Technical Design Manager

We are looking for a Technical Design Manager to lead the production and maintenance of
shopfit standards, schedules, and technical drawings across all Waitrose formats. You will be the authoritative point of contact for Waitrose technical standards regarding equipment, signage, and shop fitting.

In addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract Night Premium at a rate of £5.25 per hour. This will also apply to existing Partners who have enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.

• Expected salary - Salary up to £62,000 depending on experience.

• 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. The team aim for 2-3 days per week in the office to connect. Travel to new stores, investment stores and suppliers will be part of this role.

• Location - Bracknell Head Office

Key responsibilities

• Standards Management: Produce accurate technical standards and specifications, ensuring they are accessible to all internal and external stakeholders.

• External Agency Oversight: Allocate drawing work to external design and third-party agencies, ensuring the quality is suitable for procurement.

• Collaboration: Work with Store Concept Designers to ensure new designs follow the Stage Gate approval process, are cost effective and technically accurate.

• Innovation: Create and recommend innovations, including the use of AI, to maintain an industry-leading suite of standards.

• Sustainability: Recommend new material and design solutions to support our Carbon plan targets by minimizing environmental impact.

• Continuous Improvement: Oversee regular feedback loops with internal customers, suppliers and contractors to improve processes and service level agreements.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• Proven ability to read store plans, technical manufacturing, and architectural drawings

• Architectural or product design experience including working with shopfitters to develop technical design solutions for concept drawing

• Experience in retail design development and practical application of design implementation on site working with construction SME’s

• Administration of data systems and capable of developing reports, using various software systems

• Analytical mindset & problem solving skills, demonstrating high levels of organisation, prioritisation and communication skills

Desirable skills/experience you may have

• Proficiency AutoCAD, REVIT and AI tools.

• BA(Hons) Degree in 3D design, architecture, or a similar field.

• Experience in managing building and/or design and planning standards and communicating change

• A strong understanding of the Waitrose brand

• Experience managing third-party resources such as architects and shopfitters

• Project management experience

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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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