Table of Contents
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Job Overview
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About the Company
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Available Jobs
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Job Description
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Job Responsibilities
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Why This Role?
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Requirements
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How to Apply
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Job Overview
Job Title: Manager – Category Management Teamwear EM
Company Name: adidas
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Employment Type: Full-time
Team/Function: Brand Management & Communications
Start Date: ASAP (based on hiring timeline and onboarding)
Job Number: 538203
Posted Date: 15 December 2025
If you’re searching for Category Management jobs in Dubai 2025 with a global brand and regional influence, this adidas opportunity is built for commercially minded merchandisers who can balance product, consumer needs, and business performance. As Manager – Category Management Teamwear EM, you’ll support the Senior Director BU Football & Motorsport and help define Emerging Markets objectives for Football Teamwear and Generic Apparel. You’ll also translate global Go-to-Market strategy into cluster-relevant plans, build competitive product ranges, and track performance against key KPIs like net sales, margin, and category growth.
About the Company
adidas is one of the world’s most recognized sports brands, known for pushing innovation while staying deeply connected to athletes, teams, and consumers. In Emerging Markets, adidas operates across diverse cultures, consumer behaviors, and distribution channels—making category management especially strategic.
Working inside adidas category management isn’t just about selecting products. It’s about building a coherent range architecture, executing go-to-market strategies by channel, and aligning with the brand’s purpose while hitting commercial targets. In a football-driven region like Emerging Markets, Teamwear is also closely tied to B2B dynamics, customization ecosystems, and local activation—creating meaningful scope beyond traditional merchandising.
Available Jobs
If you are considering this role, you may also want to explore related openings and career tracks typically associated with adidas Category Management and merchandising functions:
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Merchandising Manager (Sportswear / Football / Originals)
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Category Manager (Apparel or Footwear) – Emerging Markets
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Go-to-Market Manager (GTM) – Dubai / UAE
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Demand Planning Manager (Sportswear / Apparel)
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Sports Marketing Manager (Football / Team Partnerships)
These roles overlap in skills like range planning, cross-functional coordination, market insight, and performance analytics.
Job Description
The Manager – Category Management Teamwear EM role focuses on building and executing category strategy for Football Teamwear and Generic Apparel across adidas Emerging Markets. You’ll work closely with cluster teams to ensure the product range is complete, competitive, and aligned to different consumer needs and distribution channels.
You’ll also connect global strategy to regional realities—ensuring pricing, margin, range architecture, and net sales objectives stay aligned. A major component includes overseeing the Teamwear customization ecosystem, linking functions like demand planning, supply chain, sales, marketing ops, and sports marketing to unlock growth opportunities.
This role is ideal for someone who:
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Understands football culture and the teamwear ecosystem
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Can translate consumer insight into a commercially viable assortment
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Enjoys cross-functional work and can influence without formal authority
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Is confident analyzing performance data and turning it into decisions
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Can balance “brand-first” strategy with regional commercial outcomes
Job Responsibilities
Category Strategy and Planning
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Support the creation and execution of a 3–5 year category plan for the assigned business segment.
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Align category planning with the overall Emerging Markets strategic business plan and brand priorities.
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Support senior leadership in aligning net sales objectives, pricing, margin targets, and range architecture across clusters.
Range Building and Go-to-Market Execution
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Build a compelling, commercial product range for Football Teamwear and Generic Apparel that fits each cluster’s market context.
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Implement global Go-to-Market strategies in a regionally relevant way, working with cluster category teams to adapt for channel and consumer differences.
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Ensure the category range is competitive in structure, price positioning, and margin.
Teamwear Customization Ecosystem
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Oversee and coordinate the Teamwear customization ecosystem, connecting all relevant functions:
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Demand Planning
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Supply Chain
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Sales channels
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Sports Marketing
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Marketing Operations
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Identify and solve ecosystem bottlenecks that impact fulfillment and growth.
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Guide the development of platforms and processes that support Teamwear customization expansion.
Global Collaboration and Cluster Alignment
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Coordinate and drive SMU brief submissions from clusters to the Global BU.
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Consolidate input from clusters and provide structured EM BU insights to Global, including:
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Emerging trends
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Incremental business opportunities
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Key concept priorities
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Category activation recommendations
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Performance Analysis and Reporting
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Maintain and deliver regular analyses on category performance.
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Track whether the category is meeting short- and mid-term financial expectations across all clusters and channels.
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Support action planning when performance gaps are identified.
Why This Role?
This adidas role is compelling because it combines brand influence, regional strategy, and measurable business impact—while staying connected to sport culture.
Regional Influence with Global Brand Power
You’ll implement global strategy locally, shaping how adidas Teamwear shows up across different Emerging Markets clusters. That mix of global alignment and regional autonomy builds strong leadership credibility.
Strong Commercial Ownership
The KPIs are clear and business-focused: net sales, category growth, franchise growth, margin, market share, and range efficiency. If you like roles where success is measurable, this one fits.
Football and B2B Ecosystem Exposure
Teamwear sits at the intersection of sport, communities, clubs, schools, and organizations. This role gives you exposure to B2B dynamics and customization ecosystems—skills that are valuable across sportswear and performance brands.
Cross-Functional Leadership
You’ll coordinate multiple functions and influence outcomes across planning, supply chain, marketing, and sales—excellent experience for progression into:
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Senior Category Director roles
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BU leadership positions
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GTM leadership roles
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Commercial strategy and planning roles
Dubai Location Advantage
Dubai is a strategic hub for Emerging Markets business—meaning faster access to stakeholders, regional decision-making, and cross-market visibility.
Requirements
To be a strong fit for Category Management jobs Dubai 2025 at adidas, you’ll want:
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University degree in business (marketing/sales focus preferred) or equivalent professional experience
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5 years of merchandising experience, including sales and retail exposure
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Experience in sporting goods, fashion, or youth culture brands (ideal)
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Passion for sports, preferably football, with product-ranging knowledge
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Strong consumer focus and product/range understanding
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Ability to build channel-specific GTM solutions balancing brand and commercial needs
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Cross-functional marketing knowledge and market experience (B2B familiarity is a plus)
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Strong range-building ability across different market contexts (distribution, price points, product types)
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Proactive mindset with end-to-end thinking
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Ability to work in fast-paced, multicultural environments
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Strong organizational and time management skills
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Commercial acumen with analytical strength
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Excellent communication, presentation, and facilitation skills
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Willingness to travel as required
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Fluent English (verbal and written)
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Full MS Office proficiency, especially Excel, PowerPoint, and Power BI
Visa note:
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The listing does not specify visa sponsorship. If you require sponsorship, clarify it early in your application.
How to Apply
To apply for this adidas role:
Apply early—regional roles in Dubai with global brand exposure often shortlist quickly.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
1) What is the main focus of this adidas Category Management role in Dubai?
The role supports Emerging Markets strategy for Football Teamwear and Generic Apparel, implementing GTM strategy, building product ranges, and driving category performance.
2) What experience do I need for Manager – Category Management Teamwear EM?
You need around 5 years of merchandising experience with sales and retail exposure, ideally in sporting goods, fashion, or youth culture brands.
3) Is football knowledge important for this position?
Yes. The job specifically highlights being passionate about sports, preferably football, and having product-ranging knowledge.
4) Will I work with multiple teams across regions?
Yes. You’ll collaborate with cluster category teams, the Global Football BU, supply chain, demand planning, marketing ops, and sales channels across Emerging Markets.
5) What tools should I be comfortable with?
You should be proficient in Excel, PowerPoint, and Power BI, and comfortable analyzing commercial performance and KPIs.