Category Strategy Manager

Our Purpose

Working in Partnership for a happier world – our shared Purpose that guides us in everything we do and inspires 3 important principles; happier people, happier business, happier world. The John Lewis Partnership is a truly unique business, one that seeks to make a positive difference to the lives of everyone.

At a glance

This is a hybrid role, therefore your time will be split between working from home and the Bracknell Head Office.

Salary - £65,000 - £98,000 per annum plus car allowance

Contract type - Permanent

This role is known internally as ‘Category Manager’.

​About the role

This is an exciting opportunity for a Category Strategy Manager to join the Commercial Planning team and be a key member of the Category Proposition Group Leadership team. You will be responsible for supporting the Head of CPG in developing an ambitious yet realistic 1-3 year commercial plan for the CPG, which defines the priority areas for investment (eg new product development, corporate responsibility, marketing support) and other areas of focus in support of the the overarching 1-3 year Commercial and Customer strategic Plan (e.g. COGs and efficiency). The Category Strategy Manager will deliver specific projects in support of delivering the overall CPG plan, bringing together data and insight to create clear Category strategy plans and will regularly review progress against both the overall CPG plan and the individual category strategies.

Some of your key responsibilities will include

• Delivering the Category strategy projects for the CPG area that you business partner (as well as other possible cross directorate projects) 

• Acting as the voice of the customer in the CPG team keeping up-to-date with market trends, competitor and supplier activity and ensuring that Waitrose performance is understood (and held to account) against this context

• Working as part of the category management team to embed the new thinking on category roles and new commercial performance tool outputs into the category management process - with a focus on continuous improvement 

What will you be doing?

• Working with the CPG leadership team, responsible for developing the 1-3 year commercial plan for the CPG which includes the priority areas for investment, category strategy, COGs and efficiency and delivers against clearly defined targets (e.g. market share, sales, profit)

• Closely track performance against this and coordinate necessary inflight actions

• Using the Category Roles Framework and Category Strategy process as well as input from the lever owners to create clear and deliverable multi-year Category Strategies across the levers (eg. price, promotions, range) which deliver improved performance against customer and commercial metrics (eg market share, sales, profit)

• Steering cross functional teams of 20+ people (across Buying, Brand Development, Technical, Space, Value, Customer, Retail and Merchandising, Supply Chain) on each category strategy project and ensure they deliver against stretching customer and commercial targets with clear ownership and accountability of all required actions and follow up, benefits tracking and corrective action taken where necessary. Influencing senior stakeholders is critical

• Partnering with Commercial Managers and Value Chain Analysis team to ensure that Category strategies are supported by forward thinking and deliverable supplier strategies which deliver sufficient COGS efficiencies. Provide senior support with insight for commercial negotiations as required

• Using data & analytics from multiple sources including Customer Insight, BrandView, ShopperI, Kantar, Business Objects and suppliers to build strategies meshing all insight together to win with customers and deliver commercial targets

• Supporting Range Reviews and other lever deep-dive activities within Category Teams where appropriate and collectively drive improvements in assortment and space KPIs - including performance density, line density and in-shop efficiencies (Direct to Shelf DTS)

• Supporting the Space team, leverage the data and insights for category reviews but also day to day operational improvements - ensuring the direction and integrity of the ‘strategy’ remains on track over the 1-3 years

• Ensuring the continuous improvement of the Category strategy process - leveraging best practice and input from suppliers (where appropriate) and incorporating the latest thinking from lever owners (e.g. value, product development, CSR etc.)

• Partnering with the insight and analytics teams to ensure that we are using data and insight in strategy formulation and decision making with ever increasing sophistication

• Be the best practice insight/analytics champions in Trading - role modelling and coaching so that the Trading division is continuously upskilled in its use of data and analytics

• Focused ad hoc Category support where required

Essential skills you’ll need

• Experience in Strategy development, ideally in a retail or commercial environment

• Senior Buying or Category management experience or commercial equivalent

• Financial acumen with very high numeracy, analytical and critical thinking skills

• Extensive experience with stakeholder management and influencing

• Comfortable with presenting and skilled in data storytelling

Benefits of the Partnership and the role

• 💻 - Hybrid Working

• 🏖️ - Full time working holiday entitlement 25 days holiday, plus public and bank holidays

• ⚖ - Excellent work life balance, including focus on well being and flexible working and our market leading equal parenthood leave Policy

• 🐷 - Defined Contribution pension scheme where your contributions will be matched by the Partnership (up to 8% of pay) and, after three years’ service, you’ll receive an additional Partnership contribution of 4% of pay, regardless of whether you pay in or not

• 🤑 - You’ll get Partnership discount in store and online once you complete your Earning Membership. That’s 25% off in John Lewis & Partners (12% off electrical products) and 20% in Waitrose & Partners. You’ll also be able to nominate someone you live with to share your discount

• 🚴 - Simple cycle to work support scheme

• 💗 - Health Care cover

• 🚗 - Car allowance  

• 🏰 - We’re really proud of our exclusive hotels based in some of Britain’s most stunning areas and you’re welcome to explore them from day 1

• 🌱 - Learn more about our extensive range of exciting benefits that you could enjoy when you join us, visit - https://www.jlpjobs.com/about/benefits/  

Next Steps

• The application form consists of a CV upload followed by application questions. Please ensure you refresh the page each time you complete a task to ensure you complete everything that you need to in time. (If internal, check your Workday notifications and see further guidance on the PDW under "Internal application process")

• Once you've submitted an application the next steps of the process, if successful, are likely to include a 1 stage virtual interview

• You'll be asked about any adjustments you might need to support the recruitment process. Let us know, and we'll be sure to discuss it with you

• Thanks for your patience in the meantime and for showing an interest in joining JLP

We occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications. Therefore, we recommend you apply early.

Internal Partners can view a copy of the full job outline here.

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