Guangzhou Manager, Innovation Incubation GD

Job description

Purpose Contribute to Product Development and Sourcing’s vision to build the Most Agile, Most Competitive, Most Innovative & Sustainable Supply Base in the industry. Manage day-to-day innovation incubation activities, translating athlete and business needs into concepts, prototypes, validated solutions and near-production demonstrators. Support an open, collaborative incubation environment that brings together adidas teams, suppliers, technology partners and academic experts to deliver solutions that meet agreed expectations. Key Responsibilities Manage the day-to-day operation of the innovation incubation space in line with the agreed mission, operating model, resources and success measures. Coordinate the collaboration, engineering, prototyping and validation environment, including equipment, materials, testing and safe operations. Manage incubation projects from problem definition and concept development through prototyping, testing, iteration and near-production demonstration. Support project prioritization and provide recommendations to continue, pivot, transfer or stop activities. Coordinate rapid prototyping and structured experimentation using internal, supplier and third-party capabilities. Maintain facilities, equipment, software, skills and safety standards, and monitor utilization, readiness and investment needs. Build effective working relationships across Brand Innovation, E&MI, regional Innovation Centers and supply partners. Implement best practices and support technical training and knowledge-sharing across projects and partners. Evaluate feasibility, manufacturability, repeatability, cost, IP, supply chain and scalability, and document recommendations for next steps. Track assigned projects, identify and escalate risks, and report progress, utilization, learning and business impact. Maintain relevant external contacts and monitor emerging capabilities that can support innovation projects. Ensure all sourcing operations and practices comply with adidas’ Responsible Sourcing & Purchasing Policy, adidas standards and applicable legal requirements. Share technical knowledge, support colleagues and contribute to an inclusive working environment that reflects Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Key Relationships Engineering & Manufacturing Innovation Global Brands, Creative Direction & Innovation Regional adidas Innovation Centers and Concept teams Global Sourcing, Finance, Costing, and Legal Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers, factory technical teams, and technology providers Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Strong project execution and coordination skills, with the ability to translate opportunities into clear incubation activities and deliverables. Good understanding of product creation, manufacturing engineering, materials, tooling, machinery, industrialization and the transition from prototype to scalable production. Practical knowledge of rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing, digital design and computational tools, process engineering, Design of Experiments, root-cause analysis and technical validation. Strong project management, planning and reporting skills, with the ability to coordinate resources, facilities, budgets and stakeholders. Effective collaboration, presentation and communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences. Fluent in English and Chinese, written and spoken. Strong Microsoft Office and AI skills. Requisite Education and Experience University degree in engineering, manufacturing, materials science or a related discipline, or an equivalent qualification. Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in manufacturing innovation, product or process engineering, technology development or industrialization. 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: Manager, Innovation Incubation TEAM: Product Development & Operations Location: Guangzhou State: GD Country/Region: CN Contract Type: Full time Number: 551637 Date: Nov 3, 2026 Apply now » Find similar jobs: Home Search Jobs Imprint Legal Notice Privacy Notice Contact Opens in a new tab. Opens in a new tab. Opens in a new tab. THROUGH SPORT, WE HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE LIVES. © 2026 adidas. All Rights Reserved.