Project Manager - Studio

-; Manchester; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sports retailer is seeking a Project Manager to translate creative concepts into executed campaigns across digital and print. This role emphasizes project ownership, stakeholder management, and efficient workflow processes while maintaining the highest quality standards. The ideal candidate should possess excellent organizational and communication skills, alongside a passion for creative initiatives in a dynamic retail environment. Opportunities for personal development and staff discounts are included.

Benefits

Staff discount on JD Group brands

Personal development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience within a similar role.
• Ability to manage workloads effectively.
• Strong communication skills and business acumen.

Responsibilities

• Transform creative concepts into executed campaigns.
• Manage end-to-end projects and stakeholder communication.
• Support studio workflow improvements and mentor junior team members.

Skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Business acumen

Knowledge of fashion content trends

Leadership

Creative passion

Job description

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, continuing 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.

PROJECT MANAGER

Responsible to: Senior Project Manager

Responsible for: N/A

Department: JD Studio

Location: The Sharp Project Manchester

Role Overview

As a Project Manager you will transform approved creative concepts into fully executed campaigns across multiple channels, including digital, social, and print. You will manage end‑to‑end projects, acting as the central point of coordination between creative teams, marketing, brand, retail, and external partners to ensure all projects are delivered on time, on brief, and to the highest standard.

You will manage the full project lifecycle, from initial briefing, scoping, and scheduling through to production, quality assurance, and final delivery, while maintaining clear communication, structured workflows, and exceptional organisation throughout. Working closely with the internal studio team, marketing teams and internal stakeholders, you will champion studio processes and support operational efficiency across fast‑paced, multi‑channel campaigns.

Success in this role means balancing creative ambition with commercial requirements, solving problems proactively, and driving projects forward with confidence and clarity. You will be expected to manage multiple concurrent workstreams, adapt quickly to shifting priorities, and keep stakeholders aligned at every milestone, ultimately enabling JD Sports to deliver best‑in‑class creative content across retail, digital, social, experiential, and brand marketing channels.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Project Ownership and Delivery

• Work within the Studio Dispatch Team, responsible for planning and delivering projects on time, on budget, with personality and flair.
• Report to the Senior PM, ensuring accurate upfront project preparation.
• Conduct daily production meetings to maintain information flow, project progress, and milestones.
• Generate weekly/monthly reports on live and upcoming projects.
• Present reports to senior leadership, highlighting budget tracking and projects at risk.
• Manage costs and budgets across projects.
• Deliver projects within budget while maintaining stakeholder satisfaction.
• Employ a methodical approach to archive management and file organization.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Management

• Communicate with SLT and workflow managers to allocate resources for current and future projects.
• Manage day‑to‑day communications on key projects with internal studio teams and the wider marketing teams, including Campaign Marketing, Social and Paid Media.
• Assist the Dispatch team in maintaining and growing internal and external relationships.

Team Support, Process Improvement and Professional Growth

• Support management in evolving and implementing studio workflow improvements.
• Act as an advocate for the JD Studio Team.
• Maintain awareness of production cost rules, usage, and licenses.
• Mentor and coach junior team members.
• Focus on personal and professional development.

Skills, Experience & Knowledge

Essential

• Proven experience within a similar role.
• Must be organised and able to manage workloads.
• Excellent communicator.
• Excellent business acumen.
• Maintain a strong and broad knowledge of fashion content trends.
• Able to work accurately, effectively, and quickly turn work around whilst maintaining a high level of quality.
• Display high levels of resilience and leadership.
• Desire to develop deep understanding of the nuances associated with individual creative disciplines.
• Ability to clearly articulate ideas to line manager and other team members.
• Must be passionate for creative and have an interest in retail.
• Desire to develop and gain a greater understanding of the business.
• Appetite to move creative forward and create exciting, on‑brand campaigns.
• Able to react to retail in an ever‑changing environment.

Desirable

• Previous experience in a creative studio or similar.
• Previous experience using a Project Management Tool.
• Knowledge and understanding of the production process.

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.