Space Range & Formats Insight Manager

Unlocking Strategic Impact: A Professional Review of the Space Range & Formats Insight Manager Role at John Lewis Partnership

The Space Range & Formats Insight Manager position at the John Lewis Partnership offers a compelling opportunity for a seasoned professional to significantly influence the strategic direction of one of the UK's most cherished retailers. Internally known as a Strategic Range and Micro Space Analyst, this role is central to shaping the customer experience and driving performance within the convenience channel. For individuals passionate about leveraging data to craft strategic visions and make a tangible impact, this opportunity represents a powerful career progression.

Advantages & Key Opportunities for Candidates:

• Strategic Influence and High Impact: This role is designed for strategic thinkers. You won't just analyze; you'll be responsible for shaping and developing the Range and Micro Space strategic direction for the entire estate. This offers immense scope for a candidate looking to directly influence business performance, identify key strategic opportunities, and drive significant improvements in the convenience channel.
• Data-Driven Excellence: At the heart of this position is a deep dive into data. You will utilize advanced data from Commercial and Partnership data platforms (via Waitrose Analytics), employing data mining, extraction, manipulation, and modelling techniques to deliver performance improvements. This is an ideal environment for those with a strong analytical mindset seeking to apply and grow their technical and interpretive skills.
• Unique Partnership Culture: As the UK's largest employee-owned business, the John Lewis Partnership offers a distinctive and supportive work environment. Being a 'Partner' means sharing in both the responsibilities and the rewards, fostering a collaborative, purpose-driven culture where collective success is paramount. This can be a significant advantage for candidates seeking a value-aligned and engaging workplace.
• Flexible & Hybrid Working Model: The Partnership embraces a modern hybrid working approach, allowing a blend of office and home-based work. With an aim for around two days a week in the Bracknell Head Office for team connection and key meetings, this offers valuable flexibility to help balance personal and professional needs.
• Competitive Remuneration & Stability: The role offers an attractive salary range of £59,000 - £110,000 (dependent on experience), reflecting the strategic importance and required expertise. Both permanent and 12-month fixed-term contract/secondment options are available, providing career stability within a reputable organisation.
• Leadership & Influencing Development: Beyond analysis, you will be expected to challenge, drive, and support others to deliver the strategy. This includes building and maintaining positive relationships with key teams and stakeholders, and facilitating/leading teams, offering substantial opportunities to hone your leadership and influencing capabilities.

Key Considerations for Candidates:

• High-Expectation Strategic Role: This position requires a professional with exceptional space and range knowledge and experience in managing and improving Range and Primary Space Performance. Candidates must be prepared to set clear strategic direction for the short, medium, and long term, demonstrating a robust track record in strategic leadership and execution.
• Advanced Analytical Rigour Required: A deep proficiency in analytical thinking, data manipulation, modelling, and the ability to draw robust recommendations from multiple, complex data sources is essential. Candidates must be comfortable with intricate data sets and translating these into clear, commercially viable insights.
• Mastery of Stakeholder Engagement: Success will heavily depend on your ability to build and maintain strong relationships with diverse stakeholders across Commercial, Partnership data platforms, and range building teams. Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, coupled with a proven ability to influence and facilitate teams, are critical.
• Adaptability & Resilience in a Fast-Paced Environment: The role operates within a fast-paced, customer-centric retail environment, often requiring work under time pressure and with a degree of ambiguity. Candidates must demonstrate strong judgment, adaptability, and the ability to retain attention to detail in dynamic situations.
• Bracknell Head Office Base: While offering hybrid working, the role is based at the Bracknell Head Office, with an expectation of regular in-office presence for collaborative work and key meetings. Prospective candidates should consider their commuting arrangements to this location.

Who Should Apply?

This opportunity is ideally suited for an experienced insight or category manager, or a strategic analyst with a robust background in retail ranging and space optimisation, particularly within convenience channels. If you are driven by leveraging data to formulate and execute strategic change, possess exceptional influencing skills, and are eager to contribute to a unique employee-owned business culture, this role offers a significant and rewarding career challenge.

The Space Range & Formats Insight Manager role is more than just a job; it's a chance to be a strategic architect within a forward-thinking retail giant. It offers a unique blend of analytical depth, strategic influence, and a supportive, employee-owned culture. If you are ready to shape the future of convenience retail and are looking for a role where your insights directly translate into business success, we encourage you to explore this exciting opportunity.