VCA Strategy Manager

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Value Chain Analysis (VCA) Strategy Manager, you will be the focal point for setting the strategy of how we source products in the categories you support. It will be your research, analysis and presentation of the facts that will lead to strategic change. A VCA project is a “deep dive” into how food production really works, understanding the economics of the industry, to make our sourcing as cost-effective as possible. A project will typically culminate in a tender or contractual negotiations.
You will be part of a small team pursuing VCA projects in other categories. Within your own projects, you will be working closely with Trading, Product, Technical, Agriculture, Merchandising, Supply Chain, Commercial Management and our Suppliers. You will be a model for end-to-end thinking, and support building tools, templates and training to embed a “VCA mindset” across the commercial team.

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Salary - The expected salary for this role is upto £70,000

Contract type - This role is a 12 month fixed term contract.

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. The team aims for at least 1-2 days a week in the office to connect and on a more ad-hoc basis to attend key meetings but again, are flexible on this. Occasional travel to suppliers will be required. 

Key responsibilities

• You will guide the development of Waitrose’s sourcing strategy in key own brand categories. Working alongside cross-functional teams, you will have the primary ownership across all elements of a VCA project including scoping, planning, analysis, supplier engagement, internal engagement and presentation of findings and recommendations on sourcing strategy to senior managers and the commercial leadership team.

• Working in partnership with Trading, you will coordinate tenders, and negotiate and develop complex buying models / long term agreements with Waitrose’s biggest suppliers. 

• You will be responsible for offering guidance and constructive feedback to the entire VCA team, while also facilitating strategic sourcing transformations throughout the VCA project portfolio. 

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• Experience in food retail or food manufacturing / supply

• Advanced skills in evaluating and interpreting data, coupled with experience in delivering work that has shown significant influence

• Exceptional financial and commercial acumen

• Proficient in relationship building and influencing skills, with the ability to adapt your style to different audiences and levels of seniority

• Effective communication and presentation skills, able to tell compelling fact-based stories and explain complex analysis to non-technical audiences  

• Background in circumstances requiring quick thinking, resolution of problems, and accelerated choices

• Comfort with high levels of ambiguity and autonomy, particularly in the context of managing a project

• High qualitative and quantitative research skills

• Advanced Excel/Powerpoint skills

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To learn more about this role, please copy and paste this link into a new browser window: https://embed.wirewax.com/8114190

Closing Date:

April 8, 2025

Pay:

£59,000.00 - £92,500.00 Annual

Contract Type:

Temporary

Hours of Work:

Mon to Fri 9-5.30 (standard 35 office hours)

Job Level:

Partnership Level 6

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.