Own Brand Manager

Waitrose & Partners; Derby; Hybrid; GBP 53,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Waitrose & Partners seeks an Own Brand Manager to lead the strategy, guardianship, and performance of sub-brands. The role demands strong expertise in brand management, strategic planning, and cross-functional integration, aiming to drive profitable growth and deliver brand excellence while adhering to market dynamics.

Qualifications

• Experience in Own brand management or FMCG brands in significant businesses.
• Ability to translate strategy into detailed briefs.
• Experience managing complex projects from concept to execution.

Responsibilities

• Develop and champion the medium-to-long-term Own Brand business strategy.
• Lead strategic planning cycles and evaluate commercial opportunities.
• Act as the main guardian for sub-brand identity and standards.

Skills

Own brand management

Strategic planning

Project management

Market analysis

Consumer insight

Education

CIM or degree level Brand/Marketing qualification

Job description

About the role

The Own Brand Manager is a strategic and influential role responsible for leading the development, guardianship, and performance of sub-brands, ranges or projects within the Waitrose Own Brand portfolio. This position acts as the central strategic hub for Own Brand across the business, driving strategy from concept through to execution, ensuring rigorous brand identity standards are upheld, key commercial objectives are achieved, and critical cross-functional and leadership alignment is secured. Accountable for defining robust strategies and propositions based on customer insight which respond to the latest market dynamics, trends and opportunities, realising sustainable and profitable growth for Waitrose Own Brand. Responsible for engaging widely with key stakeholders on strategy and proposition developments, securing sign off and then briefing and cascading these effectively to Partners. Ensuring in all instances alignment with Waitrose strategy and that the business policy and brand standards are complied with.

• Expected salary - £53,100 - £70,000 (dependent on experience).

• Contract type - This position is a Permanent contract.

• Working pattern - 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. The Own Brand team aims for around 2/3 days a week in the office to connect and on a more ad-hoc basis and to attend key meetings.

• Location - This role is based at our Bracknell Head Office.

Key responsibilities

Own Brand Strategy & Leadership:

Develop and champion the medium-to-long-term Own Brand business strategy to drive profitable growth.

Lead strategic planning cycles by identifying and evaluating commercial opportunities and propositions using market analysis, consumer insights, and trend forecasting.

Create and deliver impactful presentations to secure strategic alignment and sign off from leadership teams.

Drive strategic integration and execution of the Own Brand agenda within significant Waitrose events and key seasonal periods.

Brand Building & Guardianship:

Act as the main guardian for the specific sub-brand or range identity, design, brand standards, and DNA.

Define & write packaging design briefs and input own brand priorities into marketing campaign briefs.

Manage and evolve sub-brand DNA and standards as required, ensuring they are always up to date.

Support teams with implementation of sub-brand DNA, tiering principles and brand standards

Ensure compliance with business policies and brand standards in relation to the Own Brand sub-brands.

Performance Monitoring & Evaluation:

Monitor and run performance reports for the Own Brand portfolio weekly, monthly, and long-term.

Understand, communicate, and interpret drivers of performance.

Track financial and market performance (sales, volume, margin, market share) and brand health (customer perception, online reviews, ratings)

Ensure the accuracy of Own Brand data.

Lead comprehensive competitor evaluation and benchmarking initiatives.

Oversee and manage the Own Brand awards submission process to drive external recognition and validate brand excellence.

Responsible for the PIR (post implementation review) of Own Brand propositions or events to inform future Own Brand strategy.

Owns the day-to-day relationship with key third parties:

Lead & manage communication & relationships between Waitrose and relevant 3rd parties e.g. Duchy or the Soil Association.

Project Management & Delivery:

Strategic oversight and management of complex Own Brand projects throughout their lifecycle, from strategy development and planning through to delivery and post-launch evaluation.

Ensure alignment between assigned projects and other Own Brand initiatives, supporting business prioritisation.

Support optimise key Own Brand processes.

Build strong relationships across Commercial and Customer teams for effective alignment, implementation & communication of Own Brands Plans and NPD.

Cross-Functional Integration:

Act as a central coordinator for Own Brand projects, fostering robust relationships and collaboration across multiple internal teams.

Essential skills/experience you'll need

Experience in Own brand management or working closely with Own brand portfolios (or FMCG brands) in a business of significant size and complexity

Proven track record in developing and executing strategies and propositions, demonstrating strategic ownership and measurable business outcomes

Experience in translating strategy into more detailed briefs and business plans

Passion for customer & innovation

Experience managing complex projects from strategic concept through to cross-functional execution and evaluation.

Experience in a consumer-facing business or retail

Ability to create a view of the future to motivate others & deal with ambiguity

Ability to effectively influence across diverse teams

Desirable skills/experience you may have

Food brand experience with track record in delivering commercial success

CIM or degree level Brand/Marketing qualification

#LI-HEADOFFICE

#LI-HYBRID

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.