Key Roles and Responsibilities:
· Manage the Product Development team in their category and provide support where needed with ranges.
· Manage the Critical Path within their category.
· Manage role specific projects as briefed by the Own Label Development Manager.
· Support process and information sharing across roles/departments/externally as appropriate for role specific projects.
· Implement best practice, with quality and efficiency of process, ensuring integration of Own Brand into the wider business for role specific projects.
· Support Own Brand system & process to ensure best quality/construction/price of Own Brand product within their product category.
· Work with Own Label development manager to develop systems and process to support the international growth of Own Brands, Joint Ventures and Franchises.
· Support long term strategic planning for Product Development.
· Monitor/report on sampling, margin and quality performance for their category.
· Support to ensure excellence in product safety and compliance to all relevant local and global standards for their category.
· Support the development of the Critical Path and Own Brand calendar.
· Manage the system & process of blocks/size charts/grading and garment fit within the category to ensure compliance, safety and fitness for purpose.
· Ensure ethical negotiation and supplier management in their category.
· Provide technical advice and support to the category team.
· Support the category to work towards departmental sustainability initiatives.
· Conduct factory visits/warehouse trips to develop/improve production, evaluating sources for lead-time/£/Capability/location.
· Drive the departmental strategy within their category.
Key Skills
· Excellent Critical Path Management skills.
· Confident communication with senior stakeholders.
· Ability to demonstrate excellent people management and leadership skills.
· Adaptability to work across projects and category ranges to benefit departmental strategy.
The Company:
The JD Group is a leading omnichannel retailer of Sports Fashion, Street & Premium Fashion, Outdoors and Gyms with over 60,000 colleagues over 3,400 stores across several retail fascia's in over 30 markets around the world.
We are an equal opportunities employer who embraces and values differences. We recognise the importance of an inclusive workplace culture in which everyone can thrive irrespective of their background or identity.
To be a part of this successful and continuously growing company, you will have the desire to ingrain our strategic goals of being a people first, a digital leader and customer focused organisation which provides operational excellence and is continuous with identifying new areas of growth into our day-to-day.
We know our employees work tirelessly to make JD Sports the success it is today and in turn, we offer them some amazing benefits:
1. Incremental Holiday Allowance
2. Staff Discount on qualifying purchases across Group retail stores and online
3. Exclusive Colleague Bike Discount scheme
4. Discounted Gym membership
5. Personal development opportunities to learn and develop at work
6. Access to Apprenticeships and accredited qualifications