Partner Brand Marketing Lead in Suffolk

Responsible to: Head of Partner Brand Marketing.

Department: Partner Brand Marketing.

At JD, we don’t just market brands – we move culture forward. At the intersection of culture, commerce and creativity, this role is about more than marketing – it’s about shaping how the world experiences our partner brands. As Partner Brand Marketing Lead, you will own and elevate a portfolio of key global brands, turning strategy into category‑defining campaigns that drive both brand heat and commercial growth. You’ll operate as a strategic partner, growth driver and cultural curator – connecting brands to consumers through powerful storytelling, seamless execution, and data‑led decision making. This is an opportunity to shape perception of some of the biggest global brands in one of the most dynamic retailers, JD Sports.

Responsibilities

• Own and shape the end‑to‑end marketing strategy for priority partner brands, aligning global brand ambition with JD’s commercial objectives to drive sustained growth.
• Translate global brand vision into locally relevant, insight‑led strategies that unlock commercial growth and deepen consumer connection.
• Identify and strategic growth opportunities across UK and EU markets, leveraging data, insight and market dynamics to scale partner brands.
• Lead the development of integrated multi‑channel marketing campaigns that drive brand heat, cultural relevance and measurable commercial impact.
• Champion a best‑in‑class, consumer‑centric brand experience across all touchpoints, ensuring consistency, premium execution and cultural relevance at scale.
• Own and strategically allocate significant marketing investment, optimising performance to maximise ROI.
• Build, lead and elevate a high‑performing team, fostering a culture of strategic thinking, accountability and creative excellence.
• Influence and align senior cross‑functional stakeholders across buying, merchandising, retail and digital teams to deliver integrated, high‑impact campaigns at pace.
• Act as the strategic conduit between brand partners, internal team and consumers, ensuring alignment between brand storytelling, cultural relevance and commercial delivery.
• Leverage deep understanding of youth culture, sport and fashion trends to inform strategy and position JD and its partners at the forefront of the market.
• Identify and activate culturally relevant opportunities that elevate brand desirability and drive meaningful consumer engagement.
• Continuously challenge and evolve how brands connect with the next generation, driving innovation across channels, formats and experiences.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading brand marketing strategy for global consumer brands.
• A track record of delivering impactful campaigns that drive both brand and revenue growth.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience managing significant budgets and ROI accountability.
• Deep understanding of the modern media and consumer landscape.
• Ability to influence and lead across complex, matrixed organisations.
• A balance of creativity, analytical thinking – equally comfortable with ideas and data.
• Passion for sports, lifestyle and youth culture, with a sharp instinct for what’s next.
• Able to navigate complexity and thrive in a fast‑paced environment, able to work under pressure.
• Outstanding project management experience, managing internal stakeholders, agencies, customers, and other external partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including brief and presentation writing.
• Retail experience is an advantage.

Benefits

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