Digital Media Agency Lead in Bury

Digital Media Agency Lead in Bury

Bury Full-Time 59400 - 72600 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
JD Sports

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead digital media agency performance and drive commercial value for JD Sports.
  • Company: Join a leading sports fashion brand with a global presence.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for growth.
  • Other info: Collaborate with diverse teams and innovate in a rapidly evolving industry.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in the fast-paced world of digital media and sports fashion.
  • Qualifications: 5+ years in digital media and strong agency relationship management skills.

The predicted salary is between 59400 - 72600 £ per year.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Digital Media, the Digital Media Agency Lead is responsible for driving accountability, governance and commercial value across JD Sports' digital media agency ecosystem.

The role will own the strategic management of key agency relationships, ensuring partners deliver against JD's commercial objectives, growth targets and customer acquisition goals. Working across Digital Media and Performance, alongside Brand, Analytics, Finance, Procurement and Technology, the role will develop best-in-class supplier governance frameworks, optimise media partner performance, and maximise value from JD Sports' media and agency investments across multiple markets.

As JD continues to scale globally, this role will be instrumental in ensuring agency partners support the business with innovation, operational excellence and measurable commercial impact.

Key Responsibilities
  • Agency Performance Leadership: Own the performance management framework for JD Sports' media agencies. Develop and maintain supplier scorecards that measure business impact, media effectiveness, service quality, innovation, operational delivery and commercial value. Lead Monthly Business Reviews (MBRs) and Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), ensuring agency are accountable for agreed KPIs and business objectives. Identify performance gaps and drive corrective action plans to improve agency effectiveness.
  • Strategic Agency Governance: Act as the primary relationship lead for key agency partner. Establish governance frameworks that support consistent delivery, transparency and accountability across all relationships. Challenge agency recommendations through data, performance trends and market benchmarking. Ensure agency contributes proactively to JD Sports' growth plans through innovation, audience insights and media best practice.
  • Commercial Management & Value Creation: Partner with Procurement, Finance and Legal teams to negotiate and optimise agency agreements and key KPIs. Support agency remuneration reviews, performance-based commercial models and contract renewals. Identify opportunities for cost efficiencies, investment optimisation and incremental value creation. Ensure agency delivers contractual obligations and agreed service levels.
  • Media Investment & Technology Oversight: Support governance of significant digital media investment across paid search, paid social, programmatic, affiliate, retail media and emerging channels in relation to the agency. Oversee and input into supplier performance across the marketing technology ecosystem, including measurement platforms, audience solutions, attribution tools and media advertising technology partners. Collaborate with Digital Media, Measurement and Analytics teams to improve measurement standards and media effectiveness reporting.
  • Financial & Operational Governance: Work closely with Finance teams to ensure accurate agency invoicing, financial transparency and budget governance. Monitor agency initiatives and identify risks, inefficiencies or opportunities for improved return on investment. Ensure compliance with internal governance, auditing requirements and data privacy regulations.
  • Cross-Functional Leadership: Build strong relationships across Digital Media, Ecommerce, Brand Marketing, Analytics, Procurement, Finance, Customer Insight, Measurement and Data Privacy teams. Translate agency performance and commercial insights into clear recommendations for senior stakeholders. Support the Associate Director of Digital Media in agency strategy, business planning and agency evaluations.
  • Innovation & Market Intelligence: Maintain an expert understanding of the digital media, sports fashion and retail landscape. Benchmark agency performance against industry standards and competitors.
Skills & Experience
  • Essential: 5+ years' experience in digital media, media operations, supplier management, agency partnerships or commercial marketing roles. Experience managing strategic relationships with media agencies. Strong understanding of digital media channels including Paid Search, Paid Social, Programmatic, Affiliates and SEO. Demonstrable experience developing agency performance frameworks and governance processes. Experience leading commercial reviews, contract negotiations and agency performance discussions.
  • Commercial & Analytical Expertise: Strong commercial acumen with the ability to evaluate investment performance, media efficiency and supplier value. Experience analysing digital marketing performance metrics, including ROAS, CAC, media efficiency and incrementality. Comfortable working with performance dashboards, financial reporting and supplier scorecards.
  • Leadership & Influence: Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills. Able to engage confidently with senior agency leaders and internal stakeholders. Excellent presentation and communication skills. Proven ability to drive accountability without direct line management responsibility.
  • Compliance & Governance: Understanding of GDPR, data governance and digital marketing compliance requirements. Experience operating within structured governance, procurement and supplier management frameworks.
Success Measures:
  • Supplier and agency performance against agreed KPIs and scorecards.
  • Improvements in media efficiency and investment effectiveness.
  • Commercial value delivered through agency and vendor optimisation.
  • Quality of agency governance and stakeholder satisfaction.
  • Adoption of innovation and best practices from strategic partners.
  • Delivery of cost savings, operational efficiencies and measurable business impact.

Digital Media Agency Lead in Bury employer: JD Sports

At GO Outdoors, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture. As a Department Manager, you will not only lead a passionate team but also benefit from extensive personal development opportunities, including access to apprenticeships and accredited qualifications. With a strong commitment to employee growth, competitive staff discounts, and a focus on maintaining high operational standards, working with us means being part of a dynamic environment where your contributions directly impact our success.

JD Sports

Contact Details:

JD Sports Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Digital Media Agency Lead in Bury

Show Your Creative Side

In marketing communications, standing out is key. Get creative with your application! Consider designing a mini-campaign or pitch that highlights your skills and understanding of the brand. Tailor it for JD Sports and show them what you can bring to the table.

Engage in Marketing Communities

Get involved in local or online marketing communications groups. Check out platforms like Meetup for events and workshops. Networking here can lead to hidden job openings and valuable insights into the industry trends—this is where we often discover what companies like JD Sports are looking for.

Leverage Social Media

Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to showcase your passion for marketing communications. Share insights, articles, and your own content that resonates with the industry. Tagging or interacting with JD Sports on these platforms can catch the eye of recruiters and show you're genuinely interested in them.

Attend Industry Events

Keep an eye out for marketing conferences and workshops. These are great places to meet potential employers face-to-face and make connections that could land you a full-time role at JD Sports. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!

We think you need these skills to ace Digital Media Agency Lead in Bury

Digital Media Strategy
Agency Relationship Management
Performance Management Frameworks
Supplier Scorecards
KPI Development
Commercial Negotiation
Media Investment Oversight

Some tips for your application 🫡

Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit JD Sports. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.

Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.

Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!

Demonstrate Your Understanding of JD Sports:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about JD Sports’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at JD Sports

Showcase Your Creative Campaigns

Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at JD Sports will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.

Know Your Digital Tools Inside Out

If you’re heading into a marketing-communications role, make sure you're comfortable discussing key digital marketing tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or Hootsuite. Expect some technical questions about how you've used these tools in the past, as they'll want to gauge your hands-on experience and how you analyse data to drive marketing decisions.

Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions

At JD Sports, they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.

Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing

As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.