Lead Micro Space Planner

Co-op; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

28 days holiday

Pension contributions

Onsite gym access

Discount on Co-op products

Job summary

Co-op is seeking a Lead Micro Space Planner in Manchester to guide our Micro Space Planning team. You will define best practices, coach planners, and ensure planograms and promotions align with merchandising strategy.

You will lead with analytical insight, influence stakeholders across buying, marketing and merchandising, and contribute to continuous improvement of space planning processes in a hybrid setup.

Qualifications

• Strong experience using JDA space planning software.
• Experience coaching, developing or mentoring colleagues.
• Excellent communication, influencing and presentation skills.
• Strong analytical skills with data-driven approach to performance.
• Ability to collaborate with buying, marketing and merchandising teams.
• Excellent organisational skills and prioritisation of competing tasks.

Responsibilities

• Define and embed best practice across the Micro Space Planning team, aligning with range and merchandising strategies.
• Coach and support Micro Space Planners to improve the quality and consistency of merchandising outputs.
• Act as a subject matter expert for micro space planning and guidance across range reviews, promotions and seasonal activity.
• Create customer-focused planograms using JDA software and lead by example.
• Evaluate merchandising performance and use insights to drive continuous improvement.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, ways of working and operational efficiency.
• Build strong relationships with buying, marketing and merchandising teams to deliver business objectives.
• Support the Merchandising Manager with guidance and delegation as needed.
• Contribute to projects, trials and new initiatives that support evolving merchandising strategy.

Skills

JDA space planning

Store merchandising

Coaching & mentoring

Data analysis

Communication skills

Influencing & presentation

Relationship building

Organisational skills

Stakeholder management

Tools

JDA

Job description

Lead Micro Space Planner

£46,000 to £49,200 plus great benefits (Work Level 6A)

Manchester city centre, hybrid working between home and the office (minimum of once a week in the office) with occasional travel to visit stores

We're looking for a Lead Micro Space Planner to join our Merchandising team and help shape how we deliver exceptional merchandising solutions across our stores.

At Co-op, we're committed to creating great shopping experiences for our members and customers. You'll use your space planning expertise to support and develop our team of Micro Space Planners, embedding best practice and driving continuous improvement. By combining coaching, influencing and technical expertise, you'll help ensure we always have the right products in the right place at the right time.

If you're passionate about merchandising, developing others and finding better ways of working, we'd love to hear from you.

What you'll do

• Define and embed best practice across the Micro Space Planning team, ensuring alignment with range and merchandising strategies
• Coach and support Micro Space Planners to improve the quality, consistency and accuracy of merchandising outputs
• Act as a subject matter expert for micro space planning, providing guidance across range reviews, promotions and seasonal activity
• Create customer-focused planograms using JDA software and lead by example through your own reviews
• Evaluate merchandising performance and use insights to drive continuous improvement
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, ways of working and operational efficiency
• Build strong relationships with buying, marketing and merchandising teams to deliver business objectives
• Support the Merchandising Manager by providing expertise, guidance and delegation support when needed
• Contribute to projects, trials and new initiatives that support our evolving merchandising strategy

What you'll bring

We're committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you'll need to bring:

• Strong experience using JDA space planning software and a detailed understanding of store merchandising, inventory management and range review processes
• Experience coaching, developing or mentoring colleagues and supporting teams through change
• Excellent communication, influencing and presentation skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to use data and insights to improve performance
• The ability to build effective relationships and collaborate with a wide range of teams and colleagues
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining a strong customer focus

This role offers the opportunity to combine technical merchandising expertise with leadership and coaching responsibilities, helping shape both the capability of the team and the future of merchandising at Co-op.

Why Co-op?

• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands
• Stream - early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
• 24/7 colleague support service
• Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you'll belong

We're building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.

We're proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we'll support you.