Director, Trading & Planning, Retail Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organisation: This role is critical to supporting the profitability of Retail Korea by focusing on in-season trading, marketplace inventory clearance, and maximizing profit through agile, data-driven decision-making. The role will contribute to the execution of commercial strategies, leveraging smart and comprehensive views of marketplace trends and trading performance. The role emphasizes quick action to capitalize on opportunities, driving revenue and margin improvement across the business including retail, mono, ecom and WHS. Key Responsibilities In-Season Trading o Monitor daily and weekly sales performance to identify opportunities for quick action on fast-selling products and mitigate risks on slow-moving inventory. o Develop and execute in-season trading strategies to capture demand at optimal margins and outpace competitors in key categories. o Lead markdown, promotion, and replenishment decisions to maximize sell-through and profitability. 2. Marketplace Inventory Optimization o Drive inventory clearance strategies to maintain healthy stock levels across retail, mono stores, e-commerce, and wholesale (WHS) channels. o Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align inventory movement with consumer demand and market trends. o Ensure alignment of stock allocations and replenishments with channel-specific performance goals. 3. Demand Capture and Market Share Growth o Identify market opportunities and implement actions to capture unmet consumer demand, improving customer satisfaction and market share. o Benchmark performance against competitors and leverage insights to refine trading strategies for competitive advantage. 4. Margin and Revenue Maximization o Analyze trading and marketplace data to identify opportunities for revenue and margin improvement. o Implement pricing strategies that drive profitability while maintaining competitiveness. o Partner with finance and merchandising teams to ensure actions align with broader commercial objectives. 5. Enhancing Systems and Processes o Identify areas for improvement in current ways of working, systems, and tools to streamline trading and inventory management processes. o Collaborate with tech and operational teams to enhance data visibility, forecasting accuracy, and decision-making tools. o Build scalable foundations for future growth by implementing best practices and innovative solutions. 6. Cross-Functional Collaboration o Work closely with merchandising, marketing, visual merchandising, and operations teams to ensure alignment of trading actions with broader business strategies. o Collaborate with global and regional teams to adapt global strategies to local market dynamics. 7. Performance Tracking and Reporting o Establish and monitor KPIs to track the effectiveness of trading and inventory actions. o Provide actionable insights and regular updates to stakeholders to ensure alignment and transparency. 8. Consumer-Centric Focus o Stay informed about evolving consumer behaviour and preferences to tailor trading actions accordingly. o Leverage marketplace trends and customer feedback to refine strategies and improve the shopping experience. People Management: • Evaluate the competencies of his/her subordinates on a regular basis and provides prompt and feedback and guidance to drive high performance • Takes ownership for Talent Management processes to grow, develop and retain talents. • Promote a high-performance culture by setting clear expectations and individual goals. • Translate the company goals into team specific actions and business plans. Control and monitor performance and results. Key Relationships: • Global Retail • Market Retail team including: o Retail Back Office (RBO) team (within both Lead and Multifunctional Markets) o Multi-Store Managers o Store Managers and their Store teams • Logistics • Finance • Global Operations • Go To Market (GTM) teams • Supply Chain Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: • Leadership and influencing skills • Advanced user of MS Office suite of products • Fluent in English • Fluent in Market HQ language • Additional third language is an advantage • Advanced knowledge of Retail Management Systems • Strong analytical skills • Structured, organised and process orientated • Attention to detail as error in analysis will have crucial impact to business • Ability to work effectively within a team environment and under pressure • Geographically mobile Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications: • University degree in business, ideally with marketing and sales focus or equivalent professional experience • Merchandising Experience: 10-12 years • Management Experience: 5 years AT ADIDAS WE HAVE A WINNING CULTURE. BUT TO WIN, PHYSICAL POWER IS NOT ENOUGH. JUST LIKE ATHLETES OUR EMPLOYEES NEED MENTAL STRENGTH IN THEIR GAME. WE FOSTER THE ATHLETE’S MINDSET THROUGH A SET OF BEHAVIORS THAT WE WANT TO ENABLE AND DEVELOP IN OUR PEOPLE AND THAT ARE AT THE CORE OF OUR UNIQUE COMPANY CULTURE: THIS IS HOW WE WIN WHILE PLAYING FAIR. COURAGE: Speak up when you see an opportunity; step up when you see a need.. OWNERSHIP: Pick up the ball. Be proactive, take responsibility and follow-through. INNOVATION: Elevate to win. Be curious, test and learn new and better ways of doing things. TEAMPLAY: Win together. Work collaboratively and cultivate a shared mindset. INTEGRITY: Play by the rules. Hold yourself and others accountable to our company’s standards. RESPECT: Value all players. Display empathy, be inclusive and show dignity to all. At adidas, we strongly believe that embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into our culture and talent processes gives our employees a sense of belonging and our brand a real competitive advantage. – Culture Starts With People, It Starts With You – By recruiting talent and developing our people to reflect the rich diversity of our consumers and communities, we foster a culture of inclusion that engages our employees and authentically connects our brand with our consumers.