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- Tasks: Lead the creation of innovative products for Waitrose and John Lewis, from concept to launch.
- Company: Join the largest employee-owned business in the UK, known for quality and sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, hybrid working, and a supportive work-life balance.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for national and international travel.
- Why this job: Be part of a visionary team shaping the future of retail with exciting product development.
- Qualifications: Experience in product development and strong creative design skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
We have an exciting opportunity to join our Waitrose Own Brand team as a Product Developer, General Merchandise, a unique cross-brand role in collaboration with John Lewis. You will be responsible for the end-to-end New Product Development (NPD) lifecycle, delivering innovative, high-quality products aligned with our Own Brand values. This is a critical commercial role, requiring you to balance creativity with the fast-paced realities of the grocery retail environment. You will build, strengthen, and own the vital NPD relationships between Waitrose, John Lewis, and our suppliers. You will sit at the centre of a dynamic, cross-functional team, collaborating with innovation, customer insight, technical & quality, legal & compliance, own brand, packaging, design, and PR teams to bring exceptional products to life.
Waitrose & Partners is striving to be the most LOVED, TRUSTED, and INNOVATIVE own brand in the market, recognised for setting industry standards in QUALITY and SUSTAINABILITY. We are looking for a visionary Product Developer to help us achieve this goal.
Key responsibilities:
- Develops and delivers omnichannel product propositions to customers, supporting the General Merchandise (GM) Category Proposition Group (CPG).
- Defines the product and packaging design requirements to meet commercial and customer needs for GM categories in Waitrose.
- Builds, strengthens, and owns the New Product Development (NPD) relationships between Waitrose, John Lewis, and the relevant suppliers.
- In collaboration with John Lewis, develops clear and robust product and packaging briefs, in line with GSCoP (Grocery Supply Code of Practice) principles, enabling buying and technical teams to fully meet the design requirements throughout the development process.
- You will work closely with the Waitrose GM CPG & John Lewis GM delivery team, channel teams (e.g., online), external suppliers, Customer Insight, Own Brand & NPD programme team, Design & Repro, Legal, Compliance & Policy, Technical & Quality, and PR, as determined by project needs and RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed).
Essential skills/experience you’ll need:
- Previous product development experience within manufacturing or retail.
- Proven track record of high-quality, commercially successful GM product development & supplier management.
- Strong creative design skills.
- Good analysis skills and capable of analysing sales & insight data.
- Strong experience in critical path management.
- Able to demonstrate high levels and experience in teamwork and collaboration.
Desirable skills/experience you may have:
- Further education in Design.
- Specific GM retail experience.
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 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.
Product Developer, General Merchandise in Bracknell employer: John Lewis Partnership
Contact Detail:
John Lewis Partnership Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Developer, General Merchandise in Bracknell
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research John Lewis and Waitrose, their values, and recent projects. This will help you tailor your conversations during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of the team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews! Think about how your experience aligns with the role of Product Developer. Practice answering common questions and have examples ready that showcase your creativity and teamwork skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the John Lewis Partnership family.
We think you need these skills to ace Product Developer, General Merchandise in Bracknell
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for product development shine through! We want to see how your creativity aligns with our values at Waitrose and John Lewis. Share specific examples of your past experiences that highlight your love for innovative products.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Product Developer. Highlight relevant experience in general merchandise and any successful projects you've led. We’re looking for a strong track record, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Be sure to connect your skills and experiences directly to the responsibilities outlined in the job description. We love seeing candidates who can articulate their vision for the role!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through the JLP Jobs website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis Partnership
✨Know Your Product Development Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your product development knowledge, especially in the context of general merchandise. Be ready to discuss your previous experiences and how they align with the role at Waitrose. Highlight any successful projects you've led and the impact they had on the business.
✨Showcase Your Creative Side
Since creativity is key in this role, prepare to share examples of innovative products you've developed. Think about how you can demonstrate your design skills and how you balance creativity with commercial viability. Bring along a portfolio if you have one!
✨Understand the Brand Values
Familiarise yourself with Waitrose and John Lewis's brand values, especially around quality and sustainability. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to these values through your work in product development. This shows that you're not just a fit for the role, but also for the company culture.
✨Prepare for Collaboration Questions
Given the cross-functional nature of the role, expect questions about teamwork and collaboration. Think of specific examples where you've successfully worked with different teams or stakeholders. Highlight your communication skills and how you manage relationships with suppliers and internal teams.