Role Overview:
The Senior People Manager acts as the primary People lead for JD Group in Italy, ensuring the seamless integration of global strategies within the local market. This role focuses on adapting and implementing Group-wide People initiatives to fit the Italian retail and HQ landscape. Reporting directly to the Retail Associate Director South Europe, the successful candidate will work in close partnership with UK/EU-based Centers of Excellence (COEs) to deliver a high-quality, proactive People service that ensures full compliance with local labor laws while driving business growth.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Partnership and Business Alignment
- Work closely with the JD Italy Country Manager to align People initiatives with retail performance, expansion, and commercial goals.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for UK/EU-based Line Managers with teams in Milan and Rome, ensuring consistent management and local legal compliance.
- Collaborate with the Group Reward COE and Group Finance to lead workforce planning and People budgeting, balancing local market competitiveness with global cost targets.
- Implement and report on the People strategy in Italy, ensuring consistency between UK Group guidelines and local operational needs through key People KPIs.
Employee Relations and Compliance
- Manage local labor relations and complex disciplinary cases with a focus on minimizing legal risk while maintaining a positive, high-performance work environment.
- Ensure all personnel procedures are applied fairly and strictly, balancing Group standards with full compliance with the latest Italian labor laws.
- Guarantee a transparent and safe workplace by enforcing anti-discrimination measures and anti-corruption protocols
- Act as the local expert in mitigating employment risks, providing proactive guidance to both local leadership and UK /EU-based managers to ensure seamless operations across all regions.
Organizational Development and Change Leadership
- Accompany and guide leadership through structural changes and organizational transitions, ensuring a resilient and people-centric approach.
- Partner with the Group Talent COE to identify high-potential talent and oversee succession planning for the Italian market.
People Experience, DEI, and CSR
- Lead the Global Engagement Survey process locally, moving beyond data collection to drive the creation and execution of tangible action plans that measurably improve the work climate.
- Own and deliver the Annual Culture Calendar as the core of the People Experience.
Skills/Experience/Knowledge needed:
- Master’s degree in Law, Economics, or Humanities; a Master’s in Human Resources Management is preferred.
- At least 5 years of HR experience, with a solid track record leading HR areas or functions within Retail or other fast-paced industries.
- A pragmatic approach with the ability to solve complex problems in rapidly changing environments.
- A business-oriented mindset, strong analytical skills, and the ability to negotiate and work effectively with key figures at all levels of the company.
- Italian: Native
- English: C1 level (essential for dual reporting and communicating with the Group).
- Willingness to travel regularly across the country and full driving license.
Fondato nel 1981 con un unico negozio nel nord-ovest dell'Inghilterra, JD Group è cresciuta fino a diventare un retailer omnicanale leader a livello mondiale nei settori della moda sportiva, dell'outdoor e delle palestre. I nostri team, eterogenei e motivati, gestiscono un portafoglio di rinomati marchi in numerosi mercati internazionali.
Quotata alla Borsa di Londra dal 1996 e orgogliosa membro del FTSE100 dal 2019, JD Group continua ad espandersi sia in Italia che a livello globale, guidata da un impegno verso l'innovazione, l'eccellenza e le possibilità.
La nostra visione è quella di diventare il rivenditore omnicanale più affidabile e dinamico al mondo nel settore dello sport e dell'outdoor. Diamo il benvenuto a persone di ogni provenienza che desiderino unirsi a noi per plasmare questo futuro!
Ti chiediamo di inserire nel CV l'autorizzazione al trattamento dei tuoi dati personali ai sensi del Regolamento UE n. 679/2016 e della legislazione italiana vigente.
Il presente annuncio è rivolto ad entrambi i sessi, ai sensi delle leggi 903/77 e 125/91 e a persone di tutte le età e tutte le nazionalità, ai sensi dei decreti legislativi 215/03 e 216/03.
Skills Required
- Master's degree in Law, Economics, or Humanities
- Master's in Human Resources Management
- At least 5 years of HR experience in Retail or fast-paced industries
- Native Italian language proficiency
- C1 level English language proficiency
What We Do
The Group At A Glance: Established in 1981 with a single store in Bury, in the North West of England, JD Sports Fashion plc (JD Group) are the leading global multi-channel retailer & distributor of branded and own branded sportswear & fashionwear. JD Group has a global reach with brands and stores across 19 territories in Europe, North America & Asia Pacific. We are proud to provide our consumers with the latest products from recognised brands such as Nike, Adidas, Puma and The North Face, with strong Own Brand labels such as Pink Soda and Supply & Demand to provide an elevated consumer experience. JD Group continue to lead the way with successful subsidiaries, including Size?, The Hip Store, Go Outdoors, Blacks, Millets, Tiso, Ultimate Outdoors, as well as International Retailers, Sprinter (Spain), Sport Zone as well as JD Finish Line. Our C:ulture We inspire our people to reach for higher levels of performance. To achieve these standards, we only recruit the best! All employees are highly skilled, self motivated and in constant pursuit of perfection. Opportunities to progress arise quickly for those people with the right qualities and ambition. We encourage our people to constantly seek ways to improve our business. This means challenging the way we merchandise, sell and manage the business, being creative and forward thinking in suggesting alternative solutions. Problems are solved and opportunities are seized by people from all levels of the organisation working together. JD Sports Fashion HQ is situated in Bury, Greater Manchester. JD Sports also have our global Distribution Centre in Rochdale, Greater Manchester & its highly decorative Creative Studio in Manchester City Centre







