Space Planner

As the Space Planner, in the Brand and Store Experience Directorate, you will help deliver the commercial and physical estate strategy; build optimised space blueprints and develop space strategies through in-depth assortment and shop expertise. You will deliver sales and profit improvements through planning and delivering change to shop floor space to support the propositional strategy and realise the assortment and customer strategy on the shop floor, delivering customer-centric adjacencies while supporting the business’ design and omni-channel aims. You will drive commercial return, deliver an outstanding customer journey and reduce working capital in the development of the space strategy and related projects. You will use analytical and commercial skills to plan and optimise space to deliver profitability and a great customer experience.

Salary and hours notes: Any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 attracts Night Premium at £5.25 per hour, applying to existing Partners enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.

Contract and working pattern:

• Contract type: 12 month Secondment/Fixed Term.
• Hybrid working: mix between office and home. Core office days are Monday and Tuesday; typically around three days a week in the office or visiting shops to allow collaboration and attendance of key meetings.
• Location: London Head Office campus in Pimlico. Any travel costs to the office are the candidate’s responsibility. Visits to John Lewis branches will be required and travel costs will be met in line with the travel policy.

Interviews will be held virtually w/c 22nd June 2026.

Key responsibilities:

• Create efficient and profitable use of space and deliver the proposition strategy on to the shop floor.
• Use data and storytelling to reveal and socialise accurate profit opportunities.
• Through in-depth assortment and shop knowledge and commercial & customer analysis, develop robust and insightful recommendations to optimise space performance (including services and experiences) within shops.
• Provide detailed bottom-up build to support the evolution of the Space Blueprint; determine optimum footprint and target range width.
• Influence propositional strategies with recommendations for value-additive opportunities and optimal physical estate locations.
• Support Buyers and Merchandisers and Heads of Categories in feasibility scoping and business case building.
• Translate propositional strategy into viable execution in shops with these teams.
• Provide planning expertise to the Heads of and their teams to influence proposition proposals from inception through to delivery to enhance viability and profitability.
• Collaborate cross-functionally across all physical estate and trading teams to deliver the right balance of commercial return and optimal customer journey.
• Analyse data identifying opportunities to optimise space performance.
• Collaborate with Commercial Teams to ensure space is planned to support a profitable and compelling range plan.
• Provide project briefs to store design defining the appropriate space, stock and option densities for proposed space changes (scale of project will determine level of detail).
• Confirm the financial and customer implications of any variation to brief.
• Conduct feasibility assessments for proposed space change projects outlining opportunities and risks of a range of options where appropriate.
• Effectively communicate the use of space to shops in an efficient format.

Essential skills and experience:

• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent planning, organisation and orchestration skills
• Strong commercial awareness
• Excellent cross-functional working skills and stakeholder management
• Verbal and written communication
• Experience using data including Excel and Google Suite

Desirable skills/experience:

• Experience in a Retail and/or Shop role is an advantage

Other information:

• Closing Date: June 14, 2026
• Pay: £49,000.00 - £72,000.00 Annual
• Contract Type: Temporary
• Hours of Work: 35
• Job Level: Partnership Level 7
• Where You'll Be Working: London Central Office, 1 Drummond Gate, London, SW1V 2QQ

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. We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail and continuing to innovate, adapt and diversify. We value ownership, collaboration, and respect, and strive to create an inclusive environment where Partners thrive. We emphasise flexibility and work-life balance, and support flexible working where possible. We are an employee-owned business and operate with shared rewards and responsibilities.