Senior Project Manager

Job Title: Senior Project Manager

Department: Finance
Location: Finance Transformation       
Reporting To: Chloe Dolyniuk
Contract Type: 10-month Fixed Term Contract
Closing Date: 12 January
Internal/External: Internal & External

About JD Group

Founded in 1981 with a single store in the Northwest of England, JD Group has grown into a leading global omni-channel retailer in Sports Fashion, Outdoors, and Gyms. Our diverse and dedicated teams operate across a portfolio of renowned retail brands in multiple international markets. 

Listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1996 and a proud member of the FTSE100 since 2019, JD Group continues to expand both in the UK and globally driven by a commitment to innovation, excellence, and possibility.

Our vision is to become the world’s most trusted and dynamic omni-channel retailer in the sports and outdoor industry. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds to join us in shaping this future. If you're passionate about contributing to an inclusive, people-first, and customer-centric organisation and are motivated by continuous growth and operational excellence we’d love to hear from you.

Role Overview

The Finance Transformation programme is an initiative to deliver a series of improvements across Finance at Group and business unit level. The Senior Project Manager is responsible for managing people, tasks, setting and managing plans and schedules, and resources through the project lifecycle.

This role will focus across one / two of the following key projects:

• Delivery of data integrations between finance systems in the US, Spain and France and the Group consolidation system (Oracle FCC).
• Automation and standardisation of the Group Tax process supporting a faster Group reporting timeline.
• Forecasting project to deliver driver based planning, scenario modelling, and quick adjustments based on changing business conditions while using AI-driven forecasts and data visualisations to improve accuracy.

 You’ll play a central role in shaping and delivering these projects, working closely with cross-functional teams and external partners to ensure successful outcomes.

Team Structure

The Project manager reports into the Head of Finance Transformation and works closely with the Programme Delivery lead.

The Project Manager works collaboratively with a number of stakeholders namely the Business Leads, key stakeholders of each project. The collaboration will:

• Build and maintain integrated project plans
• Coordinate activities across departments
• Track progress and adapt plans as needed to stay on course

 A core requirement is to ensure plans are developed in an integrated basis, taking account of cross functional requirements for example IT (incl. Cyber), Tax, Treasury, ICFR (Controls), data and process.

 Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate planning sessions for project development and execution.
• Collaborate with business representatives to understand, document and refine the business requirements as applicable.
• Collaborate with the vendors project delivery team to co-manage delivery on behalf of the JD finance team.
• Conduct risk analysis to reduce unforeseen obstacles and costs.
• Create and maintain a RAID log for each project.
• Identify staffing and other resource needs to maximise potential for successful execution of the projects.
• Define the projects’ objectives and scope, identifying involvement of internal and external stakeholders.
• Report project progress to the Delivery and Business leads.
• Work with and support the Change lead in terms of project training and change management requirements.
• Delegate project activities and duties in accordance with team members' strengths and experience
• Provide summarised project plan documentation to departmental managers, clients, and other stakeholders as needed

Skills & Experience Required

• Experience of business, people and technology change with a proven track record of delivering projects on time, within scope, and within budget.
• Ability to set and meet project deadlines while maintaining the highest standards.

• Excellent planning, influencing and communication skills. Accomplished at building strong networks and relationships with key stakeholders.

• Excellent documentation and reporting abilities in written and spoken form.
• Energetic with a great deal of drive, enthusiasm and initiative
• Ability to respond quickly to changing priorities.

 

Example Certifications associated to the role:
•    PMP (Project Management Professional) – PMI
•    CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) – PMI
•    PRINCE2 Foundation/Practitioner
•    Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) – PMI

Desirable Attributes

• Previous experience with finance projects

What We Offer

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a workplace where every colleague is valued, respected, and empowered. We celebrate the diversity of our teams and strive to ensure that all colleagues regardless of background, identity, or lived experience can thrive and contribute meaningfully.

As a part of our successful and continually evolving company, you’ll be encouraged to embrace and uphold our strategic priorities: putting people first, at the forefront of digital innovation, staying deeply attuned to our customers, and pursuing operational excellence. We are always exploring new avenues for growth, and we welcome individuals who are passionate about making a positive impact every day.

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

• Incremental Holiday Allowance
• Staff Discount on qualifying purchases across Group retail stores and online
• Exclusive Colleague Bike Discount scheme
• Discounted Gym membership
• Personal development opportunities to learn and develop at work
• Access to Apprenticeships and accredited qualifications