Ethics & Sustainability Performance & Engagement Officer

John Lewis Partnership Plc; Bracknell; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Join an iconic UK retail brand as an Ethics & Sustainability Officer. You'll support projects and initiatives aligned with the Waitrose strategy for Ethics & Sustainability, enhancing the Partnership's position as a market leader. The role includes managing data, developing policies, and engaging with stakeholders to ensure compliance and effectiveness.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in implementing ethics and sustainability initiatives.
• Ability to manage complex tasks efficiently and with initiative.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and project management.

Responsibilities

• Deliver selected E&S projects and manage data for reporting.
• Conduct research for strategy formulation and policy development.
• Engage with stakeholders to improve compliance and engagement.

Skills

Data analysis

Strong written and verbal communication

Organizational skills

People skills

IT and GSuite knowledge

Attention to detail

Passion for sustainability

Education

Sustainability related qualification

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE

Are you an Ethics & Sustainability expert? Would you like to work for one of the UK's iconic retail brands? We have an amazing opportunity to join our Ethics & Sustainability team.

As an Ethics & Sustainability Officer, Performance and Engagement, you will directly support the delivery of the Waitrose strategy for Ethics & Sustainability (E&S), in line with the wider business strategy and Purpose.

This will be a varied role delivering selected E&S projects, developing policies, horizon scanning, developing guidance for other teams, managing data and supporting the reporting and assurance process to enhance and differentiate the Partnership's position as a market leader in E&S. You will also deliver events management and general administration to support the goals of the E&S team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Working flexibly across any area of the E&S team to deliver specific outcomes and support in peaks of work
• Project scoping, delivery, management and support
• Data collection, analysis, reporting, communications as required. Using your data analysis skills to develop reports and make recommendations.
• Engaging with Head Office Partners, suppliers or branches to improve compliance or engagement on a specific subject
• Making recommendations for embedding specific initiatives into 'business as usual'
• Developing internal and external communications material as required, including presentations, briefing and guidance packs, website content, letters and meeting papers. Supporting the delivery of stakeholder events ensuring they meet the standards expected of the Partnership.
• Conducting research for internal and external horizon scanning, strategy formulation and policy development.
• Providing general administration support for the E&S team including project management and meeting support.

Essential Skills

• Proven experience of implementing ethics and sustainability initiatives in a business context
• Ability to complete complex work at pace, and also act on your own initiative. A goal-oriented mindset
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent organisational skills - demonstrable ability to rapidly assimilate and organise information and comfortable with new information and ambiguity
• Strong team player with excellent people skills - experience working with a network of stakeholders, and an ability to build relationships quickly
• Good IT, GSuite knowledge and data analysis skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Strong interest in and passion for sustainability

Desirable Skills

• Experience in multiple areas of E&S; Environment, Agriculture & Responsible Sourcing, Social Impact & Health in a retail, food or FMCG context
• Ethics & Sustainability Policy development
• Sustainability related qualification

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Closing Date:
June 23, 2025

Pay:
£36,500.00 - £55,000.00 Annual

Contract Type:
Permanent

Hours of Work:
35 - Monday to Friday - 09:00-17:30

Job Level:
Partnership Level 8

Where You'll Be Working:
Bracknell Campus, Doncastle Road, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 8YA

ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP

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 also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.

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.