Manager Key Accounts - EM South

Adidas; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global sports brand is seeking a Manager Key Accounts to drive profitable growth in Johannesburg. The role involves developing strategies for key accounts, ensuring sales growth, and managing the Go To Market process. Candidates should have a proven track record in key account management, excellent interpersonal skills, and a degree in business administration. This full-time position requires strong analytical and strategic development skills, ideally in the sporting goods industry.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in sales, ideally in the sporting goods industry.
• Cross-functional experience ideally with marketing / sales / finance.
• Extensive knowledge of the adidas Group business along with significant industry experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the overall strategy for the key account portfolio.
• Ensure Net Sales growth through targets and actions.
• Monitor competitors' activities and propose necessary actions.

Skills

Passion and knowledge of sports

Key account management

Strong interpersonal skills

Business planning skills

Analytical skills

Strategic development skills

Sales and product knowledge

Customer service

Finance

IT skills

Education

Degree in business administration with focus on Sales/Marketing

Job description

Overview

PURPOSE & OVERALL RELEVANCE FOR THE ORGANIZATION

To ensure profitable market share and net sales growth within select key accounts across South Africa.

To passionately lead the key account function in identifying, developing and implementing strategies through a brand first approach whilst driving profitable growth.

Key Responsibilities

• To develop and implement the overall strategy for the key account portfolio based on global and Market strategies jointly with the Director Key Accounts - EMS
• To ensure Net Sales growth by setting clear targets and actions; constant tracking of results; analysis of risks & new business opportunities
• To ensure the Key Account organization is applying available adidas standards and best practices
• Build Strategic Account Plans and Account Marketing Plans and present to Director Key Accounts
• Manage the Go To Market (GTM) process end-to-end
• To support negotiation and enforcement of adidas and key accounts trade terms
• To establish an appropriate organizational framework for the key account organization jointly with the Director Key Accounts
• To measure progress on defined KPIs
• To monitor all reports and put necessary action plans in place to achieve key objectives
• To monitor and report on customers and competitors sell-through and activities, and propose/initiate/take actions
• To provide realistic plans and forecasts on customers performance

Key Relationships

• Global and Market: Wholesale, Key Accounts, Sales Development, Go To Market Functions, Digital Partner Commerce.
• Drive Concept to Consumer working relationship.
• Part of the overall cluster commercial structure.
• Cluster: Sales Director, Heads of Key Accounts, Brand, Customer Service, Sales Coordination, Business Development, HR, Planning, Logistics & Finance.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Passion and knowledge of sports
• Key account manager with proven track record of success
• Strong interpersonal skills (e.g. communication, negotiation)
• Proven methodological skills (e.g. business planning, analytical skills, strategic development)
• Broad and deep functional skills (e.g. Sales, Product Knowledge, Customer Service, Finance, IT)
• High degree of commercial and business acumen knowledge
• Extensive knowledge of the adidas Group business along with significant industry experience

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications

• Degree in business administration with focus on Sales/Marketing
• Functional: minimum 5 years’ experience in sales, ideally in the sporting goods industry
• Cross-functional experience ideally with marketing / sales / finance
• Industry: sporting goods / retail / consumer goods

AT ADIDAS WE HAVE A WINNING CULTURE. BUT TO WIN, PHYSICAL POWER IS NOT ENOUGH. JUST LIKE ATHLETES OUR EMPLOYEES NEED MENTAL STRENGTH IN THEIR GAME. WE FOSTER THE ATHLETE’S MINDSET THROUGH A SET OF BEHAVIORS THAT WE WANT TO ENABLE AND DEVELOP IN OUR PEOPLE AND THAT ARE AT THE CORE OF OUR UNIQUE COMPANY CULTURE: THIS IS HOW WE WIN WHILE PLAYING FAIR.

• COURAGE: Speak up when you see an opportunity; step up when you see a need.
• OWNERSHIP: Pick up the ball. Be proactive, take responsibility and follow-through.
• INNOVATION: Elevate to win. Be curious, test and learn new and better ways of doing things.
• TEAMPLAY: Win together. Work collaboratively and cultivate a shared mindset.
• INTEGRITY: Play by the rules. Hold yourself and others accountable to our company’s standards.
• RESPECT: Value all players. Display empathy, be inclusive and show dignity to all.

AT ADIDAS, WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT EMBEDDING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI) INTO OUR CULTURE AND TALENT PROCESSES GIVES OUR EMPLOYEES A SENSE OF BELONGING AND OUR BRAND A REAL COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.

– CULTURE STARTS WITH PEOPLE, IT STARTS WITH YOU –

BY RECRUITING TALENT AND DEVELOPING OUR PEOPLE TO REFLECT THE RICH DIVERSITY OF OUR CONSUMERS AND COMMUNITIES, WE FOSTER A CULTURE OF INCLUSION THAT ENGAGES OUR EMPLOYEES AND AUTHENTICALLY CONNECTS OUR BRAND WITH OUR CONSUMERS.

JOB TITLE: Manager Key Accounts - EM South

BRAND: LOCATION: Johannesburg

TEAM: Sales

STATE: GT

COUNTRY/REGION: ZA

CONTRACT TYPE: Full time

NUMBER: 539946

DATE: Jan 29, 2026