Job Title: Head - Product Line Management (Footwear & Apparel India)

Key Responsibilities:

- Lead and drive the Product Line Management (PLM) team, defining strategic priorities, allocating resources, and ensuring effective decision-making.

- Manage and develop the RCC India PLM team, including hiring, performance management, goal setting, and budget planning.

- Collaborate closely with merchandising, design, product development, regional teams, and PUMA Group Sourcing to develop collections aligned with Indian market needs.

- Drive product strategy and pre-seasonal alignment across business segments, ensuring consistency in footwear and apparel assortments.

- Develop market-relevant collections based on Indian consumer preferences, retail insights, and emerging trends.

- Oversee product costing and its impact on quality, margins, and net sales.

- Present product strategies and collections to national and international partners and key accounts.

- Establish effective stakeholder management, cross-functional communication, reporting, and KPI tracking.

- Work closely with inline teams, other Regional Creation Centres (RCCs), and accessories teams to deliver coordinated product concepts.

- Provide strategic inputs and support to senior regional leadership.

- Undertake domestic and international travel for key account meetings, market research, consumer insights, and visits to factories and development centres.

Candidate Profile:

- Graduate qualification in Business Administration, International Business, Sports Management, or a related discipline, preferably with a focus on Marketing, Textiles, Fashion, or Sports.

- 15+ years of experience across business development, sales, marketing, and merchandising with a leading international sports company.

- At least 5 years of leadership experience, with a proven ability to lead, motivate, and mentor teams.

- Strong understanding of product development, product strategy, costing, merchandising, and collection planning.

- Excellent knowledge of the sports industry, consumer trends, retail markets, and fashion/lifestyle segments.

- Strong understanding of the Indian Sportstyle consumer and marketplace.

- Excellent stakeholder management, presentation, negotiation, and influencing skills.

- Strong analytical skills and proficiency in MS Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to collaborate effectively across geographies.