Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

We’ll never launch a product unless we consider it perfect. Our product operations teams create every shirt, every shoe and every piece of equipment for thousands of athletes and fashion lovers as if it was one of a kind. And it truly is, as they weave their passion into every single product. But translating designs, drawings and renderings into real products requires a lot of decision making.

As Assistant Manager Product Testing you are a key contributor in the product testing process by gathering and evaluating perception feedback from consumers (fit, comfort, quality, performance) and translating it into recommendations for product development. This role works divisional for assigned business units and in close alignment with the Senior Manager Product Testing.

Key Responsibilities:

Product Testing

• Represent Testing in seasonal briefings with Marketing and Development
• Allocate appropriate level of perception tests (e.g. fit, wear, performance tests, high speed filming, benchmark testing) based on intended use and consumer profile with counterparts from Development in collaboration with Concept Excellence
• Manage own workload and prioritize tasks in line with workload tool
• Support to resolve issues during testing process; in the second step escalate to Senior Manager Product Testing
• Assign appropriate questionnaire modules in partnership with external IT provider
• Plan and execute perception tests according to adidas’ Testing standards within timelines
• Analyze perception test results based on consumer feedback and product condition and assess risk level of claims and defective returns
• Write test reports with recommendations to Development and document those in the respective systems
• Determine if product can move forward in creation process based on executed perception tests
• Share and discuss test results with Development, Marketing and Design in Performance Line Review Meetings
• Review, discuss and decide on execution of outline test requests
• (Support to) create seasonal summary reports and overviews upon request
• Provide input for test standards and procedures to Standards and Compliance experts
• Support global initiatives that are connected to Product Testing

Tester Pool

• Pro-actively recruit new product testers through events and networking
• Review online applications for product testers and select suitable profiles
• Set up and maintain product testers in central system
• Collect signatures from product testers for all relevant processes (e.g. wear test agreement)
• Ensure data protection rules are followed during all steps of testing

Sample Management

• (System-)order, unpack, prepare and ship product samples for testing purposes
• Organize short- and long-term storage of product samples according to policy

Device Management

• Maintain Testing facilities and devices

Key Relationships:

• Development
• Marketing
• Design
• Advanced Creation – Testing & Quality
• Target consumers, coaches and equipment managers
• 3rd party testing facilities and consultants

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Passion for sports in general and in-depth knowledge of the responsible sport categories
• Keen to learn about product creation and development (e.g. materials, components, modifications, technologies, assembly)
• Ability to work both individually and supportively, with a high degree of flexibility and a collaborative mindset
• Ability to openly communicate and collaborate with cross-functional teams at like and slightly above levels of the organization
• Advanced communication and presentation skills
• Advanced user level of Microsoft 365 (e.g. Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access)
• Data analysis skills of advantage
• Language: fluent in English (written and spoken), for Germany: German required
• Ability to travel domestically and globally

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• College or university degree in Sports Science or related field
• First working experience required
• Alternatively: apprenticeship in technical footwear or apparel field with minimum 3 years of work experience
• Experience in footwear, apparel or accessories & gear business preferred