Packaging Innovation and Delivery Manager

The Waitrose Own Brand team are responsible for developing and protecting the strategy and design of over 900 own-label products, including our Essential Waitrose, Cooks' Ingredients, and No.1 Waitrose ranges.

The multidisciplinary Own Brand team includes key roles responsible for product strategy, quality, and brand management.

In addition to developing our core own-label ranges, the team oversees specialized supplier projects - such as partnering directly with Tony's Open Chain to source cocoa ethically, and works alongside the Branded Innovation team to bring new external brands to Waitrose shelves under “BrandsNew”.

And speaking of BrandsNew, this is a Brand New vacancy that we are now recruiting. It’s an exciting role reporting into the Head of Own Brand, Central Ops. You will be responsible for setting the strategic direction for packaging development, with 4 direct reports.

Key info:

• Salary - £71,700 - £111,000

• Contract type - This position is 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. Alongside this we have also signalled a clear intent for Central teams to work ‘more in person than not.’ For the Waitrose Own Brand Team this means 3 days a week of in-person time but it is not a hard and fast rule requiring everyone to be in the office 3 days a week. Supplier visits, industry meetings, time in our shops and time in the office all contribute to this requirement. Please also note, overseas travel may be required. 

• Location - Bracknell

• Interviews - We anticipate a 2 stage interview process. 1st stage CV review, 2nd stage formal interview in person at our Bracknell campus, likely Fri 14th August. 

Key responsibilities:

As a Leader within the Waitrose Own Brand team, you will set the strategic direction for packaging development, ensuring Waitrose maintains a market-leading, sustainable, and highly differentiated position. 

You are the "business conscience" on packaging, acting as a Centre of Expertise that translates global trends, customer insights, and emerging legislation into actionable Own Brand material and format strategies.

You will lead a team of packaging specialists to identify and implement innovative packaging solutions that drive commercial value and deliver against our ambitious Ethics & Sustainability (E&S) targets. Acting as a strategic enabler, you will integrate packaging early into the New Product Development (NPD) process, ensuring that the "Waitrose First" culinary vision is perfectly presented in functional, cost-effective, and safe prototypes.

You will provide the strategic oversight necessary to navigate complex regulatory landscapes, such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), to protect the Partnership from financial and reputational risk while strengthening our reputation as an industry innovator.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need:

• Extensive experience in a strategic packaging role within a retail or FMCG environment.

• Proven track record of delivering complex sustainability or material-change programs.

• Experience in leading and developing high-performing specialist teams.

Desirable skills/experience you may have:

• Active participation in industry committees or trade bodies (e.g., BSI, WRAP).

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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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