At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the buying strategy for men's footwear and drive sustainable growth.
- Company: Join JD Sports, a leading retailer with a dynamic team culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy staff discounts, personal development opportunities, and a vibrant work environment.
- Other info: Collaborate with cross-functional teams and influence business direction.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced retail environment while shaping the future of men's footwear.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in retail buying and strong strategic thinking skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
JD Sports - Head Office, Warwick House, Bury, United Kingdom
Role Purpose
To set and lead the category buying strategy and deliver sustainable growth and profitability across a portfolio of categories/brands. The Head of Buying is accountable for strategic range direction, trading performance, team leadership, supplier strategy, and governance, ensuring the buying function delivers the right product at the right time, price and quantity across all channels.
Key Accountabilities
- Define and deliver the category/brand buying strategy aligned to the business plan.
- Own category vision, segmentation, range frameworks and multi-channel proposition (store, online, partner).
- Lead seasonal planning cycles, innovation roadmap, and long-term supplier strategy.
- Set trading cadence: weekly trade, forecasting, exception management, and in-season actions.
- Establish governance for range sign-off and risk controls.
- Build strategic supplier partnerships (joint business plans, exclusives, cost roadmaps, marketing investment).
- Lead major negotiations: long-term terms, rebates, funding, volume commitments, and strategic deals.
- Lead and develop a high-performing buying team (succession planning, capability frameworks, coaching).
- Set clear objectives and ways of working; role model strong decision making and accountability.
- Recruit, performance manage, and build a culture of pace, curiosity and customer obsession.
Cross-functional & Executive Stakeholder Management
- Partner with Merch/Planning leadership to own OTB strategy and inventory investment decisions.
- Align with Marketing, Creative, Digital, Retail Ops and Supply Chain to deliver go-to-market readiness.
- Present category performance, risks, and opportunities to senior leadership with clear recommendations.
- Own customer insight loops: trend research, competitor benchmarking, customer feedback, analytics.
- Final sign-off (or recommendation authority) on range frameworks and key supplier choices.
- Ownership of category investment decisions (OTB strategy) within agreed budgets.
- Approves pricing architecture principles and markdown strategy for category.
- Accountable for team structure and operating model within function.
Skills & Experience
- Significant leadership experience in buying/trading within retail or multi-channel.
- Proven track record delivering category growth, margin improvement, and inventory efficiency at scale.
- Strong strategic thinking paired with high operational trading cadence.
- Executive-level stakeholder management and ability to influence business direction.
- Strong people leadership: building teams, developing capability, managing performance.
- Experience leading multi-category portfolios or complex branded environments.
- International sourcing/negotiation exposure and strategic supplier management.
- Experience operating in high-volume, fast-paced retail with short lead times.
Additional Leadership Qualities
- Vision and strategic clarity
- Commercial leadership and risk discipline
- Inspiring people leadership
- High-impact communication (exec storytelling)
- Collaborative leadership across functions
- Customer obsession and trend awareness
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.
Head of Buying - Men's Footwear in Bury employer: JDSPORTS
At JDSPORTS, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer by fostering a supportive work environment that prioritises personal development and growth. As an EMEA HRIS & People Tech SME, you will be part of a dynamic team that values innovation and collaboration, offering you the chance to make a meaningful impact while enjoying a culture that champions work-life balance and employee well-being.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Buying - Men's Footwear in Bury
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like JDSPORTS, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like JDSPORTS!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Buying - Men's Footwear in Bury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at JDSPORTS, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at JDSPORTS and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show JDSPORTS that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at JDSPORTS
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
