At a Glance
- Tasks: Own ranging decisions and create tailored layouts that enhance customer shopping experiences.
- Company: Join a leading retail partnership focused on quality and customer satisfaction.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Permanent and 9-month secondment opportunities available with excellent career progression.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on how customers shop while working with a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: Experience in retail, strong analytical skills, and a passion for customer-centric design.
The predicted salary is between 38400 - 57600 £ per year.
About the role
As a key player in the Space, Range & Formats team, you will take ownership of ranging and assortment decisions for core layout space. You will play a vital role in ensuring our ‘customer first’ vision is physically represented on the shelf, providing a consistent and easy-to-shop experience for our customers. You will use category and customer insight to execute tailored ranges and planograms that delight customers, deliver for the business and are operationally efficient for our stores. Through building strong relationships with category teams, you act as the essential link between commercial plans and retail reality.
Please be aware there is a permanent opportunity and a 9 month secondment opportunity available on this vacancy.
Salary: £38,400 - £57,600
Expected Salary: up to £45,000, depending on experience
Contract type: There are two positions available; a permanent position and a 9 month secondment opportunity.
Working pattern/flexible working: The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business. The Space Range and Format team are in person 3 days a week in the office or in store to connect and on a more ad-hoc basis to attend key meetings.
Location: This role is a hybrid role home location is Bracknell.
Interview Dates: Interviews planned for week commencing 10th August.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the delivery of brilliantly curated ranges across all channels, ensuring the product mix accurately reflects the Partnership’s quality and value credentials on the shelf.
- Apply the ‘Customer Mission’ approach in executing range classes and tailored layouts that ensure local relevance and ‘shop-ability’ for our customers.
- Actively participate in Category Pods, providing the Space and Range perspective to support commercial decisions and ensuring the voice of the customer is represented in layout discussions.
- Create and maintain visually impactful planograms that support customer navigation, are commercially optimised and operationally efficient with no errors and on time.
- Regularly review category performance using Tableau and Dunnhumby, identifying and flagging opportunities for improvement.
- Provide practical feedback on packaging design and ensure all product dimensions facilitate efficient stocking and maximise shelf space.
Essential skills/experience you’ll need
- Retail & Merchandising Foundation: Experience within a retail environment (Head Office or Store-based), with a basic understanding of Merchandising, Range Planning, or Layout principles.
- Customer-Centric Mindset: An understanding of how customers shop and a desire to move beyond 'gap-filling' to create layouts that reflect specific shopping missions and habits.
- Technical Aptitude: Proficiency in (or a strong desire to learn) space management systems such as Relex CCM. A high level of IT literacy is essential.
- Data Competency: Solid analytical skills with a strong investigative approach. Competent in the use of Excel and Tableau to interpret category data and identify basic trends or stock issues.
- Commercial Fluency: A sophisticated understanding of retail finance and space metrics, including Profit Density, Weighted Distribution, and Stocking Point logic.
- Stakeholder Accountability: Proven experience in holding stakeholders to account.
Space Planner 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 Space Planner 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 Space Planner 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!
