Adidas is an equal opportunity employer and  is committed to an inclusive work environment. We welcome applications from people of all ages, genders (including gender identity), ethnic and social backgrounds, nationalities, sexual orientations, religions and beliefs, as well as people with visible or invisible disabilities. We do not tolerate harassment or discrimination against our applicants or employees.

We explicitly encourage people with disabilities to apply and provide reasonable accommodations throughout the application process.

Purpose:

As Head of Human Resources for the German distribution centers, you and your teams in Rieste, Scheinfeld, and Herzogenaurach will ensure effective and value-adding HR management for the German warehouses. You will deliver added value at every touchpoint by ensuring the implementation of the People Strategy for each function/business unit. Furthermore, you will act as a strategic business partner for the European distribution team.

Main areas of responsibility:

• Disciplinary leadership of the HR DC teams in Germany as well as professional leadership of the European HR DC colleagues

• Team building and promotion of the development of the HR team for the DCs in Germany

• Key contact person for your German and European business leaders and national and international interfaces

• Reliable advisor to the senior leadership team on employee-related issues; coaching and mentoring managers to empower them regarding employee, engagement, and performance topics and decisions.

• Close collaboration with global HR project teams and transformation of global HR initiatives into DC-specific solutions suitable for the warehouse structure

• Driving forward and implementing the People Strategy for the respective area of ​​responsibility

• Driving forward complex organizational design, change and transformation programs while simultaneously redesigning structures around strategic goals

• Using data, analytics, and dashboards to shape organizational strategy

• Building a talent pipeline with viable succession plans for leadership positions within the area of ​​responsibility, as well as developing employees at all levels.

• Managing the consistent implementation of central HR processes while fully adhering to adidas company policy as well as legal and regulatory requirements.

• Ensuring all employment law matters are handled and preparing, supporting and negotiating court proceedings (if applicable)

• Prioritizing business priorities over Rewards, Talent, and Strategy Office so that needs and requirements are integrated into new initiatives, programs, and systems.

• Maintaining a high level of communication with management, as well as advising on and supporting decision-making processes. Actively supporting business initiatives and needs through effective HR measures, and fostering positive employee relationships in the workplace.

DC Operations Special Features:

• HR site management for the DCs in Rieste, Scheinfeld and Uffenheim

• Driving forward consistent harmonization and standardization of HR processes across all European DCs in close collaboration with local HR partners

• Ensuring cooperation with external service providers, especially external labor suppliers. Optimizing relevant processes.

• Management, review and control of external contracts and negotiations

• Leading and managing all negotiations and relationships with works councils, trade unions, and collective bargaining committees regarding all DC tariffs and statutory agreements (where applicable).

• Providing instructions to local European DC-HR partners on global and regional strategies and initiatives to ensure a harmonized approach to all relevant HR programs.

Main contacts:

• Leadership team of the supported organization

• HR team members local, regional and global

• HR leads for all relevant locations worldwide

• Talent and Rewards Partner

•  Talent Acquisition Team Leads

•  Finance

• Works council

•  HR Services

• External lawyers

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

• HR knowledge: Labor law, creation of HR metrics, change management, organizational design, managing internal and external relationships, personnel planning

• Business skills: commercial awareness; ideally, knowledge of supply chain and distribution center/logistics; customer focus; alignment of business and HR strategy

• Consulting skills: Providing solutions to meet business requirements; persuasiveness and influence. Consulting expertise, moderation and coaching skills, further development of specialists and managers.

• Leader with excellent leadership and management skills as well as decisiveness

• Strong customer focus, excellent communication and mediation skills

• Ability to present and moderate to large groups and teams. Generating ideas and demonstrating pioneering thinking on employee-related topics. Confident demeanor, creativity, and teamwork skills;

• Act as a role model and coach the team accordingly. Comprehensive understanding of strategies and the ability to derive goals.

Required education and experience:

• Diploma or Master's degree with a focus on business administration, human resource management or a related field

• At least 8-10 years of relevant experience in operational HR work, preferably in a DC work environment, ideally with experience in talent management, reward, training, and shift work.

• Extensive leadership experience in a complex, dynamic environment

• International experience

• Fluent German and English skills, ideally also knowledge of other languages

• Multi-year contribution as a strategic HR partner to support business units and further develop global standard HR tools and programs

• Sovereignty in dealing with complicated matters in the area of ​​employee relations as well as other internal and external relationships

• Experience in leading a cross-functional HR team during acquisitions/dives and the integration of a new organization

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: Director HR (m/f/d)

TEAM: People & Culture

Location: Rieste

State: NI

Country/Region: DE

Contract Type: Full time

Number: 550229

Date: Sep 28, 2026