Supply Chain Technology Manager in Bury

Established in 1981 with a single store in the Northwest of England, the JD Group is a leading omni-channel retailer of Sports Fashion, Outdoors and Gyms with our colleagues working in stores across several retail fascias in many markets around the world. JD Sports Fashion Plc was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1996 and has been a FTSE100 publicly quoted company since 2019 and continues to grow in the UK and internationally.

We want to be the leading global omnichannel retailer in the sports and outdoor industry. To be a part of this successful company and help us to achieve this you will have the desire to ingrain our strategic goals of being a people-led, innovative and customer-focused organisation which provides operational excellence whilst identifying new areas of growth as part of our day to day objectives.

JD Sports Fashion Plc has long been established as the leading UK specialised multiple retailer of fashionable branded and own brand sports and casual wear, principally through the growth of its main retail fascia, JD Sports. We instil our staff with the knowledge and training they need to fulfil challenging and rewarding careers. Our workforce is built on motivated self-starters, and we encourage our people to constantly seek ways to improve our business. This means challenging the way we merchandise, sell, and manage the business, being creative and forward thinking in suggesting alternative solutions. Problems are solved and opportunities seized by people from all levels of the organisation, working together.

We are looking for a dynamic Supply Chain Technology Manager to lead the deployment of our technology strategy within the region. This is a transformative leadership role where you will shape how our teams operate, manage complex technology projects, and drive innovation across our supply chain ecosystem. You will lead a team of engineers and technology specialists, ensuring successful delivery of solutions that underpin our operational excellence. This is an exciting opportunity for a leader with strong technical understanding and the ability to thrive in an evolving environment with undefined boundaries—helping us define the future of supply chain technology.

The role is split into three key areas:

• Ownership of Supply Chain Solutions Backlog: Design and configure solutions to meet business requirements.
• Project Participation: Contribute to design activities on strategic supply chain projects.
• Roadmap Alignment: Map new features and functionality to business needs, ensuring maximum value from IT solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead Regional Technology Teams: Manage engineers and technical leads to deliver supply chain technology initiatives.
• Deploy Advanced Solutions: Oversee implementation of WMS, WCS, TMS, LMS, ERP, middleware, digital twins, and AI technologies, including Manhattan Active and WCS platforms.
• Vendor & Budget Management: Handle regional vendor relationships, support contracts, and contribute to budget planning.
• Collaborate Across Functions: Work closely with the Head of Supply Chain Technology, Platform Manager, and teams in QA, Architecture, Data, and Service Delivery.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Act as the primary technology liaison for regional directors and general managers, aligning technology execution with operational needs.
• Drive Transformation: Lead short-term transformation projects and establish long-term continuous improvement practices.
• Shape Team Operations: Define processes and ways of working to align with global standards and foster collaboration across regions.

Experience and Knowledge

• Proven leadership experience in supply chain technology or related fields.
• Strong technical understanding of WMS, WCS, TMS, LMS, ERP, and integration platforms.
• Hands-on experience with Manhattan Active, WCS solutions, and emerging technologies such as digital twins and AI.
• Demonstrated ability in people management, project delivery, and vendor management.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment with undefined responsibilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Knowledge of Agile delivery practices.
• Experience in large-scale transformation programs.

Skills / Behaviours

• Excellent planning and organisational skills – delivering and communicating plans effectively, with the ability to balance the requirements of multiple stakeholders.
• A keen eye for detail and the ability to work accurately when working in a fast-paced environment with multiple competing priorities.
• Strong interpersonal skills, offering a positive and adaptable approach to Project teams in a rapidly changing environment.
• Proven problem-solving skills that demonstrate a methodical and analytical approach.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt style for different audiences with varying degrees of technical experience.
• Ability to build strong relationships and engage effectively with key stakeholders, including both third party vendors and internal IT and business teams.

We know our colleagues work tirelessly to make JD Sports the success it is today and in turn, we offer them some amazing benefits including staff Discount On JD Group and other brands within the organisation and personal development opportunities to learn and develop at work.