At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape the future of our brand through strategic insights and impactful campaigns.
- Company: Join the largest employee-owned business in the UK, home to John Lewis and Waitrose.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and a supportive work-life balance.
- Other info: Embrace diversity and thrive in a culture of collaboration and respect.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on brand identity and customer engagement in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in brand strategy and communications, with strong stakeholder management skills.
The predicted salary is between 55500 - 88500 £ per year.
We are looking for a strategic and collaborative Brand Strategy Senior Manager to help shape the future of the John Lewis and Partnership brand. In this pivotal role, you will work closely with our Customer Strategy Lead and Strategic Category Planners to define our brand positioning and priority focus areas, ensuring our mid to long-term vision is seamlessly integrated into our Customer Plan.
By embedding deep customer insights, market intelligence and a strong understanding of channels into our communications strategy, you will partner with our creative and media experts to map out and deliver compelling campaigns that resonate with our audiences across every channel. If you are passionate about translating commercial opportunities into impactful, brand-defining work that drives engagement and meaningful growth, we would love to hear from you.
Key responsibilities:
- Partner with the Customer Strategy Lead to define the John Lewis and Partnership brand identity, embedding customer segmentation to shape our marketing and communications strategy.
- Collaborate with Strategic Category Planners and the Planning lead to identify commercial opportunities and translate them into a compelling Customer Plan, using brand and commercial metrics and a deep understanding of market trends, competitors, and customer demand to drive informed decision-making.
- Work closely with our in-house Creative Strategist and Media Lead to ensure our messaging effectively reaches key audiences across all channels, delivering high-impact content and campaigns that align with our long-term customer strategy.
Essential skills/experience you’ll need:
- Experience developing and executing brand and communications strategies in a large organisation, ideally both brand and agency side.
- Direct knowledge and experience of brand and communications strategy as a domain, including how to develop and roll out a brand positioning and associated assets across owned and paid channels.
- Customer-centric but with strong commercial acumen.
- Ability to help shape a clear point of view and execute brand and category positioning that aligns with the broader Customer and Commercial Strategy.
- Experience of translating brand strategies into a clear and coherent Customer Plan to inform Content & Campaigns developed by Brand & Marketing teams.
- Excellent stakeholder management with proven success navigating the priorities of commercial, creative and marketing teams to ensure collaboration and engagement throughout the process.
- A self-starter willing to tackle complex challenges - multi-category retail is exciting but it can prove complicated balancing brand, category, commercial and customer priorities across both a digital and physical retail estate.
Desirable skills/experience you may have:
- Further qualifications in marketing or business.
- Background in brand strategy and comms planning at a comms, media or creative agency.
- Experience in roles within Fashion, Home, Technology or Beauty marketing.
- Strong understanding of digital and content strategy with experience planning across both owned and paid media channels.
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're ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.
As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.
We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we're free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.
As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.
Important points to note:
- Some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates).
- We occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications, and therefore, we recommend you apply early.
- If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability which means you may need longer to complete your application please contact us as soon as possible.
- We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working.
Brand Strategy Senior Manager in London employer: John Lewis
John Lewis is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture where every employee is considered a Partner, sharing in the success and responsibilities of the business. With a focus on innovation and personal growth, employees benefit from flexible working arrangements and a supportive environment that encourages creativity and collaboration. Located in the heart of London, the role of Social Community Executive provides a unique opportunity to engage with a diverse community while contributing to a brand that values kindness, respect, and inclusivity.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Brand Strategy Senior Manager in London
✨Show Your Creative Side
In marketing communications, standing out is key. Get creative with your application! Consider designing a mini-campaign or pitch that highlights your skills and understanding of the brand. Tailor it for John Lewis and show them what you can bring to the table.
✨Engage in Marketing Communities
Get involved in local or online marketing communications groups. Check out platforms like Meetup for events and workshops. Networking here can lead to hidden job openings and valuable insights into the industry trends—this is where we often discover what companies like John Lewis are looking for.
✨Leverage Social Media
Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to showcase your passion for marketing communications. Share insights, articles, and your own content that resonates with the industry. Tagging or interacting with John Lewis on these platforms can catch the eye of recruiters and show you're genuinely interested in them.
✨Attend Industry Events
Keep an eye out for marketing conferences and workshops. These are great places to meet potential employers face-to-face and make connections that could land you a full-time role at John Lewis. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Brand Strategy Senior Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit John Lewis. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.
Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.
Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!
Demonstrate Your Understanding of John Lewis:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about John Lewis’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis
✨Showcase Your Creative Campaigns
Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at John Lewis will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.
✨Know Your Digital Tools Inside Out
If you’re heading into a marketing-communications role, make sure you're comfortable discussing key digital marketing tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or Hootsuite. Expect some technical questions about how you've used these tools in the past, as they'll want to gauge your hands-on experience and how you analyse data to drive marketing decisions.
✨Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions
At John Lewis, they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing
As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.
