Retail Store Planner – Team Leader
Circa £30,000 plus benefits (Work Level 6A)  
12-month secondment position
Manchester city centre
We’re now working in a hybrid way, with colleagues dividing their time between home/remote working and the office. You can find out more about our hybrid working policy at colleagues.coop.co.uk/hybrid-working-policy

We’re looking for a retail store planner team leader to join us at Co-op and help deliver a range of innovative store design solutions. You’ll play a key part in our asset planning team, working closely with colleagues across our food business and external partners and making sure that a consistent Co-op identity is applied to all new and existing retail spaces.

In this role, you’ll lead a team of up to five retail store planners, supporting them to design forward-thinking store layouts as part of the delivery of Co-op’s refit and new store programmes. You’ll create design solutions using AutoCAD, and coordinate the team, making sure projects are effectively prioritised and aligned to Co-op blueprints and standards. We’ll also look to you to conduct regular reviews with the team, providing guidance and course correction, and celebrating high performance. If you can bring us the skills we need, we’ll give you the opportunity to gain a breadth of experience and build your profile in this fast-paced business.

What you’ll do

•    work on new stores, refits, and other projects aligned to Co-op change programmes
•    lead a team of retail store planners, supporting them to create innovative store layout designs 
•    conduct regular performance reviews with your team, providing positive course correction where required, and providing recognition for high performance
•    engage programme partners to keep them up to date on the progress of schemes, and work closely with them to maintain an efficient programme
•    create new store layouts using AutoCAD, looking at how best to utilise the building layout and orientation, applying suitable fixtures, making sure customer circulation space is suitable and ensuring our colleagues can operate stores safely and efficiently
•    consider the efficiency of the store layout, thinking about cost and impact on the environment
•    present design proposals to key business partners
•    make sure that CAD drawings are prepared to a standard that allows them to interface seamlessly with all Co-op systems

This role would suit people who have

•    experience using AutoCAD or similar design tools
•    the confidence to build relationships with key partners, listening to their requirements, and
•    working together towards a common goal
•    the desire to lead and develop a team
•    a high level of attention to detail and organisation
•    an appreciation for new technology and a desire to learn
•    experience of retail and knowledge of the wider retail landscape

Why Co-op? 

Here you’ll do work that matters. We’re a commercial organisation with a purpose beyond profit, you’ll have an opportunity to help us build a stronger Co-op and stronger communities. You’ll also get a package that includes:

•    competitive salary
•    coaching, training and support to help you develop
•    pension with up to 10% employer contributions
•    annual incentive scheme 
•    28 days holiday (rising to 32 in line with service)
•    discounts on Co-op products and services

Building an inclusive work environment 

We’re actively building diverse teams and welcome applications from everyone. But simply having a diverse workforce is not enough. We aim to build an inclusive environment, where everyone can contribute their best work and develop to their full potential. We celebrate our differences and recognise the importance of teams reflecting the communities they serve.

We can make reasonable adjustments to our interview process according to your needs. And we offer a flexible working environment, so you can adjust your hours to suit your personal circumstances. You can find out more about Co-op people policies at colleagues.coop.co.uk.

As part of your application you’ll need to complete an online assessment. It will take you around 12 minutes to complete this test.