Manager, Product Development

At a Glance

Contract Type: Permanent

Location:Bracknell based with hybrid working with the expectation to come into a Bracknell or Victoria office typically 1-2 days per week, occasional visits to suppliers and branches when required

Salary Range: £71,100.00 - £113,700.00 per annum

Partnership Level: 5

About The Role

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Waitrose Product Development team as a Manager, Product Development.

The successful candidate will formulate, direct and deliver a customer focused product development strategy that delivers to the Own Brand plan, the customer plan, brand positioning and the innovation sales target.

You will work with stakeholders to develop short, medium and long term strategic direction for categories in terms of product and packaging. By working with the supply base and utilising the Waitrose chef team, champion customer first innovation and ensure the brand position on quality and innovation is met at all times.

Some of your key responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Work with the Head of Product Innovation on the formulation of the OB plan led by Brand and Customer
• Translate the overarching strategic direction of the OB plan to enable PDs to develop category specific plans for their aligned areas, including market-leading innovation opportunities. Ensure plans are optimised to deliver our OB plan ambition
• Drive team to deliver the product development strategy that details the short, medium and long-term product & innovation plan for their aligned categories through analysis of market, consumer, food, ingredient, health trends & customer insights to identify innovation / renovation opportunities for OB. Delivering clear and robust financial and customer benefits
• Be a beacon for OB and drive opportunities for newness and differentiation by always being on top of what is trending, new and distinctive, utilising a wide range of available insight and emerging market data. Measure and review sales of Key OB ranges, new products & competitor activity, with recommendations on product improvements / new products that will feed back up into our OB plan
• Build strong relationships with key suppliers to Influence the development of the supply base to ensure sufficient NPD capability to deliver future plans and instigate innovation sessions with these suppliers. At all times be an ambassador for the Waitrose brand
• Active role in aligned category LT, driving & updating on the OB agenda and being a custodian of quality
  
  

Essential Skills

• Have significant experience in a Product Development or innovation role in retail, manufacturing, food service or equivalent
• First rate food knowledge in either of the following industries: Food first retail, FMCG Manufacturing or Hospitality industry
• Degree of equivalent in a food related subject
• An analytical and strategic approach to work, with the ability to think commercially & to influence & lead internal stakeholders to ensure buy-in and alignment across cross- functional teams
• Ability to operate across multiple cross functional teams
• Excellent communication skills and ability to adapt to different audiences
• Successful & motivational people management experience, with the ability to role model our behaviours & have a positive and growth mindset to create a high performing team and able inspire a team to pursue opportunities and to recover from setbacks and challenges
• The ability to juggle multiple and often conflicting priorities
  
  

Benefits Of The Partnership And The Role

• - Full - time working holiday entitlement 25 days holiday, plus public and bank holidays
• - Car allowance
• - Health Care cover
• - Excellent work life balance, including focus on well being and flexible working and our marketing 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 probation. 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
• - We’re really proud of our exclusive hotels based in some of Britain’s most beautiful areas and once you’ve been with us for three months, you’re welcome to explore them
• - 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 1st stage 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

You can view a copy of the full job outline here (internal only)

Internal use only