Manager Inbound Planning (Temp 12 Months)

adidas AG; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

adidas is seeking a Senior Inbound Planning Manager to lead a team of specialists and optimize the end-to-end inbound flow from ports to the European DC network. You will drive process governance, standardization and performance across Europe SCM, ensuring alignment with the S/4 transformation roadmap.

The role requires strong cross-functional leadership, change management and a cost-aware mindset, with fluency in English and extensive ERP/planning system experience.

Qualifications

• University degree in SCM or related field.
• Minimum 5 years in SCM, transportation, logistics or operations.
• Experience leading process improvement initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of ERP systems (SAP preferred).
• Advanced Excel and Power BI skills.
• Experience in cross-functional and international environments.
• Fluent in English.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, develop and inspire a team of specialists.
• Set objectives and foster accountability and continuous improvement.
• Drive employee engagement and succession planning.
• Ensure team has planning and analytical capabilities.
• Secure cross-functional collaboration to manage supply and inbound transport.
• Develop reporting tools and dashboards for decision-making.
• Own inbound planning processes across Europe SCM.
• Define and govern business processes and planning standards.
• Establish KPI monitoring and root-cause analysis.
• Identify opportunities for automation and digitalization.
• Facilitate continuous improvement initiatives.
• Act as subject matter expert for inbound planning.
• Drive process compliance with governance frameworks.
• Translate strategic requirements into scalable solutions.

Skills

Supply chain knowledge

Process improvement

Project management

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Data interpretation

Cross-functional leadership

Communication skills

Education

University degree in SCM

Tools

SAP

Power BI

Excel

Job description

Partnering with adidas Supply Chain functions and Distribution Centers (DCs) to create On-Time Availability and enable On-Time, In-Full delivery to Wholesale and Direct-to-Consumer channels. The role is responsible for managing and optimizing the flow of goods from ports across Europe to the European Distribution Center network.

In addition, this role acts as the Business Process Manager (BPM) for Inbound Planning capabilities within Europe SCM, driving business process management, governance and continuous improvement across the end-to-end inbound transportation and planning landscape. The role owns process design, process standards, business requirements, system adoption and process performance, ensuring alignment between business operations and adidas' inbound and S/4 transformation roadmap.

The position ensures planning processes are scalable, efficient and aligned with strategic priorities, while enabling operational excellence, service level achievement and cost optimization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, coach, develop and inspire a team of specialists
• Set clear objectives and priorities while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement
• Drive employee engagement, talent development, succession planning and capability building within the team
• Ensure the team possesses the necessary planning, analytical and process management capabilities to support business objectives
• Secure cross-functional collaboration with key stakeholders to proactively manage supply and inbound transportation challenges
• Develop and maintain reporting tools and performance dashboards to support operational decision-making and achievement of business targets
• Represent Inbound Planning in cross-functional projects, network initiatives and strategic SCM programs (including S/4)
• Own and continuously improve key inbound planning and transportation planning processes across Europe SCM
• Define, document, standardize and govern business processes, operating procedures and planning standards to ensure consistency across teams and stakeholders
• Establish process performance management routines, including KPI monitoring, root-cause analysis and corrective action tracking
• Identify opportunities for process simplification, automation and digitalization through collaboration with Technology, Analytics and SCM Excellence teams
• Facilitate continuous improvement initiatives using structured problem-solving methodologies and operational excellence principles
• Act as the subject matter expert for inbound planning processes and support change management activities
• Drive process compliance and ensure adherence to defined governance frameworks, operating models and service level agreements
• Translate strategic business requirements into scalable process solutions that improve service, efficiency and cost performance

Key Relationships:

• Europe SCM Functions (Product Supply, Orderbook Management, Distribution Planning, Customer Fulfillment, Reporting & Analytics)
• DC Operations and DC Leadership Teams
• Global Logistics and Transportation Management
• Inbound Planning and Network Planning Teams
• Tech and Advanced Analytics
• Finance and Performance Management Functions
• Omnichannel Operations (Retail and eCommerce)
• External Logistics Service Providers and Transportation Partners

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of supply chain processes and end-to-end flow of goods from source to customer
• Proven business process management and process improvement capabilities
• Strong operational planning and project management skills
• Ability to establish process governance, standards and performance management frameworks
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills with strong reporting and data interpretation capabilities
• Ability to identify process inefficiencies and drive sustainable solutions
• Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional leadership capabilities
• Ability to lead, coach and motivate teams in a dynamic and changing environment
• Effective communication and influencing skills across all organizational levels
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Cost-conscious mindset combined with customer and service orientation

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• University degree or equivalent qualification, preferably in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Logistics or Operations Management
• Minimum 5 years of experience within Supply Chain Management, Transportation, Logistics or Operations
• Demonstrated experience leading process improvement, transformation or operational excellence initiatives
• Strong knowledge of ERP systems (SAP preferred), planning systems and reporting tools
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel and Power BI
• Experience working in cross-functional and international environments.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken