Director Strategy

Director Strategy – adidas Originals & Partnerships

Purpose of the Role

This role sits at the pulse of the adidas Originals & Partnerships Business Unit, responsible for co-creating and driving strategic & creative leadership to define and evolve the Originals sub-brand's positioning to win our global consumer audiences. As a Creative Strategist, and as part of a team of like-minded colleagues, you will help shape the strategic foundations of the sub-brand, ensuring they are culturally rich, consumer-centric, grounded in our rich brand heritage, but forward-thinking at the same time.

You are a creative and flexible thinker, with the ability to synthesize insights from cultural trends, diverse data sources, and consumer behavior. You thrive in fast-paced, cross-functional environments and are passionate about culture - from fashion and streetwear to music, sport, and entertainment. With a strong entrepreneurial streak and commercial acumen, you will help elevate adidas’ role as a cultural icon.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with own and extended cross-functional teams including product marketing, design, creative, marketing communications, culture marketing, GTM, and partnerships to co-create and implement holistic brand strategies.
• Develop and execute comprehensive cultural strategies that connect adidas Originals with key audiences globally.
• Identify white space opportunities and continuously iterate on brand & partner proposition positioning strategies together with rest of team.
• Craft compelling brand narratives and engagement outputs that inspire internal teams and resonate externally.
• Create macro positioning and strategy briefs to broader BU community informing product, marketing and go-to-market briefs.
• Shape and guide strategy development across global BU initiatives.
• Lead the development of growth strategies aligned with the brand’s long-term vision.
• Build persuasive, insight-led presentations that distil complex ideas into compelling, actionable strategy.
• Support business development and special projects with strategic frameworks and vision.
• Ensure brand consistency while pushing boundaries to keep the brand culturally and commercially relevant.
  
  

Key Relationships

• Senior Leadership Team Originals, Basketball, Partnerships & US Sports
• Product & Design
• Partnership & Statement
• Go-to-market
• Culture Marketing
• Global brand functions (Creative Direction, Marketing Communications)
• Market teams
  
  

Skills & Qualifications

• 8 years of marketing experience within a brand, creative agency, platform, or consulting environment—or demonstrated transferable experience.
• Proven expertise in brand strategy, marketing, and communications with a deep understanding of consumer behavior and cultural drivers.
• Experience working in cross-functional and international matrix organizations, ideally within brands with a strong cultural and heritage identity.
• Deep cultural fluency in fashion, streetwear, sport, music, and entertainment.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to think creatively and act decisively.
• Strong storytelling and presentation skills—comfortable creating and delivering pitch decks that are visually impactful and strategically sound.
• Excellent relationship builder, with experience collaborating with internal teams and external partners at all levels.
• Proactive, curious, and committed to excellence with a passion for building iconic, culturally relevant brands.
• Open to candidates with a diversity of experiences, educational backgrounds, and perspectives.
  
  

What We’re Looking For

We want someone who is as strategic as they are imaginative, as visionary as they are grounded. Someone who doesn't just understand culture—they live it.

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at adidas means championing individual uniqueness and cultivating a culture of belonging in which everyone can create at their best. We embrace diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives and seek to create a workforce that reflects our consumers and communities.
• adidas offers robust and progressive medical, including HSA (Health Savings Account) with employer funding or FSA (Flexible Spending Account) options, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, adoption, with surrogate and fertility support, short and long-term disability, and basic life and AD&D insurance, which can be supplemented with employee-paid coverage. Employees are able to enroll in adidas’ 401k plan and Stock Purchase Plan with employer match. Full-time employees are eligible for education assistance and generous Leave policies including 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Employees are eligible to earn an annual bonus based on both company and personal performance. Employees accrue prorated flexible time off in the amount .4388 hours per day that increases with years of service, 11 paid holidays throughout the calendar year and Service Time Off during milestone years.
• The anticipated low and high end of the base pay range for this position is $155,280 - $225,420. Actual salary will be based on various factors, such as a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills and competencies, proficiency for the role.
• We officially returned to office in a hybrid work environment, working 3 days in office and 2 days remote. The working location of this position is Los Angeles.
• Though our teammates hail from all corners of the world, our working language is English.
  
  

adidas celebrates diversity, supports inclusiveness and encourages individual expression in our workplace. We do not tolerate the harassment or discrimination toward any of our applicants or employees. We are an equal opportunity employer.