At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive innovative retail strategies and enhance customer experiences in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join the UK's largest employee-owned business, home to John Lewis and Waitrose.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with a vibrant team culture and excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of retail evolution and make a real impact on customer journeys.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategic planning, stakeholder management, and a passion for retail innovation.
This is a brilliant opportunity to step into a high impact strategic role, driving the evolution of our Waitrose retail ecosystem. You will be fundamental to how our physical shops and customer touchpoints adapt to meet the future, ensuring our operations remain relentlessly focused on excellence.
As the Retail Strategy & Design Specialist, you will act as the true "engine room" of the team. You will be responsible for transforming visionary strides into a clear, data backed roadmap. Rooted in adaptability and a continuous improvement mindset, you will use deep subject matter expertise to ensure that every strategic move is powered by organised data and a hands on commitment to quality.
By balancing immediate operational gains with long-term ecosystem growth, you will help shape a retail environment that is both forward thinking and deeply practical. Ultimately, you will serve as the vital bridge between high level ambition and measurable execution.
In addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract Night Premium at a rate of £5.25 per hour. This will also apply to existing Partners who have enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.
Key responsibilities
- Manage the execution of key Retail Strategy initiatives, proactively driving cross functional alignment and mitigating risks across physical shops and Retail Product teams.
- Manage a clear Horizon 1–3 strategy for each retail-owned priority and capability requirements ensuring a balanced roadmap of immediate optimizations (H1), emerging opportunities (H2), and future-state innovations (H3).
- Translate market and competitor intelligence into clear, strategic implications, proposing actionable design mandates that directly inform the Retail Research and Design teams' priorities.
- Drive operational excellence for the Retail Research and Design functions, independently managing the planning and execution of strategic workshops, customer immersion sessions, and design sprints.
- Own the end-to-end Proof of Concept (PoC) lifecycle, defining the trial structure, managing in-store implementation, and ensuring robust, closed-loop feedback mechanisms are established and utilised.
- Design and implement robust measurement frameworks for all trials and PoC’s, leading the analysis of key metrics to rigorously validate strategic assumptions, inform investment decisions, and quantify return on investment (ROI) which can be considered by the business.
- Serve as the primary strategic interface for Retail Product teams, establishing and embedding design principles to ensure consistent and high-quality Customer/Partner journeys across all initiatives.
- Conduct proactive field immersion, utilising direct Partner feedback and trial insights to independently identify and escalate critical operational risks and high-value strategic opportunities.
- Actively map, engage and influence key stakeholders to align on key priorities and ways of working to enable successful strategic enablement.
Essential skills / experience
- Strategic Planning and Foresight
- Commercial & Financial Modelling
- Value Proposition Design
- Insight Synthesis
- Stakeholder & People Management
Desirable Experience
- Project & Change Management Experience
- Strategic foresight
- Product management & design
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 Specialist 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 Specialist 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 Specialist 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!
