Loss Prevention Investigator

Permanent position 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 in the Southwest of England. 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. You will 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, building criminal cases resulting in arrest and prosecution.
• Use data and in-store intelligence and Security Systems to identify and analyse trends and similarities across active cases, collaborating with the wider LPI team to share information.
• 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 appropriately.
• 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 processes, 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 of 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. 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 use your expertise and enthusiasm to bring to our customers the irreplaceable pleasures of a good bookshop.

In return, you will be working in a role that can make a real difference to Waterstones, in a friendly and dynamic team, and 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.