General Manager- Commercial Operations Leckford

Step into a pivotal role on the Leckford leadership team, taking full accountability for all commercial operations spanning retail, leisure, food processing and farming You will leverage your expert commercial and operational skills to secure a profitable estate and define brand value for Waitrose & Partners through our Leckford brand and our wider role as the Waitrose Centre for Regenerative Agriculture. Lead with agility, driving a fast-learning, cross-functional culture that champions operational excellence and a relentless customer focus to deliver the Leckford business plan and its significant contribution to the Partnership's plan and purpose. You will provide strategic direction and hold ultimate accountability for executing effective, safe, legal, and compliant businesses, building long-term resilience through expert investment and business planning.

• Expected salary - Salary up to £100,000 depending on experience.

• Contract type - This position is a Permanent contract.

• Working pattern/flexible working - Full time 35 hours per week with occasional weekend working.  4 days a week will be required at the estate with an option for 1 day working at home. We also require candidates to attend our Head Office locations in Bracknell / London as and when meetings are required. 

• Location - Leckford Estate

• Interviews- We are aiming for these to take place towards the end of June

Key responsibilities

• Set clear intent, direction and operating standards for departments (farming, food processing, retail, leisure) to achieve Leckford business plan and financial performance.

• Ensure exemplary external and internal audit and health and safety performance to drive customer and commercial outcomes.

• Own business processes and policy frameworks, leading continuous improvement to deliver lean, simple and fast operations.

• Ensure effective, planned, timely delivery for investment projects within budgeted spend.

• Deliver the Leckford strategy through translating into an annual business plan, setting clear financial targets and drive performance through KPIs.

• Hold Operational Managers accountable for optimising delivery of their department performance, their wider contribution to Leckford and Waitrose.

• Own commercial relationships with Waitrose team, proactively managing supply relationships and commercial terms 

• Empower and support teams to make informed decisions and resolve challenges. Set the conditions for high performing teams by creating and maintaining an environment, underpinned by inclusivity and collaboration, in which individuals are motivated and supported to work seamlessly and flexibly to deliver team and estate outcomes.

• Ensure sufficient capability and resources are in place to support the delivery of business plans for Leckford. Ensure all Partners are trained, developed and supported in their roles

• Build internal and external networks to keep abreast of key technological best practice, customer requirements, market conditions and trends to manage the ongoing evolution and development of propositions within your remit. Highlight commercial opportunities and represent Leckford externally ensuring that it retains a positive brand reputation.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• An experienced leader with significant relevant technical and operational expertise across at least one of  farming, food processing, retail and leisure industries.

• Technically minded, customer focused and data insight driven. Strong commercial and operational acumen and the knowledge, skill and conviction to take key business decisions.

•  Experience of supporting others to embrace change and of creating and developing high performing teams. Ability to attract, lead, motivate and develop first class talent.

• Possessing credibility and impact with their own teams and stakeholders in a business. Able to quickly gain confidence and trust through impeccable technical and business judgement, good communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Deep understanding of and commitment to the Partnership’s values. Show passion to do the best for our business and role model values.

• The successful candidate will need a full UK driving licence

Desirable skills/experience you may have

• A track record of improving team capability to deliver efficient and effective operational outcomes across multiple, diverse departments and locations.

• LEAN/Six sigma trained

• Previous land based or food sector employment

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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. 

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