At a Glance
- Tasks: Support retail innovation by coordinating projects and launching in-store trials.
- Company: Join the largest employee-owned business in the UK, home to John Lewis and Waitrose.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and a supportive environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of retail strategy and make a real impact on customer experiences.
- Qualifications: Experience in project management and strong communication skills are essential.
About the role
Are you ready to be at the heart of retail innovation? As our Retail Strategy & Design Support partner, you will play a pivotal role in bringing the Partnership’s future to life. This is a high impact support position where you will bridge the gap between abstract strategic ambitions and the physical reality of our shops. You will be responsible for the end to end coordination of our Horizon 1–3 initiatives, ensuring we balance immediate shop improvements with radical future innovation. Whether you are gathering competitor intelligence, organising design sprints, or physically launching Proof of Concept (PoC) trials in-store, your work will ensure that every investment case is backed by organised data and real-world results.
Key responsibilities:
- Maintaining the Horizon 1–3 roadmap and ensuring all project documentation, status reports, and strategy decks remain current.
- Coordinating the end-to-end logistics of in-store trials (PoC) and managing on-the-ground execution and Partner feedback.
- Collating market trends, competitor intelligence, and trial metrics to validate strategic assumptions and financial ROI.
- Acting as a central point of contact for Retail Product teams to ensure consistent customer and Partner journeys.
- Supporting the annual planning cycle by organizing meetings, capturing requirements, and preparing materials for sign-off.
- Providing administrative support for Research and Design teams by organising workshops, interviews, and design sprints.
Essential skills / experience:
- Experience in tracking project timelines and maintaining complex strategic roadmaps.
- Ability to understand and collate metrics to support investment cases and ROI validation.
- Experience in assisting teams to build customer-centric propositions.
- Proficiency in gathering competitor/market data and turning it into actionable summary reports.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to act as a bridge between different business functions.
Desirable Experience:
- Experience in Project & Change Management.
About The Partnership
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:
- It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays.
- Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.
- 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. 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 Support in London employer: Waitrose & Partners
Waitrose & Partners in Harlow is an excellent employer, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises customer satisfaction and teamwork. Employees benefit from comprehensive training, opportunities for career advancement, and a commitment to work-life balance, making it a rewarding place to grow your career in the retail sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Retail Strategy & Design Support in London
✨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 Waitrose & Partners, 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 Waitrose & Partners!
We think you need these skills to ace Retail Strategy & Design Support in London
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 Waitrose & Partners, 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 Waitrose & Partners 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 Waitrose & Partners that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Waitrose & Partners
✨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!
