BIRKENSTOCK is a global brand which embraces all consumers regardless of geography, gender, age and income. The company is deeply footed on a family tradition of shoemaking that can be traced back to 1774. With around 6200 employees worldwide, BIRKENSTOCK is the largest employer in the German footwear industry. To ensure our quality standards, we produce over 95% of our products in Germany and source more than 90% of our materials and components from Europe. The BIRKENSTOCK Group is headquartered in Linz am Rhein and maintains several locations in Germany, as well as sales offices in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia.

Join us in shaping the future at our location in Cologne as a

​Head of Sports & Outdoor Europe (m/f/d)

• Lead and drive sports and outdoor strategy: Develop and implement the overarching sports and outdoor strategy across Europe
• Distribution management: Establish and oversee the correct distribution channels, ensuring consistency and an aligned view across our European markets
• Collaboration with global teams: Work closely with the Merchandising & Product Line Management global teams to create meaningful sports and outdoor assortments
• Concept execution: Execute the Europe-defined concept map from Go-to-Market to seasonal activations, including storytelling, key partnerships, and minimum requirements, ensuring consistent brand messaging and customer experience
• Financial management: Oversee and deliver against quarterly and yearly budgets, proactively communicate revenue opportunities and risks, as well as identify cost efficiencies, provide accurate monthly financial forecasts
• Sell-through and insights reporting: Establish a reporting system to track sell-through rates and gather insights on sports and outdoor product performance in European markets, utilize data for future strategies and decision-making
• Team Management: Manage dotted line Sports & Outdoor Account Managers across Europe to drive cohesive execution, currently one colleague in France and one in the DACH region

• University degree in Business Administration or a related field
• 7-10 years of professional experience in sales, preferably in the sporting goods, consumer goods, or fashion industries
• Deep knowledge of the sporting goods industry, including market trends, competitors, and distribution channels
• Passion for our products and a strong identification with our brand
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to persuade and influence stakeholders effectively
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with rapidly changing conditions, able to pivot strategies as needed
• Proactive and hands-on mentality, taking initiative to drive results with a high level of commitment to achieving goals
• Fluent in English (written and spoken), with the ability to communicate effectively across European markets
• Proficient in MS Office, especially Excel, knowledge of SAP is an advantage
• Willingness to travel within Europe

BIRKENSTOCK offers you all the advantages of a successful, fast growing, global company: dynamic work environment, considerable design freedom, authentic and open corporate culture and excellent development opportunities. Sounds exciting? It is. Our Talent Acquisition team is looking forward to receiving your online application!