📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Marketing Strategy & Planning Manager
🔹 Company: John Lewis Partnership
🔹 Location: London Central Office, 1 Drummond Gate, London, SW1V 2QQ
🔹 Job Type: Hybrid (1 day a week in the office)
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: May 7, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site with hybrid flexibility
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing and implementing marketing strategies for FS products
- Optimizing annual campaigns through data analysis and insights
- Collaborating with internal teams and external agencies
- Managing budgets and forecasting
- Ensuring compliance with data protection regulations
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong analytical skills, and the ability to work effectively with various teams.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Support the Marketing Strategy and Planning Lead to align marketing with business objectives to create the overarching marketing strategy, including product positionings
✅ Maintain the 18-month rolling activity plan to support prioritization and customer objectives
✅ Create accurate and clear reports, including dashboards, to provide insights for brand, channel, and budget optimization
✅ Extract and translate raw data from large datasets like Adobe or GA4, using strong analytical and statistical skills, to understand marketing effectiveness
✅ Collaborate with the wider Marketing Team and agencies to implement tracking for new channels and campaigns
✅ Ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act and Partnership risk management and data security policies
✅ Forecasting and supporting a test-and-learn culture through test design and modeling for performance enhancement
✅ Manage and maintain the JLM Brand tracker in conjunction with the Data and Insights Team
✅ Manage external agency relationships
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of strategic planning, data analysis, and stakeholder management, requiring strong organizational skills and the ability to balance multiple priorities.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Relevant degree or equivalent experience
Experience: Proven experience in marketing strategy and planning, with a focus on data-driven decision making
Required Skills:
- Ability to plan an annual holistic marketing strategy and prioritize activity to deliver KPIs
- Strong forecasting and budget management skills
- Broad and extensive channel knowledge across the full marketing mix and martech, including digital marketing platforms, CRM, and offline channels
- Working knowledge of web analytics platforms (GA4 or Adobe) and marketing analytics
- Brand & product positioning experience
- Relevant qualification and/or extensive analytically-based experience
- Excel/Google Sheets skills (VLOOKUPS, IF AND OR statements, Pivot tables)
- Experience creating engaging data visualizations using a data visualization tool (Tableau preferred) and ability to bring actionable insights to life in a compelling way
- Experience using relational databases, able to write simple SQL queries and perform joins
Preferred Skills:
- Knowledge of website tagging using GTM or Ensighten
- Experience coding in Python
- Financial Service industry experience
- Brand marketing experience and creative propositional development
- Experience of working in a planning function at a media agency
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong analytical mindset, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work effectively with various teams.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: £48,000.00 - £76,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Competitive benefits package
- Discounts across the John Lewis Partnership
- Pension scheme
- Employee assistance program
Working Hours: 35 hours per week, with flexible working options available
ASSUMPTION: The salary range is based on industry standards for a marketing manager role in the UK, with experience level and location taken into account.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Retail, specifically in the Financial Services sector
Company Size: 10,001+ employees, providing a large and diverse work environment
Founded: The John Lewis Partnership was founded in 1864, with a rich history and established brand presence
Company Description:
- Employee-owned business with a strong focus on customer service and quality
- Operates under the John Lewis and Waitrose brands
- Committed to sustainability and ethical practices
Company Specialties:
- Retail
- Online and offline sales
- Distribution and logistics
- Finance and technology
- Digital and IT services
- Hotels and personnel services
- Buying and marketing
Company Website: www.jlpjobs.com
ASSUMPTION: The John Lewis Partnership is a well-established retailer with a strong brand presence and a commitment to customer service and ethical practices.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level management, with opportunities for growth and progression
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Marketing Strategy and Planning Lead
Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with 1 day a week in the office and the rest working from home
Growth Opportunities:
- Progression within the marketing department or broader John Lewis Partnership
- Expanding skills and knowledge through working on diverse projects
- Potential to move into leadership or specialist roles
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for professional growth and development within the marketing department and the broader John Lewis Partnership.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid, with a mix of on-site and remote work
Office Location(s): London Central Office, 1 Drummond Gate, London, SW1V 2QQ
Geographic Context:
- Central London location, with easy access to public transportation
- Close to various amenities, including shops, restaurants, and parks
- Vibrant and multicultural neighborhood
Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, with flexible working options available
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement offers a good balance between on-site collaboration and remote flexibility.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screening
- Face-to-face or video interview with the hiring manager
- Final interview with the Marketing Strategy and Planning Lead
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and planning
- Data analysis and interpretation
- Communication and presentation skills
- Collaboration and stakeholder management
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume to highlight relevant skills and experience for this role
- Prepare examples of your data analysis and visualization skills
- Research the John Lewis Partnership and their marketing strategies to demonstrate your understanding of the business
- Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the role and the team
ATS Keywords: Marketing strategy, data analysis, campaign optimization, budget management, brand positioning, data visualization, SQL, hybrid work
ASSUMPTION: The application process may vary, and it's essential to follow the instructions provided by the John Lewis Partnership.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Tableau
- Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics
- Excel or Google Sheets
- SQL
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with these tools is essential for success in this role, and candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their proficiency.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Brilliant at retail
- Never knowingly undersold
- Passionately serving food-lovers
- Driven by purpose
- Working together
- Kindness and respect
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Data-driven and analytical
- Adaptable and responsive to change
- Customer-focused
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align marketing strategies with business objectives?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you optimized a marketing campaign using data analysis?
- How do you manage external agency relationships to ensure successful collaboration?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should assess their fit with the John Lewis Partnership's values and work style to ensure a successful and satisfying work experience.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple priorities and deadlines
- Working with large datasets and complex data analysis
- Collaborating with various internal teams and external agencies
- Adapting to changes in the marketing landscape and business priorities
ASSUMPTION: These challenges require strong organizational skills, adaptability, and the ability to work effectively under pressure.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role focuses more on strategic planning and data analysis than creative execution
- Industry-specific context: Financial Services marketing requires an understanding of regulatory constraints and customer financial behaviors
- Career path comparison: This role can lead to senior marketing management positions or specialist roles within the marketing department
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should consider their career goals and preferences when comparing this role to similar positions in the industry.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a comprehensive marketing strategy for a new FS product launch
- Optimizing an annual marketing campaign to improve ROI by 20%
- Managing an external agency to deliver a successful brand awareness campaign
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the range of responsibilities and the strategic nature of the role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the team structure and how this role fits within it?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30 days?
- How does the John Lewis Partnership support the professional development of its employees?
- What are the key challenges facing the marketing department, and how can this role contribute to addressing them?
- How does the John Lewis Partnership approach work-life balance and flexible working arrangements?
ASSUMPTION: These questions help candidates better understand the role, the team, and the company culture.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume to highlight your relevant skills and experience for this role
- Prepare a cover letter explaining your interest in the role and the John Lewis Partnership
- Prepare examples of your data analysis and visualization skills to demonstrate your proficiency
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to inquire about the status of your application
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
