The Junior Buyer plays a key role within the buying team, supporting the development and delivery of commercially successful product within their catergory. Sitting between the Assistant Buyer and Buyer, the Junior Buyer takes ownership of some brand relationships, product selection, trading actions and category performance, while still working closely with senior team members to execute the overall buying strategy. 

What You'll Be Doing:  

• Interpret sales, margin and stock data to inform strategic buying decisions. 
• Understanding and presenting market trends, competitor activity, and consumer behaviour to influence range direction. 
• Proactively identifying commercial risks and opportunities, not just reporting them. 
• Contributing to the build of seasonal strategies, including product mix, pricing architecture and option planning. 
• Confidently challenging and recommending product edits based on data, brand insights and trend research. 
• Taking ownership of brand communication, including negotiation around costing, exclusives, lead times and margin improvements. 
• Building strong, professional partnerships with brand contacts and acting as a key point of contact when the Buyer is unavailable. 
• Strong understanding of KPIs (sell-through, ROS, WSSI, margin, intake, stockholding) and how to impact them. 
• Bringing fresh product ideas backed by insight research (including social media, cultural trends, emerging brands). 
• Acting as a role model within the team through supporting Buying Admin Assistants and Assistant Buyers and guiding workload where appropriate. 
• Taking full responsibility for your brand’s day‑to‑day performance and presenting with authority. 

What We're Looking For:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Management, Economics, or a related field.
• Advanced English level (B2-C1)
• Experience of working in a buying function is essential 
• Experience of buying branded goods and sports fashion is advantageous 
• Strong understanding and knowledge of current and upcoming sports fashion trends at a high street and premium level price point. 
• High degree of analytical and numerical skills 
• Advanced Microsoft Office Skills (PowerPoint, Word, Excel) 
• Organisational skills are essential 

Core Competencies  

• Extensive knowledge of our store base and website 
• Confidence within own decisions and product selection 
• Ability to act independently 
• Extensive knowledge of product area and market 
• Ability to look forward and predict trends both current and future 
• Highly numerate and skilled within budget forecasting and planning 

What we offer: 

We know our employees work tirelessly to make JD sports the success it is today and in turn, we offer them some amazing benefits:

• Hybrid Work
• Staff Discount on qualifying purchases across Group retail stores and online
• Flexible/optional benefits: restaurant ticket, health insurance
• Personal development opportunities to learn and develop at work
• Continuous professional development in hard and soft skills
• And… much more!

The Company:

Since founded in 1981, JD Group has achieved remarkable growth through rapid global expansion. We have become the leading omnichannel retailer of Sports Fashion, Street & Premium Fashion, Outdoors and Gyms with over 60,000 colleagues over 3,400 stores across several retail fascia's in over 30 markets 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.

At JD Group, we are all about finding passionate and skilled individuals who can elevate our team and have exceptional impact on the running of the business. We seek dynamic individuals who are invested in their own development, so that together we can evolve our brand's success, alongside evolving your career.

Join us in an exciting journey, where Talent meets Opportunity.

Interested?

If you are interested in this position, apply now!

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 you applying, 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.