Company Overview
Established in 1981, JD Group is a leading omni‑channel retailer of sports fashion, outdoors and gyms. With a global presence across multiple retail brands, the company aims to be the leading global omni‑channel retailer in the sports and outdoor industry.
Job Title
Junior Procurement Manager – Marketing (UK & Europe)
Role Summary
Responsible to the Senior Procurement Manager – Marketing (UK & Europe) within the Finance department. Based at the JD Head Office in Bury and the City Centre office, this role may require occasional travel to suppliers, agencies, events, shoots or partner sites across the UK and Europe. The Junior Procurement Manager will act as the key commercial partner for marketing categories, including creative, media, production, sponsorships, events, retail marketing, influencers and digital services, leading strategy development, major tenders, negotiations, contracting and agency performance improvements.
Responsibilities
Stakeholder & Relationship Management
* Build and maintain productive, trusted relationships with stakeholders across the business.
* Partner closely with colleagues on budgets, business cases and new project investments.
* Advise and influence decision‑making at all levels to enhance commercial outcomes.
* Collaborate effectively with cross‑functional teams and business divisions to deliver aligned sourcing solutions.
* Engage proactively with acquisition business contacts to deliver rapid financial benefits and leverage group commercial scale.
Strategic Sourcing & Planning
* Implement the company’s overall sourcing strategy, leveraging the global footprint to identify and realise opportunities.
* Create and execute category sourcing strategies to ensure smooth, efficient operations.
* Conduct thorough market research, cost estimation and forecasting to inform sourcing decisions.
* Lead end‑to‑end procurement projects, from defining requirements and managing RFPs to supplier evaluation and selection.
* Partner with relevant teams to shape complex service scopes and requirements.
Value Delivery
* Develop and execute strategies that extract savings, reduce consumption and lower total cost of ownership.
* Embed savings and commercial benefits within budgets.
* Present sourcing recommendations, contract awards and value delivery transparently and effectively.
* Maximise commercial leverage through clear, performance‑based agreements with defined KPIs and remedies for non‑performance.
Compliance, Risk & ESG
* Ensure sourcing and contracting activities adhere to group policies, governance standards and financial transparency requirements.
* Utilise group finance tools and templates (e.g., purchase orders, tenders, eAuctions) to maintain auditability.
* Collaborate closely with the group legal team to minimise risk and ensure robust contractual protection.
* Partner with the group sustainability team to align sourcing practices with ESG priorities, including climate change, sustainable sourcing and circular economy initiatives.
* 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 when necessary).
Skills / Experience / Knowledge Required
* Commercial expertise: Proven experience in marketing procurement or indirect procurement within an omni‑channel retail or related complex environment with strong understanding of agency fee models, scopes and commercial levers.
* Strategic & data‑driven: A self‑starter who uses strong analytical skills and data to identify strategic opportunities, develop innovative solutions and consistently drive margin improvement.
* Negotiation & influence: A skilled, confident negotiator with the ability to build strong internal and external relationships and influence stakeholders to own, resolve and drive change.
* Process ownership: The initiative and confidence to own problems, challenge the business where necessary and champion the delivery of process improvements and efficiencies.
* Autonomous & driven: High level of drive and energy coupled with strong project‑management skills to ensure organisation, focused execution and adherence to tight deadlines.
* Solution‑focused: A strategic mindset with the ability to quickly recognise and resolve challenging situations by evaluating alternatives and presenting effective, comprehensive solutions.
The Successful Applicant
* 2+ years’ experience in marketing procurement, with a real passion for driving value and performance across key categories.
* A confident negotiator and natural leader, able to influence decisions, build momentum and deliver results in a fast‑paced environment.
* Tech‑savvy and data‑driven, using Microsoft Office and business systems to turn insight into impact.
* A strategic thinker with a hands‑on approach, quick to spot opportunities, solve problems and make things happen.
* Collaborative and relationship‑focused, skilled at building strong connections and working across teams to achieve shared goals.
Benefits
* Staff discount on JD Group and other brands within the organisation.
* Personal development opportunities to learn and develop at work.
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