumer-facing programs
* Build and maintain effective program portfolio tracking through KPIs to ensure delivery and execution of cross-cutting initiatives
* Facilitate and manage Sustainability Steering Board tasked to build internal transparency on all sustainability-related subjects (social & environmental compliance, social purpose, consumer-facing programs) and align on internal and external messaging.
* Search for and identify environmental technologies and process innovations through close interaction with innovation drivers and think tanks
* Develop and mature Environmental Analytics and data systems ensuring impact measurement and functional Footprint tracking as basis for decision making and external reporting
* Develop and maintain environmental management systems for own operations and sites including retail
* Develop effective support for Global Sales and Markets in managing customer-facing requests and programs
* Manage memberships to environmental alliances and industry partnerships
Requisite Education/Experience:
* University degree; preferably with a solid technical background (textiles and/or footwear material engineering)
* Solid experience in environmental management systems (ISO, EMAS)
* Experience in material science (textile, footwear) and related environmental technologies
* In-depth knowledge in footwear, apparel business model and operating procedures benefitial
* Fluent english skills, German benefitial but not required
* Minimum 8 years work experience in a consumer-centric FMCG company
Soft skills:
* Excellent analytical and conceptual thinking and expertise in strategy management and organization.
* Experienced in leading programs/projects and proven track record in contributing to larger initiatives.
* Strong verbal and written presentation and communications skills
* Dense network to environmental service organizations, think tanks and innovation hubs
* Excellent skills in leading high-performance teams
* Solid knowledge and experience in external stakeholder engagement and management.
* Proactive and excellent communication (writing and talking) skills in German and English
* International mind-set.