Senior Director DEI & Talent Headoffice - Temp for 12 months

Global Sports Jobs Limited; Herzogenaurach; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Adidas seeks a Senior HR Strategist to act as a strategic integrator for Global Talent and DEI, aligning initiatives with business goals and reporting to the Executive Board. You'll lead governance, governance processes and cross-functional programmes with a focus on leadership development and inclusive culture.

In this role you will partner with SVP HR Talent, SVP DEI and HR leadership to drive people strategies, deliver high-impact boards-ready updates, and mentor a team to execute globally

Qualifications

• 10+ years in HR, Talent, DEI or strategic programme management in global organisations.
• Fluency in English.
• Holistic, cross-functional view of adidas organisation and business.
• Deep expertise in Talent Management, Leadership Development and DEI.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and Board-level stakeholders.
• Strong governance and multi-regional programme management.
• Analytical mindset with data-driven insights and recommendations.
• Discretion and ability to navigate ambiguity while maintaining confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Drive planning and governance for Global Talent and DEI strategies across HR and business functions.
• Lead executive interactions, prepare board-ready presentations and reports.
• Oversee governance processes including roadmap, policy, risk and resource planning.
• Act as liaison between HR leadership and the Executive Board on strategic priorities.
• Represent HR in crisis management and advise on Talent/DEI issues and policies.
• Own and drive strategic Talent and DEI projects, incl. Women in Leadership and global DEI moments.
• Implement tracking and reporting for Talent and DEI KPIs with transparency.
• Collaborate with HR CoEs and Corporate Communications on messaging.
• Lead and mentor a team to deliver high-quality outputs for senior leadership.
• Amplify leadership in DEI and HR Talent communities to boost engagement.

Skills

Executive-level influence

Governance experience

Stakeholder management

Leadership development

Strategic planning

Analytical mindset

Cross-functional collaboration

Change management

German language

Education

University degree in Business/HR/Law

Job description

About the Role

This role acts as a strategic integrator and trusted advisor, driving the execution of the Global Talent and DEI strategies while serving as a liaison between HR leadership and the Executive Board. It ensures alignment of Talent and DEI priorities with organisational objectives, orchestrates governance processes and manages cross-functional initiatives that impact workforce experience, leadership development and inclusion. The position sits within the People & Culture team and combines strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and operational excellence to enable a cohesive HR agenda that supports business growth and cultural transformation. It works closely with the SVP HR Talent, SVP DEI, the HR SLT, Executive Board members, HR Talent & DEI leadership teams, Corporate Strategy, Communications and Risk Management, Employee Resource Groups and the global HR network.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive planning and governance for Global Talent and DEI strategies, ensuring clarity, alignment and execution across HR and business functions.
• Lead the orchestration of executive-level interactions such as the DEI Executive Council and Talent SLT updates, preparing high-impact presentations and reports for the Board and senior leadership.
• Oversee governance processes including roadmap development, policy management, risk and opportunity assessment, and resource planning.
• Act as a trusted liaison between HR leadership (Talent & DEI) and the Executive Board, influencing and aligning on strategic priorities and ensuring messaging and strategic objectives land effectively with senior stakeholders.
• Represent HR in crisis management scenarios and provide consultation on Talent and DEI-related issues, internal policies and external best practices.
• Own and drive strategic projects and initiatives across Talent and DEI, including the Women in Leadership strategy and global DEI moments, and act as single point of contact for all talent-related products and projects towards markets and Global functions.
• Implement tracking and reporting mechanisms for Talent and DEI KPIs, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Research and apply innovative frameworks and methodologies to enhance impact and scalability.
• Foster collaboration between HR centres of excellence (Talent, Employee Relations, DEI) and corporate functions to embed inclusive practices and talent priorities into business operations, lead collaboration with other HR CoEs (Rewards Transformation & Solutions) to align on core strategic priorities and mitigate risks, and partner with Corporate Communications to shape organisational messaging for DEI and HR talent priorities.
• Lead and mentor a team, promoting a culture of collaboration, agility and excellence, providing guidance and coaching to ensure high-quality outputs tailored for senior leadership audiences
• And amplifying leadership in the broader DEI and HR Talent community to drive a positive culture and high engagement.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• University degree in Business, HR, Law or a related field.
• 10+ years progressive experience in HR, Talent, DEI or strategic programme management within a global organisation.
• Fluency in English.
• Holistic, cross‑functional view and understanding of the adidas organisation and business.
• Deep expertise in Talent Management, Leadership Development and DEI principles.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and Board-level stakeholders.
• Strong project management and governance skills, with the ability to manage complex, multi-regional initiatives.
• Strong and effective verbal and written communication skills, including presentation and facilitation.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to synthesise data into insights and strategic recommendations.
• High resilience, discretion and ability to navigate ambiguity while maintaining confidentiality.
• A proven track record of leading and implementing large-scale global or regional programmes and projects across the company with multiple stakeholders, including senior-level leaders.
• Experience in seeking alignment across leadership groups in order to influence without authority.
• Ability to develop strategy and translate it into actionable goals and activities.
• Demonstrated management of strategic initiatives across multi-regional markets.
• Experience in diversity, equity and inclusion with the ability to influence, design, implement and execute programmes.

Preferred Skills

• Fluency in German.
• Board-level stakeholder management experience is strongly beneficial.
• Experience analysing and reporting workforce data to the Board and senior leadership is beneficial.

About the Company

Adidas is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace, and welcomes applications from people of all ages, genders (including gender identity), ethnic and social backgrounds, nationalities, sexual orientations, religions and beliefs, and those with apparent or non-apparent disabilities. The company does not tolerate harassment or discrimination toward any applicants or employees, actively encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply and provides reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process.