Loss Prevention Investigator

Based in Southwest England (Portsmouth, Southampton, Plymouth, Exeter, Truro), we are looking for a Loss Prevention Investigator to join our friendly and dynamic team here at Waterstones. Your role will be to protect staff, customers, property, and the business by ensuring that all physical security equipment is in working condition, following up on all workplace incidents and advising teams how best to respond to incidents that may involve violence. To deliver the Loss Prevention strategy as outlined by the Group Loss Prevention Manager.

What you will be doing:

• Be a field-based security and shrink expert, working to identify potential risks/losses to reduce loss in your given area.
• Act as the Loss Prevention contact in your designated area, providing advice and guidance to Regional Managers, Cluster Leaders, Bookshop Managers, and Booksellers on all aspects of Loss Prevention.
• Prioritise and visit Waterstones, Foyles, and Blackwells stores in your remit based on risk to the business.
• Reduce shrinkage and cash loss by identifying risk in stores and providing solutions, coaching, and support to store teams.
• Proactively investigate reported thefts, data, and missing stock to identify and apprehend offenders.
• Build criminal cases resulting in arrest and prosecution of offenders.
• Use data and in-store intelligence and Security Systems to identify and analyse trends and similarities across active cases and collaboratively work with the wider LPI team to glean and share information to identify and prosecute offenders.
• Establish professional working relationships with internal stakeholders, law enforcement, and outside agencies to further reduce risk and loss to the business.
• Work in collaboration with Maintenance and Audit teams to ensure compliance and safety standards are consistently met.
• Complete all set tasks within the given timeframe and escalate identified issues in an appropriate and effective manner.
• Undertake other requests and projects as set by the Loss Prevention manager to support the Business Operation.

What we need from you:

• Significant demonstrable experience dealing with shrink and crime resolution within a retail or policing environment.
• Knowledge of loss prevention policies and practices.
• Knowledge of case building, the criminal justice system and its process, as well as judicial interventions: CBOs, civil recovery methods etc.
• IT literate - Efficient in using a variety of platforms and software, including Microsoft Office, Outlook, in-house transaction monitoring software, and intelligence sharing programs.
• Knowledge on data mining best practices, industry standard investigation and interview techniques (PACE, WZ etc) preferable.
• Full UK driving licence.

Person Profile:

• A clear, concise communicator, both written and verbally.
• Approachable and personable.
• Self-motivated.
• Ability to influence at all levels of the organisation, working to win hearts and minds.
• Able to manage own time and prioritise effectively.
• Inquisitive, calm, and professional approach.
• Ability to make decisions as needed with minimal supervision.
• Adaptable and resilient.
• Coachable and values development.

Why work for Waterstones:

At Waterstones, everything we do is about our customers, and we work hard to provide them with the best possible shopping experience, one that will make them want to visit time and time again. We strive to consistently deliver fantastic customer service, whether recommending a book or a gift, keeping our shops beautifully stocked, helping out in our lovely Café W’s, or keeping the wheels turning efficiently behind the scenes. Working with us, you will get to use your expertise and enthusiasm to bring to our customers the irreplaceable pleasures of a good bookshop (including a virtual one). In return, you will be working in a role that can make a real difference to Waterstones, work in a friendly and dynamic team and get to benefit from our excellent discount in shops and waterstones.com. If you have the relevant essential experience and you are interested, we would love to hear from you.