At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the digital growth strategy for JohnLewis.com and drive innovative omnichannel initiatives.
- Company: Join the largest employee-owned business in the UK, home to John Lewis and Waitrose.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and a supportive work-life balance.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of ownership, respect, and personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on retail innovation while collaborating with diverse teams.
- Qualifications: 7-12 years in strategy or digital commerce with strong analytical and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 123000 £ per year.
About The Role
Salary: £76,800.00 - £123,000.00
Contract type: Permanent
Working pattern: The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the London head office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business.
Key Responsibilities
- Define the 3–5 year digital and omnichannel growth strategy for JohnLewis.com, mapping out "where to play / how to win" frameworks across conversion, customer lifetime value, marketplaces, and category expansion.
- Identify and prioritise large incremental growth opportunities by analysing macro retail trends, performance data (revenue, profit, traffic, AOV), and structural shifts like AI-driven discovery and social commerce.
- Build robust business cases and commercial frameworks with clear ROI, payback, and risk assessments, partnering closely with Finance to align growth levers to planning cycles and targets.
- Lead high-impact strategic programmes and incubation, acting as an internal “venture lead” to define MVPs, success metrics, and scaling plans for new digital propositions and AI-driven customer experiences.
- Produce ExCo-ready narratives and strategic choices that simplify complex ideas into clear decisions, framing trade-offs and risks with clarity for executive leadership.
- Drive cross-functional collaboration across Digital Trading, Commercial, Customer/CRM, Product & Technology, Supply Chain, and Retail teams to ensure growth strategies successfully translate into delivery roadmaps.
- Lead and develop a high-performing team, managing 2 direct reports (Partnership Level 5) to support the broader digital and omnichannel delivery objectives.
Essential Skills/Experience You’ll Need
- 7–12 years in strategy, consulting, or digital commerce roles, with a proven track record of defining and delivering growth strategies in omnichannel retail.
- Advanced analytical capability and strong commercial acumen, with comfort handling data, financial modelling, ambiguity, and directly linking strategy to P&L impact.
- Executive-level communication and storytelling, with specific experience developing board-level strategy materials and framing complex choices clearly.
- Strategic clarity and intellect, demonstrating the ability to grasp new growth opportunities at pace and simplify complexity into actionable direction.
- Influence and stakeholder management, with the confidence to challenge, align, and collaborate with senior leadership across multiple business units.
- A strong bias for action and external curiosity, constantly scanning for market trends, competitor benchmarks and structural industry disruptions.
Desirable Skills/Experience You May Have
- Top-tier professional background, with experience gained in a leading retailer or a top-tier consultancy (e.g., McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company).
- Deep digital commerce expertise, including a strong understanding of digital platforms, e-commerce trading, SEO, performance marketing economics, personalisation, and CRM strategy.
- Future-focused retail knowledge, spanning marketplaces, direct-to-consumer (D2C) models, store operations, and the ongoing impact of AI/LLM on digital commerce.
- Proposition launch experience, with a background in successfully launching brand-new digital services, memberships, or curated business models from concept to execution.
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.
Important points to note
- It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre‑employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays.
- Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third‑party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.
- We occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications, and therefore, we recommend you apply early.
- If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability which means you may need longer to complete your application please contact us as soon as possible.
- We want all of our Partners to have a good work‑life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Omnichannel Growth Lead
✨Show Your Creative Side
In marketing communications, standing out is key. Get creative with your application! Consider designing a mini-campaign or pitch that highlights your skills and understanding of the brand. Tailor it for John Lewis & Partners and show them what you can bring to the table.
✨Engage in Marketing Communities
Get involved in local or online marketing communications groups. Check out platforms like Meetup for events and workshops. Networking here can lead to hidden job openings and valuable insights into the industry trends—this is where we often discover what companies like John Lewis & Partners are looking for.
✨Leverage Social Media
Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to showcase your passion for marketing communications. Share insights, articles, and your own content that resonates with the industry. Tagging or interacting with John Lewis & Partners on these platforms can catch the eye of recruiters and show you're genuinely interested in them.
✨Attend Industry Events
Keep an eye out for marketing conferences and workshops. These are great places to meet potential employers face-to-face and make connections that could land you a full-time role at John Lewis & Partners. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Omnichannel Growth Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit John Lewis & Partners. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.
Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.
Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!
Demonstrate Your Understanding of John Lewis & Partners:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about John Lewis & Partners’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis & Partners
✨Showcase Your Creative Campaigns
Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at John Lewis & Partners will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.
✨Know Your Digital Tools Inside Out
If you’re heading into a marketing-communications role, make sure you're comfortable discussing key digital marketing tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or Hootsuite. Expect some technical questions about how you've used these tools in the past, as they'll want to gauge your hands-on experience and how you analyse data to drive marketing decisions.
✨Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions
At John Lewis & Partners, they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing
As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.
