Senior Manager Talent Acquisition - Market EU HQ (m/f/d)

We actively encourage individuals with disabilities to apply and will provide reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process.

PURPOSE & OVERALL RELEVANCE FOR THE ORGANISATION:

Lead the development and execution of Talent Acquisition strategies and hiring plans for defined areas within Market Europe roles based in Herzogenaurach (e.g. Cluster Central, EU Brand, Business Development, Retail Back Office) and Own Retail recruitment across DACH; ensuring delivery of both strategic and operational recruitment goals.

Provide leadership to the Talent Acquisition team, developing capabilities, driving performance, and ensuring high-quality hiring delivery. Act as a strategic recruiting partner to senior business and HR leaders, while also serving as the Market Europe TA SPOC, driving alignment, coordination, and representation across Global TA and Market Europe stakeholders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

TALENT

ACQUISITION STRATEGY & PLANNING

Translate business priorities into tactical hiring strategies and recruitment plans for supported functions and markets

Lead workforce planning and hiring demand discussions with senior business and HR stakeholders

Drive planning processes to identify current and future talent needs and ensure proactive recruitment support

Develop recruiting strategies and talent pipeline approaches that support business growth and hiring effectiveness

Contribute to the direction and continuous evolution of Talent Acquisition practices within the supported scope

RECRUITMENT DELIVERY & OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Oversee end-to-end recruitment delivery across the supported areas, ensuring consistent quality, speed, and effectiveness

Ensure effective implementation and adoption of TA processes, standards, and programs

Own accountability for candidate and hiring manager experience within the area of responsibility and drive high service standards

Leverage data, market insights, and customer feedback to inform hiring strategies, pipeline priorities, and execution

Effectively position adidas as an employer of choice by leveraging strong knowledge of the brand, employee value proposition, and relevant market insights

PROJECTS, CHANGE & CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Lead or contribute to key Talent Acquisition projects and initiatives that support market and functional hiring priorities

Drive implementation of global TA initiatives and ensure consistent translation into the supported business areas

Identify and implement improvements to recruiting processes, tools, and ways of working

Partner across the broader TA organization to share best practices and drive collaborative approaches to recruitment

Support change efforts and transformation activities impacting Talent Acquisition delivery and team effectiveness

MARKET EUROPE TA SPOC / COORDINATOR RESPONSIBILITY

Lead and connect the Talent Acquisition community across Market Europe, ensuring alignment, knowledge sharing, and consistent approaches across country teams

Act as the primary interface between Global TA and Market Europe, representing the market in global forums and providing consolidated input, perspectives, and challenges

Ensure clear and relevant communication of global priorities, translating them into actionable guidance for HRDs and TA teams

Partner with the Market Europe Talent Lead to align hiring priorities with broader talent, succession, and workforce planning agendas, and ensure relevant capability building across the TA community

Drive and coordinate market-wide TA priorities and initiatives (e.g. employer branding, transformation topics), acting as escalation point for key risks and dependencies

Maintain a market-wide view on TA performance, hiring trends, and risks, leveraging data and PMO support to provide insights and inform decision-making

STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT & BUSINESS PARTNERING

Act as the primary Talent Acquisition partner for senior business and HR leaders across the supported areas

Build strong senior stakeholder relationships to ensure alignment on hiring needs, priorities, and recruitment strategies

Coach and influence leaders on all aspects of Talent Acquisition, including hiring decisions, candidate collaboration, resource allocation, and process standards

Manage and resolve complex or escalated hiring challenges in a timely and solution-oriented manner

Ensure a strong understanding of the supported functions, teams, and talent requirements to provide relevant and value-adding TA support

TEAM LEADERSHIP & PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

Lead, coach, and develop the Talent Acquisition team responsible for:

Set clear objectives, manage performance, and build a high-performing and engaged team

Drive capability building and ensure strong talent management practices within the team

Provide clear direction, prioritization, and context aligned with business and hiring priorities

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

Senior business leaders across Market Europe

HR and Talent Acquisition teams across Market Europe

Global Talent Acquisition COE

Talent, Rewards, and other HR expert functions

External recruiting partners, platforms, and agencies

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

TALENT ACQUISITION EXPERTISE

Strong end-to-end recruiting expertise across multiple functions, levels, and markets

Strong understanding of talent acquisition strategy, market trends, pipeline building, and employer branding

Ability to translate business demand into practical and effective recruiting approaches

LEADERSHIP & PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

Demonstrated people management skills and the ability to lead teams towards achieving objectives

Ability to set clear goals, manage performance, and build capability within a team

Strong coaching and leadership skills, with the ability to create a high-performance and collaborative environment

STAKEHOLDER & CONSULTING SKILLS

Strong interpersonal, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills

Ability to influence senior business and HR leaders and gain alignment on priorities and decisions

Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to present complex topics clearly

PROJECT & EXECUTION CAPABILITY

Strong project management skills and proven ability to lead complex initiatives and deliver against targets

Ability to manage change, solve problems, and navigate ambiguity in a fast-paced environment

Strong prioritization skills and ability to manage multiple topics simultaneously

PERSONAL CAPABILITIES

High level of ownership and accountability for results

Collaborative and team-oriented leadership style

Strong problem-solving capability and sound judgement

Comfortable working across local, regional, and international contexts

Open to innovation, continuous improvement, and new ways of working

REQUISITE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

University degree in HR, Business, or a related field

Minimum 8 years of experience in Talent Acquisition (agency and/or in-house)

Minimum 2–3 years of people management experience, including leading teams and developing talent

Strong experience managing recruitment across multiple functions and/or markets

Track record of successfully driving recruitment strategies, hiring delivery, and stakeholder alignment

Experience leading or contributing to Talent Acquisition projects, change initiatives, or transformation topics

Strong stakeholder management experience, including influencing senior business and HR leaders

Knowledge of the consumer goods, retail, footwear, or apparel industry is an advantage

Fluent in English; German language skills are beneficial

AT ADIDAS WE HAVE A WINNING CULTURE. BUT TO WIN, PHYSICAL POWER IS NOT ENOUGH. JUST LIKE ATHLETES OUR EMPLOYEES NEED MENTAL STRENGTH IN THEIR GAME. WE FOSTER THE ATHLETE’S MINDSET THROUGH A SET OF BEHAVIORS THAT WE WANT TO ENABLE AND DEVELOP IN OUR PEOPLE AND THAT ARE AT THE CORE OF OUR UNIQUE COMPANY CULTURE: THIS IS HOW WE WIN WHILE PLAYING FAIR.

COURAGE: Speak up when you see an opportunity; step up when you see a need..

OWNERSHIP: Pick up the ball. Be proactive, take responsibility and follow-through.

INNOVATION: Elevate to win. Be curious, test and learn new and better ways of doing things.

TEAMPLAY: Win together. Work collaboratively and cultivate a shared mindset.

INTEGRITY: Play by the rules. Hold yourself and others accountable to our company’s standards.

RESPECT: Value all players. Display empathy, be inclusive and show dignity to all.

AT ADIDAS, WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT EMBEDDING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI) INTO OUR CULTURE AND TALENT PROCESSES GIVES OUR EMPLOYEES A SENSE OF BELONGING AND OUR BRAND A REAL COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.

– CULTURE STARTS WITH PEOPLE, IT STARTS WITH YOU –

BY RECRUITING TALENT AND DEVELOPING OUR PEOPLE TO REFLECT THE RICH DIVERSITY OF OUR CONSUMERS AND COMMUNITIES, WE FOSTER A CULTURE OF INCLUSION THAT ENGAGES OUR EMPLOYEES AND AUTHENTICALLY CONNECTS OUR BRAND WITH OUR CONSUMERS.

JOB TITLE:

Senior Manager Talent Acquisition - Market EU HQ (m/f/d)

BRAND:

LOCATION:

Herzogenaurach

TEAM:

People & Culture

STATE:

BY

COUNTRY/REGION:

DE

CONTRACT TYPE:

Full time

NUMBER:

545657

DATE:

Jun 9, 2026