THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING SKILL SET:

• People Management: Leadership and People Manager – highly effective in leadership and strategy including the management, motivation and development of individuals and teams setting clear KPI’s and personal development plans
• Creative and Production workflow: In depth understanding and experience of end to end creative lifecycle, management of content across multiple physical and digital touch points
• Future Focused: Future focus – demonstrates customer-driven innovation in the creation of content. Has an understanding of how AI can be utilised within their specialism in order to formulate a point of view on where it should and shouldn’t be used
• Creative excellence: has Creative passion in all their output, championing creative direction at every stage

QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree or equivalent creative qualification essential
• PC or Mac literate

EXPERIENCE

• 10+ years experience in copy writing and tone of voice
• Proven People Management / Leadership experience
• Combined creative and commercial skills and ability
• Significant experience across multiple channels with a strong lean towards digital.
• Working in a fast-paced environment
• High levels of numeracy and literacy
• Google suite and equivalent software proficiency

QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree or further qualifications in publishing, marketing or business

EXPERIENCE

• Knowledge and understanding of wider creative end to end processes
• Knowledge and understanding of media sales
• Experience of commercial negotiations and handling multiple, high value agencies

ABOUT THE ROLE

A high profile role within the business that defines and influences how Waitrose speaks to its customers, ensuring that everything we say is not only effective, but an expression of the brand strategy and creative vision. Reporting into the Creative Lead, the TOV and Copy Lead contributes to the overall Brand Creative Vision and is responsible for defining, developing and executing the TOV vision, principles and standards. Key decision maker for all copy related activity across the brand and takes charge of educating, reviewing and influencing to ensure the brand tone of voice is consistently applied. Leads a creative team across Tone of Voice, both within Partnership and in supporting hybrid agency models. Manages roster of external talent; writers, editors and proof readers to assist in creation of copy assets. As the key face of Tone of Voice, builds and maintains relationships across the business and with relevant external agencies. Understands and is able to write and give clear direction to the various needs and nuances of a high profile brand that speaks across multiple channels and formats including, but not limited to, advertising, social, in-store, CRM, ecommerce and editorial. Foster a collaborative creative environment where ideas can flow freely, and everyone is aligned towards a common goal. Effective communication and teamwork are essential components in executing a new high performing creative model.

HOURS AND LOCATION OF THE ROLE:

• 35 hours per week
• Your home location will be our Bracknell Head Office
• 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 attend the office to connect 1 - 2 days per week and attend key meetings on an ad-hoc basis

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• First and foremost be obsessed with generating writing to the highest standard. Be obsessed by the quality of output, looking to push and challenge the work we create
• Live and breath the Waitrose 70/10 Brand Strategy making sure the writing we create is always a visual or experiential embodiment of the strategy
• Make all writing relentlessly Waitrose, strive for our own creative path and not obsess over the competition
• Manage and run a team of like minded Partners and suppliers who cherish the output they create. Build an environment where they can flourish and support the growth of the team
• Support Operations in defining and refining processes to allow the team to focus on creative output and not on time hungry tasks
• Create writing that can be effective and maximises the requirement of that channel. Consistent story telling across multiple platforms should be front and centre of what we do. Use relevant technology to support this.
• Assist in the promotion of the Creative department throughout the partnership pushing Creative perfection into all wider teams
• Build peer-to-peer relationships with Agency partners. Educate relevant peers to naturally meet the brand TOV guidelines. Help review work and input to brand related outputs. Become a natural go to for support and guidance
• Remain in touch with cultural and market trends. Focus on connecting the needs of the customer to the cultural direction of travel
• Assist in the elevation of the creative department within the creative industry. Strive to win awards and to be part of a market leading creative team
• Working with other members of the Creative team contribute to a best in class hybrid creative solution connecting all agency partners and internal teams to create an on brand creatively excellent vision of Waitrose
• Be inspired, aware and engaged on industry and creative trends that provide inspiration and learning for the team
• Be cost aware and operation literature so that your team’s actions are held against the pre-set KPIS and SLAS that allow for expectation management, and effective performance tracking of all work

Financial:

• Contribute to the financial management of resource and P&L, inputting on resource needs and talent plans to effectively scope the department