Manager Inventory Excellence EMC Adidas

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Inventory Excellence function across six EMC markets, ensuring consistent processes, controls, and compliance across all stores.
• Manage, coach, and develop a team of Inventory Specialists, ensuring capability building and performance excellence.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for inventory discrepancies, system issues, and audit findings across the region.
• Ensure store teams adhere to inventory procedures and retail controls, reinforcing accountability and operational discipline.

Inventory Reporting, Analysis & Insights

• Oversee daily, weekly, and monthly inventory reporting across all markets, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and timely delivery.
• Review analysis on item performance, heavy/low turn items, and stock health trends, providing actionable insights to Retail, Merchandising, and Finance.
• Continuously enhance reporting structures, dashboards, and analytical tools to improve visibility and decision making.

RFID Rollout & Integration (Where Applicable)

• Lead the planning, deployment, and operational integration of RFID technology across selected markets.
• Ensure stores are trained, equipped, and operationally ready to adopt RFID enabled processes.
• Embed RFID into BAU routines such as cycle counts, receiving, transfers, and stock investigations.
• Partner with IT, Retail Operations, and Loss Prevention to ensure system readiness, data integrity, and process compliance.

Stock Accuracy & System Alignment

• Ensure 100% alignment between aLS, SAP, and store systems across all markets.
• Oversee investigations into stock discrepancies, quantity/price variances, and system irregularities.
• Ensure timely closure of investigations and clear communication of findings to Retail Operations and Loss Prevention.
• Drive continuous improvement to minimize inaccuracies in store stock data.

Audit, Controls & Compliance

• Lead the regional stock audit calendar from planning to execution, ensuring consistent methodology and compliance across all markets.
• Partner with Loss Prevention to identify risk areas and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure adherence to internal controls, including PRP audit requirements and monthly adjustments for damages and uniforms.

Operational Excellence & BAU Inventory Control

• Standardize and oversee BAU inventory processes across all stores and warehouses, including:
• Receiving and shipping
• Store to Store transfers
• Stock adjustments
• Cycle counts and annual stock counts
• Ensure accurate management of stock items and stock revenue in aLS and SAP for full system alignment.
• Identify process gaps and implement preventive measures to reduce irregularities and shrinkage.
• Drive automation and digital enablement to streamline workflows and improve accuracy.

Stakeholder Management

• Partner with Retail Operations to ensure store teams follow inventory procedures and controls.
• Collaborate with Finance on stock valuation, adjustments, and working capital impacts.
• Provide regular updates to Senior Manager Retail Operations and Senior Manager Consumer Excellence.
• Maintain strong communication with Loss Prevention on potential risk areas and investigation outcomes.

Key Performance Indicators

• Regional shrinkage performance vs. annual targets
• Monthly system alignment between 98% 100%
• Timely closure of investigations (within 48 hours)
• PRP Internal Controls Audit results
• Accuracy and timeliness of uniform and damages adjustments
• Successful RFID rollout and adoption (where applicable)
• Stock audit completion and compliance across all six markets

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong leadership and people management capabilities
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office and analytical tools
• Strong understanding of retail operations and inventory control processes
• Excellent communication skills in English; Arabic is a plus
• Ability to manage large data sets and drive insights
• Strong problem solving skills and attention to detail
• Experience with SAP, aLS, or similar retail systems
• Ability to influence cross functional stakeholders across multiple countries