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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovation and change in retail, managing projects and teams for impactful results.
- Company: Join John Lewis Partnership, a renowned retail leader committed to excellence and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team shaping the future of retail with a focus on sustainability.
- Qualifications: Experience in project management, leadership, and retail operations is essential.
- Other info: This is a temporary contract until January 2026, based in Bracknell with travel expectations.
The predicted salary is between 49000 - 72000 £ per year.
Salary: £59,800.00 - £90,000.00
Contract type: This position is a temporary contract until end January 2026.
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. The team aim for around 1-2 days a week in the office to connect and on a more ad-hoc basis to attend key meetings.
Location: This role is based at our Bracknell Head Office with expectation to travel to other locations as required.
Interviews are likely to be held on Thursday 8th May.
Key Responsibilities
As a Partner in Retail, you’re accountable for retail excellence with a relentless connection to customers and shops alike, dedicated support for today's demands, and visionary strides to shape, optimise, and revolutionise the future of retail. Rooted in adaptability, driven by a continuous improvement mindset, and fueled by a commitment to getting it right the first time, our Retail Support Teams are the dynamic force steering a thriving and innovative retail ecosystem of John Lewis Partnership. As a Retail Manager, you play a key role in executing plans, leading a dedicated team, and fostering collaboration within the retail environment. Collaborating across retail, your role extends to effective people management, plan delivery, and ensuring accountability for results. Recognising the dynamic retail landscape, your flexibility, proactive approach, and commitment to continuous improvement contribute to team resilience. Embracing development, your role is pivotal in driving team success, delivering plans, and contributing to the broader retail strategy. Your adaptability ensures sustained excellence in this dynamic retail environment.
As Retail Innovation & Change Manager, you will manage retail input into the development of major change programmes, ensuring partner, operations, and service impacts are considered. You will manage the innovation, transformation and change programmes within the Retail capability with end to end accountability. You will lead the team that identifies innovation opportunities, develops the processes, governance and ways of working that ensure the successful in-branch implementation of agreed proof of concepts, projects and initiatives into the Retail estate providing business assurance that risks have been mitigated and robust implementation plans are in place for success. You will ensure cross directorate review mechanisms are in place to inform and evolve future implementation.
Essential Skills/Experience You’ll Need
- Project & Change Management Experience
- Delivering scaled results at pace
- Ability to work across boundaries
- Successfully managing large quantities of fast changing, variable and ambiguous information
- Leadership of large teams
- Shop operations experience
We have an exciting opportunity to join our Waitrose Retail Innovation & Change team! In the role of Retail Innovation & Change Manager, you will strategically build and cultivate an innovation pipeline that is integrated and formative to retail business planning. You will ensure retail input shapes the development of major change programmes, with a keen focus on Partner, operations, and service implications. You will work cross-functionally, to create a pipeline of investment into shops, driving profitability and enhancing Partner and Customer experience to achieve sustainable, long-term growth for Waitrose shops.
Innovation & Change Manager employer: John Lewis Partnership
Contact Detail:
John Lewis Partnership Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Innovation & Change Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network with current and former employees of John Lewis Partnership. They can provide valuable insights into the company culture and the specific challenges faced in the role of Innovation & Change Manager.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in retail innovation and change management. Being able to discuss these topics during your interview will demonstrate your passion and knowledge about the industry.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed change in previous roles. Highlighting your experience with project management and leading teams will be crucial in showcasing your fit for this position.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the specific initiatives and changes that John Lewis Partnership has implemented recently. This will allow you to tailor your discussions and show how your skills can contribute to their ongoing success.
We think you need these skills to ace Innovation & Change Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Thoroughly read the job description for the Innovation & Change Manager position. Make sure you understand the key responsibilities and essential skills required, as this will help you tailor your application.
Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to highlight relevant experience in project and change management, leadership, and retail operations. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to manage large teams and deliver results at pace.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that connects your skills and experiences to the role. Emphasise your adaptability, continuous improvement mindset, and any previous successes in managing change programmes or innovation initiatives.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your CV and cover letter for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail and professionalism.
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis Partnership
✨Understand the Retail Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the current trends and challenges in the retail sector, especially those affecting John Lewis Partnership. Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with these trends and how you can contribute to innovative solutions.
✨Showcase Your Change Management Skills
Prepare specific examples of past projects where you successfully managed change. Highlight your ability to lead teams through transitions and how you ensured that all stakeholders were engaged and informed throughout the process.
✨Demonstrate Cross-Functional Collaboration
Since the role requires working across various departments, be ready to share experiences where you collaborated with different teams. Emphasise your communication skills and how you navigated any challenges that arose during these collaborations.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Anticipate questions that may ask how you would handle specific situations related to innovation and change management. Think about potential challenges in retail and how you would approach them, showcasing your problem-solving abilities.
