📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Brand and Packaging Design Manager
🔹 Company: John Lewis Partnership
🔹 Location: Bracknell, United Kingdom
🔹 Job Type: Hybrid (2 days in office per week)
🔹 Category: Design
🔹 Date Posted: April 8, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: Mid-Senior level (5-10 years)
🔹 Remote Status: On-site with hybrid flexibility
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Driving high-quality, distinctive design for the Waitrose brand across all touchpoints
- Managing end-to-end creative projects, from concept development to delivery
- Collaborating with internal teams, external agencies, and suppliers to bring the brand to life
- Balancing creativity with operational efficiency and commercial impact
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong blend of creative and project management skills, with a focus on delivering commercial results.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead and manage brand and packaging design projects, ensuring alignment with the Brand World vision and commercial goals
✅ Liaise with stakeholders to develop clear briefs, manage critical paths, and ensure deliverables meet strategic objectives
✅ Collaborate with agencies to deliver high-quality creative solutions, providing creative feedback
✅ Manage stakeholder relationships, presenting creative work and securing alignment at senior levels
✅ Solve design challenges through insight, data, and creative problem-solving
✅ Maintain and update brand guidelines, ensuring accessibility and adherence across all touchpoints
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of creative, strategic, and operational tasks, requiring strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Graphic Design, or a related field
Experience: Proven experience (5-10 years) in brand and packaging design, with a focus on commercial impact
Required Skills:
- Creative Excellence - Experienced in reviewing and evaluating design work
- Strategic thinking – Ability to balance creativity with business needs using insight and data
- Stakeholder & agency management – Skilled in influencing, collaborating, and driving alignment
- Project management – Experience managing budgets, timelines, and multiple projects
Preferred Skills:
- Creative Leadership - Strong brand and packaging design expertise with a focus on commercial impact, with knowledge and practical application of design & branding
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong portfolio demonstrating their design skills and experience in managing projects.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: £45,000 to £55,000 (dependent on experience)
Benefits:
- Hybrid working arrangement (2 days in office per week)
- Competitive pension scheme
- Employee discount on John Lewis & Partners and Waitrose products
- Access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities
Working Hours: Various full-time hours required
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on industry standards for mid-senior level design roles in the UK retail sector.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Retail (specifically, department stores and supermarkets)
Company Size: 10,001+ employees (one of the largest employee-owned businesses in the UK)
Founded: 1864 (as John Lewis, Waitrose was founded in 1904 and acquired by John Lewis in 1947)
Company Description:
- John Lewis Partnership is a leading UK retailer with a reputation for high-quality products and exceptional customer service
- The company operates under two main brands: John Lewis (department stores) and Waitrose (supermarkets)
- John Lewis Partnership is employee-owned, with all employees (known as Partners) having a stake in the business
Company Specialties:
- Retail operations
- Online and digital retail
- Distribution and logistics
- Finance and technology
- Hotels and hospitality
- Personnel and buying
- Marketing and communications
Company Website: www.jlpjobs.com
ASSUMPTION: John Lewis Partnership is a well-established retailer with a strong reputation for quality and customer service, offering a range of benefits and development opportunities for its employees.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-Senior level (5-10 years of experience)
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Head of Brand Design
Work Arrangement: Hybrid working arrangement (2 days in office per week, with key days being Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
Growth Opportunities:
- Progression to a senior or leadership role within the design team
- Expansion of responsibilities to cover additional brands or categories
- Opportunities to work on cross-functional projects or initiatives
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for career growth and development within the design team and across the wider organization.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid (2 days in office per week)
Office Location(s): Bracknell Campus, Doncastle Road, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 8YA
Geographic Context:
- Bracknell is located in Berkshire, England, approximately 30 miles west of London
- The area offers a mix of urban and rural environments, with easy access to nearby towns and countryside
- Bracknell is well-connected by road and public transport, with easy access to major motorways and a nearby train station
Work Schedule: Various full-time hours required
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid working arrangement offers flexibility for employees, allowing them to balance their work and personal lives more effectively.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and CV screening
- Phone or video screening
- Design challenge or test
- Final interview with the hiring manager and/or other stakeholders
Key Assessment Areas:
- Creative skills and portfolio
- Project management skills and experience
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving
- Stakeholder management and communication skills
Application Tips:
- Tailor your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant design experience and skills
- Prepare a portfolio showcasing your best work and explaining your design process
- Research the company and the role to demonstrate your understanding and enthusiasm
ATS Keywords: Brand design, packaging design, creative excellence, strategic thinking, stakeholder management, project management, design toolkits, commercial impact, Waitrose, John Lewis Partnership
ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role is likely to be competitive, with a focus on assessing creative skills and strategic thinking.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)
- Sketch or Figma
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, JIRA)
ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in industry-standard design software is essential for this role, with project management tools being useful for organizing and tracking projects.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Brilliant at Retail
- Never Knowingly Undersold
- Passion for Food
- Act with Integrity
- Work Together
- Strive for Excellence
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Results-driven and focused on commercial impact
- Adaptable and responsive to change
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you have a strong portfolio demonstrating your design skills and experience in managing projects?
- Are you comfortable working in a hybrid environment, balancing remote work with on-site collaboration?
- Do you thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic retail environment, with a focus on delivering commercial results?
ASSUMPTION: John Lewis Partnership values employees who are passionate about retail, committed to delivering excellence, and able to work effectively in a collaborative, hybrid environment.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously
- Balancing creative excellence with commercial constraints and tight deadlines
- Adapting to a hybrid working environment and maintaining strong team collaboration
- Navigating a large, complex organization with multiple brands and departments
ASSUMPTION: This role presents both creative and operational challenges, requiring strong project management skills and the ability to balance multiple priorities.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other brand and packaging design roles, this position offers a unique opportunity to work on a well-known retail brand with a strong focus on commercial impact
- Industry-specific context: The retail sector is highly competitive, with a constant need to innovate and adapt to changing consumer trends and preferences
- Career path comparison: This role offers opportunities for career growth and development within the design team and across the wider organization, with potential progression to senior or leadership roles
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique blend of creative and commercial challenges, with opportunities for career growth and development within a well-established retail organization.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a new brand identity for a Waitrose product line, including packaging design and in-store visuals
- Creating a design toolkit for a John Lewis product category, ensuring consistency across all touchpoints and channels
- Managing a packaging redesign project for an existing Waitrose product, optimizing both design and functionality
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the range of creative and project management challenges faced in this role, from brand development to packaging optimization.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the team structure and dynamics within the design team and the wider organization?
- How does the company support the growth and development of its employees, particularly within the design team?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
- How does the company measure the success of its design projects, and how is this role expected to contribute to those metrics?
- What is the company's approach to work-life balance, and how is this supported within the design team?
ASSUMPTION: These interview questions are designed to provide insight into the role, the team, and the company culture, helping applicants make an informed decision about their fit for the position.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant design experience and skills
- Prepare a portfolio showcasing your best work and explaining your design process
- Research the company and the role to demonstrate your understanding and enthusiasm
- Follow up with the hiring manager after your interview to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
