Role Overview
Junior Procurement Manager – Marketing (UK & Europe)
Reports to: Senior Procurement Manager – Marketing - UK & Europe
Department: Finance – Location: JD Sports Fashion plc, Bury Head Office (based between Bury and City Centre office; occasional travel to suppliers, agencies, events, shoots or partner sites across the UK & Europe).
Key Responsibilities
* Stakeholder & Relationship Management
o Build and maintain productive, trusted relationships with stakeholders across the business.
o Partner closely with colleagues on budgets, business cases and new project investments.
o Advise and influence decision‑making at all levels to enhance commercial outcomes.
o Collaborate effectively with cross‑functional teams and business divisions to deliver aligned sourcing solutions.
o Engage proactively with acquisition business contacts to deliver rapid financial benefits and leverage Group commercial scale.
* Strategic Sourcing & Planning
o Implement the company’s overall sourcing strategy, leveraging the global footprint to identify and realise opportunities.
o Create and execute category sourcing strategies to ensure smooth, efficient operations.
o Conduct thorough market research, cost estimation and forecasting to inform sourcing decisions.
o Lead end‑to‑end procurement projects, from defining requirements and managing RFPs to supplier evaluation and selection.
o Partner with relevant teams to shape complex service scopes and requirements.
* Value Delivery
o Develop and execute strategies that extract savings, reduce consumption and lower total cost of ownership.
o Embed savings and commercial benefits within budgets.
o Present sourcing recommendations, contract awards and value delivery transparently and effectively.
o Maximise commercial leverage through clear, performance‑based agreements with defined KPIs and remedies for non‑performance.
* Compliance, Risk & ESG
o Ensure sourcing and contracting activities adhere to Group policies, governance standards and financial transparency requirements.
o Use Group Finance tools and templates (e.g. purchase orders, tenders, eAuctions) to maintain auditability.
o Collaborate closely with the Group Legal team to minimise risk and ensure robust contractual protection.
o Partner with the Group Sustainability team to align sourcing practices with ESG priorities, including Climate Change, Sustainable Sourcing and Circular Economy initiatives.
o Contribute to the continuous improvement of procurement processes and uphold policy compliance across the function.
Key Relationships
* Marketing, Creative, Digital, Retail Marketing, Technology, Finance, Legal.
* UK and International colleagues and external suppliers (travel may be required).
Skills / Experience / Knowledge Required
* Commercial expertise in Marketing Procurement or indirect procurement within an omni‑channel retail or complex environment; strong understanding of agency fee models, scopes and commercial levers.
* Strategic & data‑driven mindset; ability to use analytical skills and data to identify opportunities and drive margin improvement.
* Negotiation & influence skills; confident negotiator with a track record of building relationships and driving change.
* Process ownership; initiative to own problems, challenge the business and champion process improvements.
* Autonomous & driven; strong project management skills, focused execution and ability to meet tight deadlines.
* Solution‑focused; strategic thinker who can quickly recognise and resolve challenges with effective solutions.
The Successful Applicant
* 2+ years experience in Marketing Procurement with a passion for driving value and performance across key categories.
* Confident negotiator and natural leader, able to influence decisions, build momentum and deliver results in a fast‑paced environment.
* Tech‑savvy and data‑driven, proficient in Microsoft Office and business systems.
* Strategic thinker with a hands‑on approach, quick to spot opportunities, solve problems and execute actions.
* Collaborative, relationship‑focused, skilled at building strong connections and working across teams to achieve shared goals.
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