Lead Programme Delivery Manager

At a glance

Waitrose & Partners prides itself on being different. Our intention is to combine the convenience of a supermarket with the expertise and service of a specialist food shop. Add this to our unswerving dedication to our customers and the highest respect for our suppliers (the provenance and traceability of our food is vital) and, of course, the environment and you can start to see we’re a bit more than ‘just’ a supermarket.

We have an exciting opportunity with a brand new role to join Waitrose as a Lead Programme Delivery Manager, reporting into our Head of Packaging Design & Delivery. 

We know flexible working is important to you, and it is important to us too. 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. There will also be an expectation to visit other locations/suppliers as the need arises.

Salary: £55,400 - £88,500

Contract type: Permanent 

Interviews: w/c 13th Jan

Due to holiday leave over the festive season, there may be a delay in hearing an outcome to your application. You therefore may not hear from us until w/c 6th January.

About the role

In this role, you will be responsible for leading and developing the newly implemented gate delivery process (1VT), your focus will be to drive improvements and efficiencies - to deliver a minimum of 95% on time and in full launches across Waitrose & Partners Own Brand. Working with multiple stakeholders both internal and external,  ensuring all stages of the process are managed closely to meet the critical path, working pragmatically and proactively to deliver excellence and efficiency are the foundation to the role.

You will also:

• Actively develop and manage the overall program of Redesign/EPD/NPD through the stage gate process.  

• Use the 12 month Brand Plan and key strategic initiatives to create a long term view of the activity required - and ensure it is fully resourced. 

• Direct line manages a team of three ensuring all KPI’s are set and met inline with the Waitrose & Partners Own Brand Road Map.  

• Utilising your stakeholder management skills to collaborate closely with multiple stakeholders ensuring robust critical paths are allocated to deliver high quality designs and to meet commercial deadlines. Working with both internal and external stakeholders across all levels winning hearts and minds to ensure a smooth-running process,  ensuring that projects are managed, prioritised and delivering the packaging workflow from brief, through spec approval, artwork to file release and printed file.

• Ensure that a planned own label program of work is in place and that the gated process is planned, managed, tracked-reported and actioned to ensure delivery of the program of work on time with the process followed and all stakeholders engaged fully aligned to the key launch cycle milestones

This role would suit someone that is project driven with good IT skills, who is tenacious and organised, with a can do attitude. 

Please see a full job description attached to this advert. Internal Partners can access here.

Essential skills you’ll need

• Exceptional stakeholder management

• Communicating at all levels of the business with strong influencing skills

• Strong experience of working collaboratively

• Working under pressure, at pace, agile and flexible

• Retailer experience

• Strong understanding of print and reprographics, and working within a Gate process

Benefits of the Partnership and the role

• - Hybrid Working

• ️ - Full time working holiday entitlement 25 days holiday, plus public and bank holidays (this is prorated for part time hours)

• ⚖ - 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 your Earning Membership period. That’s 25% off in John Lewis (12% off electrical products, some exclusions apply) and 20% in Waitrose (some exclusions apply). You’ll also be able to nominate someone you live with to share your discount

• -  Simple cycle to work support scheme

• - Private Healthcare scheme, run by Bupa, is offered to Partners at levels 1-6 . It provides Partners who need medical attention, the ability to obtain it with minimum interference to their work

• - 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 - ttps://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").

• 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. 

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