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Activation Manager

Bury, England, United Kingdom
  • Job title – Activation Manager 
  • Location – BL9 8RR / M12 6FZ
  • Working rota – Monday - Friday
  • Working hours – 40 hours
  • Working model – onsite 5 days in the office

Role Overview:
The Activations Manager at JD Sports is responsible for planning, executing, and managing UK & EU activations. Elevating the JD brand through premium 360 activations that deliver clear business results This role involves working closely with cross-functional teams, brand partners, and agencies to deliver impactful activations that align with JD Sports’ strategic objectives.

Key Duties/Responsibilities:

  • Activation Management: Oversee the planning, execution, and optimization of JD Sports activations, ensuring they meet performance targets and deadlines.
  • Activation WOW: Best in call collaboration with cross functional teams; JD brands & partnerships teams to plan and execute world class activations that resonate with JD Sports’ target audience.
  • Creative Insights: Stay informed on new & emerging industry trends, be the spokesperson in the team & lead the way on innovation for how we activate.
  • Stakeholder Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with all key internal teams, external agencies, and brand representatives to ensure seamless activation execution.
  • Budget & Resource Management: Manage budgets for activations, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and staying within financial parameters.
  • Reporting & Analysis: Track, measure, and report on the performance of activations to assess ROI and recommend improvements & opportunities for the team.
  • Staff Management: Lead and develop junior members of the team. Report to the Head of Activation’s on the, planning and prioritise staff resource to meet objectives and project deadlines.
  • Activation Execution: Lead the coordination of all activations, prepare and conduct all pre-event briefings for all staff attending upcoming activations; set clear objectives, roles & responsibilities as well as providing clear concise briefing documents.

Essential Experience & Skills:

  • Extensive experience in a similar role at a fast-paced dynamic organisation (3 years minimum experience).
  • A strong confident leader, with excellent people management skills & has experience in developing a successful team.
  • Proven experience in delivering multiple brand activations; attention to detail & maintaining world class standards, whilst delivering on time & in budget.
  • Advocate for collaboration & best in class communications
  • Financial experience in maintaining strict budgets; forecasting & reconciling in line with ROI.
  • Detail oriented self-starter with strong analytical & problem-solving skills.
  • Strong stakeholder management, internal & external stakeholders at all levels systematically identifying stakeholders; analysing their needs and expectations; and planning and implementing various tasks to engage with them.
  • Abilty to work alongside & manage external agencies / vendors from the initial briefing, research & negotiating phases.
  • Flexible approach to work, the willingness to work evenings / weekends.

Personal Qualities

  • Focused & driven individual, who proactively takes on initiatives & drives projects from end to finish
  • Outstanding communication & interpersonal skills; with a flexible positive ‘can do’ attitude.
  • Ability to inspire & motivate by maintaining a positive working attitude that brings an optimistic, can-do approach to all their tasks & responsibilities.
  • Confident and outgoing personality, with a genuine interest in music, culture, sports, & fashion.

Desirable Qualifications

  • Degree in Marketing, Project Management, Fashion Marketing, Event Management, or Marketing related field.
  • Experienced in working with large retail brands or agencies.
  • Knowledge of social media and digital marketing channels.

The Company:

The JD Group is a leading omnichannel retailer of Sports Fashion, Street & Premium Fashion, Outdoors and Gyms with over 90,000 colleagues over 4,500 stores across several retail fascia's in over 36 countries 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:

  • Incremental Holiday Allowance
  • Staff Discount on qualifying purchases across Group retail stores and online
  • Exclusive Colleague Bike Discount scheme
  • Discounted Gym membership
  • Personal development opportunities to learn and develop at work
  • Access to Apprenticeships and accredited qualifications

Interested?

If you are interested in this position, then press the Apply Now button.

Due to the high volumes of applications our opportunities attract, it takes time to review them all. If you don't hear back within two weeks of your application, please consider your application to have been unsuccessful on this occasion

Applications that meet the skills criteria will be contacted for a 1st stage meeting with the talent team. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to interview with the hiring manager.

Thank you again for your time.

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