At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative store designs that enhance customer experiences and reflect the Waitrose brand.
- Company: Join the UK's largest employee-owned business, dedicated to creating a happier world.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Other info: Embrace creativity and sustainability while fostering a culture of growth and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on retail design while leading a creative team in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Design degree and experience in retail or brand design at a senior level.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 88200 £ per year.
We have an opportunity for a Store Concept Design Senior Manager to lead and inspire the development of creative, innovative, and commercially effective in-store environments across Waitrose bringing to life 'The Home of The Food Lover'. In this role, you will lead concept designs, from interior layouts and equipment to graphical and signage solutions, across Core, Convenience, Food Service, and Business-to-Business formats. You'll champion sustainability, operational efficiency, and customer-centric design while guiding both in-house talent and external agencies. You will be an experienced people manager able to manage, coach and develop a small team of designers and assistant designers.
Expected salary - Salary up to £75,000 depending on experience.
Contract type - This position is a Permanent contract.
Working pattern/flexible working - The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business. Alongside this we have also signalled a clear intent for Central teams to work 'more in person than not.' For the Store Concept Design team this means 3 days a week of in-person time with Tuesday and Wednesday being the core days whilst the other day may be at head office, at suppliers, or in-branch. Core days may also need to flex depending on core projects and may occasionally involve a weekend.
Location - Bracknell
The application process requires you to upload your recent portfolio/examples of work.
Key responsibilities
- Lead Design Direction: Set clear, innovative design direction for interior spaces, equipment, and signage that differentiates Waitrose from competitors.
- People Leadership: Manage, coach, and develop a team of up to 4 Store Concept Designers and Assistant Designers, fostering a culture of creativity and continuous growth.
- End-to-End Delivery: Guide concepts from ideation to in-store delivery through our Development Track process, managing Stage Gate activity checklists, project timelines, and budgets.
- Omnichannel Integration: Think holistically across all customer touchpoints, ensuring physical estate designs complement an omnichannel shopping experience.
- Stakeholder & Agency Management: Direct internal teams, external design agencies, architects, POS, and property teams to deliver cost-effective, scalable solutions.
- Commercial & Operational Balance: Work collaboratively to balance aesthetic vision with commercial value, operational viability, material efficiency, and safety.
Essential skills/experience you'll need
- Design related degree or equivalent.
- Design related experience in retail, marketing or brand.
- Experience in operating at senior levels of the business.
- A broad range of experience in store design based roles encompassing 3D and 2D design, with an excellent track record for delivery at a senior level.
- Able to demonstrate strong commercial experience, materials, construction and equipment knowledge and an excellent understanding of customer requirements.
- Experience in design redevelopment and implementation and a proven leader of delivering strategic change in the retail environment.
- Experience in managing an in-house design team and 3rd party design agencies.
Desirable skills/experience you may have
- Strong creative background.
- In-depth knowledge and practical application of interior design.
- Strong understanding of the Waitrose brand.
- Working experience of AutoCAD, In-design, Sketch Up, Photoshop or similar.
Closing Date: August 20, 2026
Pay: £58,800.00 - £88,200.00 Annual
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours of Work: 35
Job Level: Partnership Level 6
Where You'll Be Working: Bracknell Campus, Doncastle Road, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 8YA
ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP
We're the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We're not just employees, we're Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there's never been a more exciting time to join us.
We're ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.
As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.
We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we're free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.
As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.
Store Concept Design Senior Manager in Bracknell employer: JLP.
Waitrose is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead innovative store concept designs in a collaborative and supportive environment. With a strong focus on employee ownership, sustainability, and personal growth, the Bracknell location fosters a culture where creativity thrives, and team members are empowered to make a meaningful impact. Enjoy the benefits of hybrid working, competitive salaries, and the chance to be part of a purpose-driven partnership that values every voice.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Store Concept Design Senior Manager in Bracknell
✨Get Your Portfolio Game On Point
As an aspiring architect, your portfolio is your golden ticket. Make sure it's not just a collection of your best work, but tells a story about your design process and creative thought. Showcase a range of projects, from conceptual sketches to final renderings—think of it as a visual CV!
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We think you need these skills to ace Store Concept Design Senior Manager in Bracknell
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Design Skills:Architecture is all about creativity and technical skills, so make sure your portfolio is front and centre! Include a range of your best projects, showcasing different styles and techniques. Don't forget to explain your design process and the challenges you overcame for each project – it gives hiring managers a glimpse into your thought process!
Tailor Your CV to Architecture:When putting together your CV, highlight relevant experience in architectural design software, like AutoCAD or Revit. Plus, if you have any internships or coursework that involved real-world projects, be sure to mention them. We want to see not just what you've done, but how it relates directly to this role at JLP.!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to express your passion for architecture and what drew you to JLP.. Talk about specific projects or values of theirs you admire, and how you see yourself contributing to their team. We want to feel your enthusiasm – let it shine through your words!
Use Professional Terminology:Don't shy away from using industry-specific jargon that demonstrates your expertise! Terms like 'sustainability', 'scale', and 'aesthetics' can not only show your knowledge but also help you connect with the hiring team. Just ensure it's done in a way that's relatable and not overly technical, so we can see your passion clearly!
How to prepare for a job interview at JLP.
✨Master the Technical Questions
In an architecture interview, be ready to tackle some technical questions about building codes, design principles, and software like AutoCAD or Revit. Brush up on your knowledge of materials and components, as you might even face scenarios to solve during the interview that showcase your problem-solving skills in real-time.
✨Bring Your Portfolio to Life
Your portfolio is your golden ticket! Make sure it not only showcases your best work but also highlights your design thinking process, from sketches to final outputs. During the interview, be prepared to discuss the projects in detail—what challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and what you learnt.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Sustainability
In today's architecture landscape, sustainability is key. Be sure to highlight any projects that involved eco-friendly designs or your understanding of sustainable practices. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the trends but are genuinely passionate about creating a better future through your designs.
✨Engage with Your Interviewers
Architecture is a collaborative field, so showing that you're a team player is essential. When conversing with the interviewers, actively listen and respond to their ideas. This isn’t just about you showing off your skills, but also about connecting and demonstrating how well you’d fit into their team at JLP..
