Senior Manager Product Excellence

PUMA SE; Herzogenaurach; On-site; EUR 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

PUMA SE is looking for a Product Manager to translate the Teamhead's strategy into cross-functional execution across fit, performance, quality, and testing standards. The role focuses on creating and improving product standards with multiple BUs, driving material efficiency, and packaging harmonization.

The ideal candidate has 5–7 years in product management in apparel, strong analytical and Excel/PowerPoint skills, and excellent English, with leadership experience mentoring junior colleagues.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of relevant experience in product management or the global apparel and sporting goods industry.
• Degree in fashion management, business administration, marketing, sports management, or a related field; bachelor's or master's preferred.
• Strong technical product expertise, ideally in development, pattern engineering, or materials.
• Broad knowledge of sportswear markets, competitors, product value, range offerings, retail, industry dynamics, and consumer trends.
• Strong analytical and commercial acumen to solve complex, non-standard challenges through data-driven decisions, supported by Excel and PowerPoint.
• Excellent English, communication and negotiation skills.
• Collaborative, influential leadership with experience guiding colleagues and up to two entry- or mid-level employees.
• Ability to execute complex tasks and strategic initiatives independently with energy, sound judgment and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Translate the Teamhead's strategy into BU-level and cross-functional execution frameworks for fit, performance, quality, and testing standards.
• Lead the creation and continuous improvement of product standards, ensuring that all BUs apply consistent guidelines and tools.
• Drive cross-functional projects with PGS, BUs, SCM, and Innovation for material efficiency, economies of scale, trims, labeling, and packaging harmonization.
• Support innovation strategy alignment, ensuring BUs apply innovation lifecycle and access principles consistently.
• Coordinate sustainability alignment across BUs, ensuring Product Excellence contributes to brand standards and reporting.
• Identify complexity-reduction opportunities and lead initiatives that simplify processes, tools, and product creation steps.
• Ensure operational collaboration with Product Data & System Excellence, guaranteeing all physical product standards are mirrored in system logic and data structures.
• Provide guidance and direction to Managers and Junior Managers, including functional mentoring and workload steering.

Tools

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. Applying for a job at PUMA is easy.

• Translate the Teamhead's strategy into BU-level and cross-functional execution frameworks for fit, performance, quality, and testing standards
• Lead the creation and continuous improvement of product standards, ensuring that all BUs apply consistent guidelines and tools
• Drive cross-functional projects with PGS, BUs, SCM, and Innovation for material efficiency, economies of scale, trims, labeling, and packaging harmonization
• Support innovation strategy alignment, ensuring BUs apply innovation lifecycle and access principles consistently
• Coordinate sustainability alignment across BUs, ensuring Product Excellence contributes to brand standards and reporting
• Identify complexity-reduction opportunities and lead initiatives that simplify processes, tools, and product creation steps
• Ensure operational collaboration with Product Data & System Excellence, guaranteeing all physical product standards are mirrored in system logic and data structures
• Provide guidance and direction to Managers and Junior Managers, including functional mentoring and workload steering.
• 5-7 years of relevant experience in product management or the global apparel and sporting goods industry, ideally with a leading sports brand
• Degree in fashion management, business administration, marketing, sports management, or a related field; bachelor's or master's preferred
• Strong technical product expertise, ideally in development, pattern engineering, or materials, combined with broad knowledge of sportswear markets, competitors, product value, range offerings, retail, industry dynamics, and consumer trends
• Strong analytical and commercial acumen to solve complex, non-standard challenges through innovative approaches and data-driven decisions, supported by advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills
• Passion for sportswear and ability to turn consumer and market insights into impactful product strategies and clear expert guidance
• Excellent English, communication, and negotiation skills, with confidence engaging stakeholders at all levels
• Collaborative, influential leadership with experience guiding colleagues and, where applicable, up to two entry- or mid-level employees
• Ability to execute complex tasks and strategic initiatives independently, aligned with senior leadership direction, while demonstrating high energy, sound judgment, attention to detail, and confidence in decisions with functional 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.