Herzogenaurach, Germany Lead Product Excellence *limited 18 months*

PUMA SE; Nürnberg; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

PUMA SE is seeking a Lead of Product Excellence to shape global standards for fit, performance, quality and testing across the brand. You will set strategic direction and partner with design, development, and supply chain to ensure consistency and reduce complexity.

You will lead the Product Excellence team, drive sustainability alignment, and steward long-term innovation and lifecycle planning. The role requires 8–10 years in product management or apparel, with a degree in a related field and

Qualifications

• 8–10 years’ experience in product management or the apparel industry, ideally with a leading global brand.
• Degree in fashion management, business administration, marketing, sports management or related field; bachelor’s or master’s preferred.
• Strategic expertise in the sports and sportswear market, retail, industry and consumer trends.
• Strong analytical and commercial acumen to solve complex challenges and improve policies, processes and ways of working.
• Passion for sportswear and ability to turn consumer and market insights into impactful product strategies.
• Excellent English and confidence to represent the function independently within and beyond the organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead the global Product Excellence function and define strategic direction for fit, performance, quality, and testing standards across the PUMA brand.
• Define and govern the one PUMA product standard, partnering with various business units to build and enforce standards, ensure global consistency, and reduce internal complexity.
• Steer long-term innovation and technology strategies, including lifecycle planning and cross-BU integration, supporting 3D design and standardized processes.
• Oversee sustainability strategy alignment across product types with brand targets.
• Lead organizational change management to implement a unified way of working.
• Identify synergy opportunities across business units for product initiatives and platforms.
• Ensure collaboration with Product Data & System Excellence, aligning physical standards with digital data and lifecycle management.
• Manage and develop the Product Excellence team (Senior Manager, Manager, Junior Manager).

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

English proficiency

MS Excel

PowerPoint

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in fashion management or related field

Business administration

Tools

MS Office

Data analysis tools

Job description

Lead Product Excellence *limited 18 months*

SPEED & SPIRIT is what we look for in our candidates, defined by some simple values that inspire us to BE DRIVEN in our performance, BE VIBRANT in our sporting legacy, BE TOGETHER in our team spirit, and BE YOU to let our individual talent and experience shine. Applying for a job at PUMA is easy.

• Lead the global Product Excellence function, setting the strategic direction for fit, performance, quality, and testing standards across the PUMA brand, while representing Product Excellence in senior leadership forums and providing direction, escalation support, and strategic risk mitigation
• Define and govern the one PUMA product standard, partnering with PGS, BUs, Innovation, Design, Development, and SCM to build and enforce holistic material, trim, labeling, and packaging standards, ensure global consistency, and reduce internal complexity
• Steer long-term innovation and technology strategies, including lifecycle planning, access strategy, and cross-BU integration, while supporting the global 3D design team and sponsoring the evolution and adoption of standardized development and design processes, workflows, and tools
• Oversee consolidation of the sustainability strategy across product types and ensure alignment with brand-wide sustainability targets
• Lead organizational change management, driving “One Way of Working” across all product-creating functions
• Identify and unlock synergy opportunities across BUs for product initiatives, platforms, and product business models
• Ensure strategic end-to-end collaboration with Product Data & System Excellence, aligning physical product standards with digital product data, systems logic, and lifecycle management
• Manage, empower, and develop the Product Excellence team, including Senior Manager, Manager, and Junior Manager roles.
• 8–10 years’ relevant experience in product management or the international apparel and sporting goods industry, ideally with a leading global sports brand
• Degree in fashion management, business administration, marketing, sports management, or a related field; bachelor’s or master’s preferred
• Strategic expertise in the sports and sportswear market, retail, industry, and consumer trends
• Strong analytical and commercial acumen to solve complex challenges and improve policies, processes, and ways of working
• Passion for sportswear and ability to turn consumer and market insights into impactful product strategies
• Excellent English and confidence to represent the function independently within and beyond the organization
• Advanced MS Office skills, especially Excel and PowerPoint, with effective use of data for strategic decisions
• Collaborative, influential, and structured team player who mentors colleagues and provides expert guidance
• Proven ability to lead complex processes and strategic initiatives autonomously in a fast-paced, international environment
• High energy, sound judgment, attention to detail, and confidence to make decisions with immediate organizational impact.

PUMA provides equal opportunities for all job applicants, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or disability. Equality for all is one of the core principles at PUMA and we do not tolerate any form of harassment or discrimination.

At PUMA, every application is reviewed by real people who are committed to fairness, transparency, and equal opportunity - no matter your background, identity, or experience. To ensure our process stays true to these values, no automated systems or AI tools are used to make hiring decisions. Every decision is made by real people -with real judgment and accountability. We may use functions supported by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to carry out isolated organizational steps, such as scheduling interviews. These functions have no influence on decisions in the application process. We believe in creating spaces where everyone is welcome, celebrated, and empowered to contribute authentically. Because at PUMA, whoever wants to play, can play.

PUMA is a global sports brand creating footwear, apparel, and accessories that inspire athletes and everyday movers. The PUMA Group owns PUMA, Cobra Golf, and stichd, operates in 120+ countries, and has around 22,000 employees worldwide.

The PUMA corporate Headquarters are located in Herzogenaurach or Herzo, as we like to call our hometown, located in southern Germany close to Nuremberg. Every day, more than 1000 colleagues walk through our doors, ready to push sport and fashion forward. And if you’re lucky, you just might run into Usain Bolt or Antoine Griezmann walking down the hall.