Manager Global Continuous Improvement (m/f/d)

PURPOSE & OVERALL RELEVANCE FOR THE ORGANIZATION

As Manager Global Continuous Improvement, you will be responsible for guiding and mentoring adidas SCM teams in Kaizen and Continuous Improvement activities. You will ensure adidas operational basics are in place across all warehouses of our own and sub-contracted network globally in collaboration with market CI teams. The role incorporates collaboration with the community of Lean Ambassadors based in our warehouses.

The Manager Continuous Improvement (CI) drives the development, implementation, and sustainment of CI practices across Global Supply Chain. This role ensures operational excellence through the application of lean methodologies, Kaizen, and data-driven improvements in E2E SCM. The position partners with GSCM stakeholders, DC leadership, operations, and cross-functional stakeholders to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, improve service levels, and foster a culture of continuous improvement & Kaizen across the network.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead the deployment of CI strategies, methodologies, and frameworks across Global SCM

Facilitate and coach Large scale Kaizen events- 3-Day/5-Day, workshops, and problem-solving sessions to drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, productivity, and cost in E2E SCM

Establish performance dashboards and KPIs to track, analyze, and report CI initiatives and outcomes.

Partner with SCM leaders and regional teams to identify opportunities, prioritize initiatives, and ensure execution of improvement roadmaps.

Build and sustain a CI culture by training, mentoring, and engaging SCM employees at all levels.

Ensure knowledge sharing and best practice exchange across the distribution network and wider GSCM Community including back-office functions

Collaborate with engineering, automation, and global distribution excellence team to scale solutions and innovations.

Support change management activities during DC transformation projects, system implementations, and network expansions.

Align with global and Market Supply Chain strategies, ensuring CI efforts contribute to strategic goals (service, speed, cost, sustainability).

Kaizen events & Kaizen Funnel mgmt

Drive high-impact Kaizen events and maintaining the Global Kaizen Funnel

Establishing Problem solving culture with TPI-Transactional process improvement

Deployment of Daily mgmt/Visual mgmt using SQCDP principle

Guiding teams in refinement of Kaizen Chart, Kaizen pre-work and facilitation of Kaizen events at Gemba with Executive Report out

Focus on sustainment of Kaizen events with 30-60-90 day principle

Tracking and monitoring of TTI Bowler chart and conducting RCA for key misses

Adidas Performance Eco System (PeS)

Support the Director Global CI to improve and apply PeS – a framework combined with a global toolbox to drive the continuous improvement Kaizen culture on the shop floor

Roll out and monitor the PeS globally in close collaboration with market CI; create lighthouses

Influence/coach SCM leadership to embrace performance and continuous improvement culture; vulgarize Kaizen to drive high acceptance among GSCM community

Coordinate training, coaching, and mentoring in continuous improvement concepts and techniques via the community of Lean Ambassadors (Global CI Community)

Work with market teams to drive continuous improvement roadmap with Kaizens

Developing and owning strategic plan initiatives for Policy deployment/Goal deployment

CI Learning, Certified Community & Best Practices

Train and coach our community of Lean Ambassadors and wider GSCM Community for Kaizen/CI/Lean toolbox

Engage in the identification and scaling up of best practices across the regions with your peers and the global community of Lean Ambassadors

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Director Global Continuous Improvement

Regional SCM Heads

Local DC Operations Management

SCM functions

Lean Ambassadors

Finance/Controlling

Regional Project Management team

Engineering and IT teams

3PL providers

External consultants (as needed)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Hands on knowledge with application of Lean/Kaizen/CI tools like 5S,Value Stream Mapping,Root Cause Analysis, Hoshin Kanri, Visual mgmt.,DMAIC-Six Sigma, SAFe-Lean Agile etc.

Practical experience of Business mgmt. systems/Production systems like TPS etc.

Great expertise of operational performance management, Lean, Continuous Improvement principles applied in e2e Supply Chain

Demonstrated experience in running large scale Kaizen events of 3-Day/5-Day

Ability to travel, domestic or international, as required (50% or more as required)

Stakeholder Management on all levels

Pro-active (engaging & impact-oriented) mindset, ability to think end-to-end with a global mindset

Ability to lead and influence without formal reporting line

Ability to think strategically, synthesize complex data and develop innovative solutions

Ability to be self-directed while working under tight deadlines

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with different international cultures

Strong communication, facilitation and presentation skills to all levels of the organization

Demonstrated project management skills

Strong communication (both written and verbal) and facilitation skills (small and large groups) especially when interacting with different levels of business

Fluent English (verbal and written) at C level

Foreign language skills: Additional language skills like Spanish/German/Mandarin etc. would be preferred

Strong MS-Office skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), MS Visio, Power BI, MS SharePoint, Smartsheets etc.

REQUISITE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE / MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Excellent academic track record with Bachelors degree in Mechanical/Industrial

Engineering/Production Engineering with focus on Lean management

Excellent academic track record with MBA from renowned Business School would be preferred

Education as a certified Lean Leader or Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. Lean Six Sigma Black Belt would be preferred

Industry recognized certification in Project management like PMI-PMP, IPMA or PRINCE2

Industry recognized certification in Change mgmt. like PROSCI etc. would be preferred

Minimum 3-5+ year experience in managing remote teams

Willingness to travel globally for Kaizen events, in-house consulting (50% or more as required)

Minimum 5+ year experience in applying Lean, Kaizen, continuous improvement concepts in End-2-End Supply Chain

Experience working in logistics or in manufacturing operations with focus on Kaizen/Lean/CI activities

Experience working in international setup with cross-functional teams including collaboration with senior leadership in a fast-paced environment

Professional experience working in foreign countries and strong intercultural competence would be an added advantage

Consultation/coaching competency-problem solving attitude, coaching skills, change mgmt