What are the responsibilities and job description for the Color Specialist position at Adidas?
Purpose: Manages color approval, lab dips, trim items, domestic embellishments and strike-offs for the production of branded and licensed apparel and headwear.
Key Responsibilities:
- COLOR MANAGEMENT – Ensures color matching and continuity across all categories. Manages color standards for the facility by identifying PMS, RGB, CMKY, Lab and DyStar/textile colors for all team identities. Determines corresponding thread colors. Approves ink standards. Creates and maintains color reference material that is disseminated internally and externally. Manages and sets up color codes and team codes. Collaborates with Color & Trend team to set up color reference numbers.
- DIGITAL - Reviews digital color submits against existing standards and work with corresponding teams until an acceptable match is approved. Maintain approval status charts, approved submits and communication with stakeholders.
- INK KITCHEN - Requests, reviews and approves inks from the Indy Ink Kitchen and Ink Manufacturers. Enters & maintains data into the ink database for Indianapolis manufacturing and external stakeholders.
- FILING – Maintains correspondence files by vendor. Attaches approval comments to strike-off submittal. Maintains filing system of shared approved lab dips by season by color.
- LAB DIPS – Approves shades of escalated lab dips for apparel fabrics against textile standards using a spectrophotometer and a light box.
- STRIKE-OFFS – Approves strike-offs for color, size, quality and overall appearance against artwork.
- SYSTEMS – Enters and maintains approval status of lab dips, strike-offs and color standards in the appropriate systems.
- PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT – Generates reports and analyzes employees and T1/T2 performance to ensure on-time & accurate product deliveries. Alerts management of any issues that could affect shipping. Uses data collected to drive learning and development of new/improved processes.
- COLOR REFERENCE - Creates, maintains and distributes color reference materials for screen print, heat transfer, Digital Squeegee, direct-to-garment print teams, Quality Control, Color Team and external stakeholders. Maintains distro list for reference materials as well.
- COMMUNICATION – Creating, maintaining and distributing of reference materials, QTX files, adidas Indy Color Chart, Team Color charts, Achievability Charts, Thread Charts, etc. to the T1/T2 & internally. Maintains distro lists.
- T1/T2 CORRESPONDENCE – Corresponds with T1/T2s. Provides approval status including corrective action for rejected items and addresses production issues.
- QUALITY CONTROL – Provides QC Department with necessary style information to audit inbound product. Assists Manufacturing QC and Inbound QC with resolving any quality issues found during manufacturing or inbound auditing.
- INNOVATION - Identify, assess and implement process improvement opportunities and innovations within the Product Creation cycle, proofing and color processes. Support device, equipment and standards purchasing process (upgraded Spectrophotometers, Light Boxes, Light Meters, Pantones, DyStar Standards, etc.).
- EQUIPMENT – Responsible for daily calibration and tracking of temperature, humidity, foot candles, white tile calibration, spectrophotometer calibration, etc.
- PHYSICAL PRESENCE – Due to equipment requirements and hands-on nature of the role, physical presence in the facility is required. Although arrangements can be made for working remotely on occasion, that will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
- OTHER ASSIGNMENTS – Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted, or changed at any time at the discretion of management, formally or informally, either verbally or in writing.
Key Relationships:
- Internally:
- Portland – Marketing, Merchandising, Design, Development, Materials, BUs, Sourcing and Licensing
- Indy – Production Art Departments, Production Development, Supply Chain, Team Properties, Samples, Collateral, Quality Control, R&D, Indirect, Production Floor and IT
- Herzo – Color & Trend, Global Material Quality Apparel Team
- Externally: All leagues and T1s, T2s, Ink Manufacturers, DyStar World of Textiles, Color Solutions International, Coats Threads
- Interactions focus on information exchange and problem solving.
- Contact with 80% being by email/phone and the remainder via face-to-face interaction.
Knowledge Skills and Abilities:
- Extensive keyboard uses with a Mac computer and PC
- Adobe and Microsoft Software
- Spectrophotometer & Datacolor Software and Light Box
- Office equipment – Telephone, Color Printer/Copier/Scanner
- Possess strong written and verbal communication skills to deal with various levels of management and employees within the organization as well as vendors and global personnel.
- Ability to work independently under pressure and to meet strict timelines, manage multiple tasks simultaneously and work extended hours if necessary.
- Excellent organizational skills, both conventional and electronic.
- Strong eye for detail and very thorough.
- Capacity to distinguish priorities with jobs and clients and direct work accordingly.
- Solution oriented and resolution focused.
- Having a keen eye for layout and design consistencies are a must.
- Proofing and knowledge of Licensed Products/Corporate Identities is very helpful.
- Knowledge of sports teams and apparel creation is very helpful.
- Must pass the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test with a score of 16 or below (Superior Color Discrimination) and the Color-Blind test.
- Visual acuity for analyzing samples and color; sitting, standing, bending, lifting up to 50 pounds and finger dexterity.
- Must have comprehensive knowledge of color.
- Possess working knowledge of materials and functional aspects of garments.
- Some travel may be required - Ability and means to travel globally on commercial transportation on a flexible schedule as needed.
- REQUIRED TO PASS the Natific Certified Color Management Accreditation Program at a A2/C2 level. This accreditation happens every 2 years.
Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:
- College degree – Associates Degree or equivalent experience.
Key Details:
- We have officially returned to the office, effective 4/18/22 in a Hybrid work enviornment. The working location for this role is Indianapolis, IN.
adidas requires all US based employees to report COVID-19 vaccination status. Proof of vaccination is required in New York City. adidas is an equal opportunity employer and will consider requests for accommodation in accordance with all relevant state laws. adidas requires all US based employees to report COVID-19 vaccination status. Proof of vaccination is required in New York City. adidas is an equal opportunity employer and will consider requests for accommodation in accordance with all relevant state laws.
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 – THE 3CS: CONFIDENCE, COLLABORATION AND CREATIVITY.
CONFIDENCE allows athletes to make quick decisions on the field, to reach higher. For us at adidas confidence means acknowledging that we don’t have all the answers. But we are willing to take risks, we try new things. And if we fail, then this is part of our learning – it helps us improve.
COLLABORATION. Every elite athlete relies on partners: coaches, teammates, and nutritionists. We, too, know that we are stronger together. Winning as one team takes open and candid dialogue, inclusiveness and trust in each other’s abilities and talents.
Being the best sports company in the world takes CREATIVITY. No great athlete succeeds by copying their predecessors’ training plans and strategies. We have to be open to new ideas, explore, gain an edge and stand out. Only then can we succeed.
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.
JOB TITLE:
Color Specialist
BRAND:
adidas
LOCATION:
Indianapolis
TEAM:
Supply Chain Management
STATE:
IN
COUNTRY/REGION:
US
CONTRACT TYPE:
Full time
NUMBER:
468236
DATE:
Jul 19, 2022
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