
adidas Originals - Key Account Rep
adidas
Portland, OR, 97217
Closed - No longer accepting applications
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This position can be based in Baltimore or DC.
Territory:
EAST COAST
When Adi Dassler first crafted a pair of soccer boots out of his rural Bavarian home, it launched the adidas brand. Today, adidas Originals carries on the tradition with a dedication to footwear and apparel that is legendary, iconic and style focused.
Selling this product is no ordinary sales role because you aren't just selling an ordinary product. You are a brand ambassador. You are a culture influencer. You are a relationship builder. You know the cultural heartbeat of your retailers and consumers. Your passion is to know and learn about what the fashion/ lifestyle focussed consumer is looking for and to meet those needs.
As our Key Account Rep you are responsible to drive, implement and follow through on sales and marketing initiatives for the full line of Originals products offered in footwear, apparel and accessories in an assigned geographic area within a defined account base
Purpose:
To manage, sell to and service our key account base by presenting adidas products and providing information and support materials to the account(s).
Key Accountabilities:
* Develop and maintain strong relationships with account(s), consistently delivering a high level of customer service.
* Present adidas products to accounts and create appropriate assortment plans.
* Achieve sales goals by quarter as defined by Director of Sales and deliver all orders by identified deadlines.
* Achieve booking goals by quarter and by business unit as defined by Director of Sales.
* Work as liaison between adidas operations and account operations.
* Produce and deliver accurate and reliable quarterly forecasts on or before deadlines.
* Develop and maintain strong relationships with all internal departments (i.e. customer service, marketing, etc).
* Track adidas profitability with key accounts and manage all credit claims and issues to resolution.
* Track orders from point of sale with the account, to shipment from adidas.
* Manage, track and resolve all customer compliance issues regarding freight claims, charge-backs, shipping violations and returns.
* Conduct yearly visits to key account distribution centers to improve procedures and relations.
Knowledge Skills and Abilities:
* Negotiating - The ability to negotiate skillfully in tough situations with both internal and external contacts. Can achieve desired outcomes while maintaining positive working relationships. Can be direct and forceful as well as diplomatic. Gains trust quickly of other parties and has a good sense of timing.
* Communication - At account and within adidas. The ability to write and speak clearly and succinctly in a variety of settings and styles, and understands the appropriate time to use e-mail and/or telephone or a combination of both. Proven ability to delivery a high level of customer service, including the ability to respond effectively to sensitive inquiries or complaints.
* Organization and Planning - Must use effective time management skills, prioritizing and maximizing non road time to complete deadlines. Needs to have an effective system in place to manage office tasks. Organization of paperwork and work is evident through effective filing systems and communications.
* Presentation Skills - Effectiveness in a variety of formal presentation settings within and outside of the company. The ability to command attention and manage group process during the presentation. Can change tactics midstream when something isn't working without audience noticing. Ability to understand and incorporate all levels of brand marketing plans and ideals in to presentations
* Problem Solving - Develops solutions to situations before and as they arise. Anticipates issues and devises suggested solutions before proceeding. The analytical area goes beyond the initial suggested solutions, you must consider any precedents that might be set that will effect future business dealings. You must deal with the complexity of a decision, foresee its impact and choose a course of action that bests supports the organizational goals.
* Relationships - Must have a complete understanding of how buyers and senior executives work, and knowledge of their overall goals. An understanding of their language and daily activities is a must at gaining their trust and respect. Must be willing to take a challenging position on certain issues (price, delivery dates etc.), but because of diplomacy and tact, works towards a common ground that may not be 100% what the retailer desires but is viewed by them as a far and equitable compromise.
* Merchandising and planning skills, and the ability to apply them by connecting the merchandise plan into forecast, then executing accordingly.
* Ability to handle multiple projects and work in an autonomous environment with little direction or supervision.
* Familiarity of sales processes, procedures and policies.
* Ability to understand and use financial data to make decisions and influence outcomes. This includes margins, forecast/projections, probability and statistical inference, fractions, percentages, ratios, and retail math.
* A strong understanding of retail sales practices, and the ability to lay out practical and logical assortment plans based on retail space, inventory turn, and sell through.
* General knowledge of fashion trends, color, and the consistently changing retail environment.
* Technical proficiency with MS applications (Excel, Word and PowerPoint).
* Ability to lift and carry samples and bags weighing up to 25 lbs.
* Ability to travel up to 50% of the time.
Qualifications:
* Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university and a minimum four years of related experience and/or training, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
* Athletic industry experience preferred.
adidas' founder, Adi Dassler, was inspired by a single idea when he made his first shoes, at the age of just 20: to provide every athlete with the best footwear for his or her respective discipline. And 85 years later, we have almost 26,000 employees worldwide who put this same passion and commitment to innovation into each concept, component, process and product we produce.
Our mission is to be the leading sports brand in the world. If you're poised to help us accomplish this mission and push for the win, apply today!
Please submit your cover letter and resume through Malakye.com or to Shine.thomas@adidas.com.