Lead Product Excellence *limited 18 months*

PUMA SE; Herzogenaurach; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

PUMA SE in Herzogenaurach seeks a senior leader to head Product Excellence, shaping global standards for fit, performance, quality, and testing while representing the function in senior forums. You will partner with Design, Development, SCM, and Data to drive lifecycle strategies, sustainability, and the One Way of Working, while building a high-energy, globally collaborative team.

This role demands strategic vision, strong commercial acumen, and the ability to influence across BUs to deliver

Qualifications

• 8–10 years’ experience in product management or apparel industry.
• Degree in fashion management, business, marketing, or related field.
• Strategic expertise in sportswear market, retail trends.
• Strong analytical and commercial acumen for policy improvement.
• Excellent English and ability to represent the function.
• Advanced MS Office skills, especially Excel and PowerPoint.
• Collaborative, influential team player who mentors others.
• Proven ability to lead complex processes autonomously.
• High energy, sound judgment, and decisive leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead the global Product Excellence function, setting the strategic direction for fit, performance, quality, and testing standards.
• Define and govern the one PUMA product standard, partnering with multiple teams to build and enforce global standards.
• Steer long-term innovation and lifecycle strategies across BUs and cross-BU integration.
• Oversee consolidation of the sustainability strategy across product types.
• Lead organizational change management and drive One Way of Working.
• Identify and unlock synergy opportunities across BUs for product initiatives and platforms.
• Ensure collaboration with Product Data & System Excellence aligning standards with data and lifecycle management.
• Manage, empower, and develop the Product Excellence team, including Senior Manager, Manager, and Junior Manager roles.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Global product management

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in fashion management or business

Marketing, sports management or related field

Tools

MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint)

Job description

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.

YOUR MISSION:

• 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.

YOUR TALENT:

• 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 strategiesExcellent 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.