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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial transformation projects and identify new revenue opportunities.
- Company: Join WHSmith, a globally recognized brand with over 230 years of history.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, competitive salary, annual bonus, and 25 days holiday plus your birthday off.
- Why this job: Be part of an innovative team that values creativity and collaboration in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Strong commercial acumen, consulting experience, and excellent stakeholder management skills required.
- Other info: Work in a vibrant London office and embrace an entrepreneurial culture.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
At WHSmith our people are at the heart of everything we do. They are the ones that go the extra mile for our customers. The ones that enable our growth. That’s why our Commercial team is passionate about creating an environment where people can be creative and trailblazing in order to do their best work.
The Commercial Transformation Manager has a fundamental role in developing our commercial offer and supporting trading teams to exceed customer expectations.
What you’ll do
- I will identify new opportunities for income and revenue streams across WHSmith Travel formats and brands which are delivered outside of category-specific activity, or through third party organisations
- I will be the programme lead on value generation projects, with a strategic role in developing initiatives and an operational role in landing change (e.g. loyalty, data, other business transformation initiatives etc.)
- I will be the central point of contact within the commercial team for business development activity, including development of tenders and supporting with proposition development (e.g. smoking cessation, pop up shops etc.)
- I will generate a continuous pipeline of value creating initiatives to deliver sales and profitability across the business and lead the execution of these along with our store ops team
- I will identify brands and suppliers to sell the WHSmith brand to, ensuring we meet the objectives of the brand and have a tailored approach and strategy for each one
- I will negotiate with and manage new brands and suppliers, building commercial terms agreements for long standing partnerships
- I will build P&Ls for projects and present back to senior leadership teams whilst tracking and reporting performance
- I will work with our media agency to build compelling opportunities for third party brands and to deliver pitches
- I will plan and facilitate the annual commercial strategy and category planning process for both our core and InMotion businesses, including workshop facilitation and project management to develop our VCO plan
Who you are
- You will have extremely strong commercial acumen including proven delivery of sales and income targets – essential
- Consulting or strategy experience – desirable
- An ability to digest and act on information quickly
- Proven experience in a business transformation environment
- A strategic mindset, based on data and insight
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to mobilise teams
- A real self-starter, with a proven record of driving projects forward independently
- Experience of pitching to suppliers and brands and building relationships from scratch
- Excellent PowerPoint and presentation skills
- A collaborative approach and ‘can do’ attitude
- Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced environment
What we can offer you
- Competitive salary and car allowance
- Annual bonus based on company and personal performance
- Hybrid working model from home and in the office
- 25 Days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday
- Finish at 4pm on a Friday
- Competitive pension contribution
- Staff discount card for stores and online
Who we are
Celebrating 230 years, we’re proud to have grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries around the world, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. As a diverse group of over 11,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.
For UK Travel our mission is simple – to create value for our stakeholders by providing a platform for global brands responsible for essentials and technology in airports (including our InMotion stores), hospitals, rail stations and other markets. Our office is based in a buzzing part of central London close to Liverpool Street Station. We are an ambitious team that thrives on pace, collaboration and innovation resulting in a real entrepreneurial culture at all levels. It’s perfect for people who are happy to use their initiative and embrace life outside their comfort zone.
Commercial Transformation Manager employer: WHSmith
Contact Detail:
WHSmith Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Transformation Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with WHSmith's commercial strategy and recent initiatives. Understanding their current projects and goals will help you align your experience and ideas with what they are looking for in a Commercial Transformation Manager.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of WHSmith, especially those in the commercial team. They can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be beneficial during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've driven business transformation and generated revenue in previous roles. Highlighting your strategic mindset and ability to mobilize teams will resonate well with the hiring managers.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your presentation skills by preparing a mock pitch for a potential partnership or initiative relevant to WHSmith. This will demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively and think strategically, key traits for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Transformation Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Make sure to thoroughly read the job description for the Commercial Transformation Manager position. Highlight key responsibilities and required skills, and think about how your experience aligns with these.
Tailor Your CV: Customize your CV to reflect the specific skills and experiences that are relevant to the role. Emphasize your commercial acumen, business transformation experience, and any successful projects you've led.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for the role and the company. Use specific examples from your past work to demonstrate your ability to drive projects forward and manage stakeholder relationships.
Highlight Your Achievements: In both your CV and cover letter, focus on quantifiable achievements. Mention specific sales targets you’ve met or exceeded, successful negotiations with suppliers, or any innovative initiatives you’ve implemented.
How to prepare for a job interview at WHSmith
✨Showcase Your Commercial Acumen
Make sure to highlight your experience in delivering sales and income targets. Prepare specific examples of how you've successfully identified new revenue streams or improved profitability in previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
Be ready to discuss how you use data and insights to inform your strategic decisions. Share instances where your strategic mindset led to successful business transformations or initiatives.
✨Highlight Stakeholder Management Skills
Prepare to talk about your experience in managing relationships with various stakeholders. Provide examples of how you've mobilized teams and collaborated effectively to achieve common goals.
✨Prepare for Pitching Scenarios
Since pitching to suppliers and brands is a key part of the role, practice your presentation skills. Be ready to present a mock pitch or discuss how you've successfully built relationships from scratch in the past.
