At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic initiatives to enhance customer experiences across Waitrose shops and digital platforms.
- Company: Join the largest employee-owned business in the UK, known for innovation and quality.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working options, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Exciting career growth opportunities in a dynamic and inclusive workplace.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on retail strategy while collaborating with diverse teams.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategic planning, project management, and customer-centric design.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 90000 £ per year.
This is a rare opportunity to step into a high-visibility, strategic leadership role at the heart of the John Lewis Partnership. You will be fundamental to how our Waitrose physical shops and digital platforms work together to serve millions of our customers. As the Retail Strategy & Design Manager, you will act as the strategic architect for our shops. You will be responsible for defining and maintaining a clear Horizon 1–3 roadmap that balances immediate operational gains with long-term transformational innovation. By synthesising market trends and competitor intelligence from the Partnership Strategy team, you will lead the Retail Research and Design teams to develop customer centric value propositions and consistent journeys across both physical shops and Retail Product teams. Ultimately, you will serve as the vital bridge between high level ambition and measurable execution.
Key responsibilities
- Defining a clear Horizon 1–3 roadmap for all retail-owned priorities.
- Balancing immediate operational gains with long-term strategic innovation.
- Leading the Retail Research and Design teams to build customer-centric propositions.
- Synthesising market trends and competitor data into actionable retail insights.
- Partnering with Retail Product teams to ensure a consistent customer and Partner journey.
- Managing the end to end lifecycle of Proof of Concepts (PoC) to validate assumptions.
- Determining annual investment priorities alongside key Retail Leads.
- Creating rigorous measurement frameworks to prove return on investment (ROI).
- Bridging the gap between high-level ambition and measurable shop-floor execution.
Essential skills / experience
- Experience building Horizon 1-3 roadmaps and managing innovation lifecycles.
- Proficient in constructing business cases and identifying investment returns.
- Skilled at translating complex customer data and market insights into practical, customer-centric retail solutions.
- Expert at turning future retail trends into simple, actionable design principles that can be easily executed on the shop floor.
- Highly effective in managing senior stakeholders and aligning multi-disciplinary teams.
- People management experience.
Desirable Experience
- Experience in Project & Change Management.
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.
Retail Strategy & Design Manager in Bracknell employer: John Lewis
As a Retail Sales Assistant at John Lewis in Horsham, you will be part of a renowned company that values its employees and fosters a supportive work culture. With competitive pay and the opportunity for uncapped commission, you can grow your skills in a dynamic retail environment while enjoying flexible working hours. John Lewis is committed to employee development, ensuring that you have access to training and growth opportunities that make your role both meaningful and rewarding.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Retail Strategy & Design Manager in Bracknell
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like John Lewis, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like John Lewis!
We think you need these skills to ace Retail Strategy & Design Manager in Bracknell
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at John Lewis, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at John Lewis and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show John Lewis that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
