Manager Planning, Merchandise & End to End Stock

About the role

We have a great opportunity for a Planning Manager to join the Merchandising & Stock team and play a key role in the Supply Chain transformation programme and leading a large team of merch professionals to drive key business results.
In this role you will lead part of the Merchandising team (Non Food and General Merchandise teams) to deliver all elements of the stock replenishment plan, ensuring that they individually and collectively play a full part in the success of the Category Proposition Group (CPG), and that the critical balance between availability, wastage and stock holding is achieved.
You will play a key part in setting the Supply Chain strategy and future direction of Merchandising working with the Category Proposition Groups and Retail. Supporting your team to develop and grow whilst owning all Merchandising activities within the CPG, and bringing expertise and knowledge from across the supply chain in order to represent the end to end view (including supply chain) in those discussions.
This role requires strong team leadership, a solid grasp of merchandise and stock planning and understanding of how the trade plan, and wider business strategies impact end to end stock planning

• Expected salary - Salary up to £90,000 depending on experience.

• Contract type - This position is a Secondment/Fixed Term contract for 2 years until 2028 with the ambition for it to be made a permanent contract.

• 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 team aim for 2-3 days per week in the office to connect. Some weekend work may be required.

• Location - Bracknell Head Office

• Interviews - will be held on 12th and 13th January 2026

Key responsibilities

Some of your key Responsibilities include:

• Working with Trading to support and influence the assortment planning process, ensuring all Category Proposition Group KPIs are balanced

• Working collaboratively with managers across Trading, Supply Chain and Retail to support continuous operational improvement in the end to end supply chain 

• Leading Partners within multi-disciplinary and matrix teams to achieve and deliver work, in line with business outcomes and with the voice of the customer at the heart of decision making. 

• Leading engagement with suppliers to drive operational and commercial improvements in the end to end supply chain, including changes to the operating model 

• Representing all aspects of Merchandising and the broader operation in Trading discussions, influencing the creation and implementation of joint business plans and commercial supplier agreements

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• Proven experience leading high-performing teams in end to end stock planning, analytics, or supply chain planning

• Evidence of managing high performing team 

• Evidence of managing stakeholders, suppliers and customer relationships 

• Transformational mindset

Desirable skills/experience you may have

• Working knowledge of JDA (ordering and fulfilment)

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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.