WHSmith
Design Development Manager 12 month FTC
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Closing date for applications 14th of October 2026
At WHSmith our people are at the heart of everything we do. They are the ones that go the extra mile for our customers. The ones that enable our growth.
We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded Design Development Manager to join our Construction team on a fixed-term basis, that has extensive experience both supplier side and retailer side to ensure they can bring this diverse understanding and ideation into the business. This experience will be key, as the role will be focused on optimising the overall design shop-fit of our diverse format offering, covering design approach, construction specification, supply chain and delivery model for WHSmith stores across our diverse estate, initially focusing on our main and regional airport formats before extending the approach across the wider formats to include Rail, Hospital and other markets.
The role will bring together design development, technical standards, procurement, construction and supply chain optimisation, with a clear focus on reducing cost, improving consistency and creating a more efficient and scalable model for store delivery. A key objective will be to identify opportunities to re-engineer our existing standards, specifications and supplier packages to create a lower-cost delivery model - targeting a 15% reduction, whilst maintaining the highest standards of health and safety, quality and compliance with airport and other relevant legislation. The immediate area of concentration is the M&E packages and understanding where we need to re-engineer our current standards and specifications for delivering packages and services that meet the landlords specification and health and safety requirements, but at the right approach and end cost (HVAC, RCP, electrical, sprinkler works, airport logistics, fire alarm works, wall and flooring finishes, signage, etc).
The successful candidate will be comfortable moving between strategic thinking and practical delivery to help support the Construction Director and Project Manager’s needs. They will understand how design decisions impact procurement, construction cost and end-programme, and will be able to work collaboratively with Group Procurement and a broad range of internal and external stakeholders to turn opportunities into measurable commercial benefits.
What you will be doing:
Design, Specification & Cost Optimisation:
- Develop a detailed understanding of the current cost split across supplier and delivery packages, initially focusing on main Air and regional Air stores before extending the methodology across other formats.
- Review existing M&E standards, specifications and technical requirements to identify opportunities to re-engineer the cost base while maintaining health & safety, quality and airport-specific standards and legislation.
- Identify and prioritise low-hanging cost-saving opportunities across existing and proposed purchased goods.
- Review and revise specifications where appropriate to enable Group Procurement to achieve improved pricing, quality and commercial terms.
- Apply an 80/20 methodology to delivery packages, identifying opportunities to standardise and consolidate the majority of requirements to generate volume, while retaining appropriate regionalisation for the remaining requirements.
- Rationalise Group standard details and articles to establish a consistent kit-of-parts methodology that can be applied across different WHSmith formats and markets.
- Improve standard detail records to ensure they are accurate, complete and suitable for future tendering activity, incorporating 3D visuals and clear technical information to improve understanding across the Group.
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Procurement & Supply Chain:
- Work closely with Group Procurement to improve tender costs, rates and future rebate opportunities.
- Partner with Procurement to review the existing supplier base and develop a more rationalised, strategically managed supply chain, reducing the current number of suppliers where appropriate while increasing volume, leverage and consistency.
- Establish clear ways of working between WHSmith and its supply partners, including regular Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), agreed performance measures and clear quality-control metrics.
- Identify opportunities to consolidate trades and supplier packages to reduce the number of contractors required on site, improving delivery efficiency and reducing both site management time and cost.
- Explore opportunities to develop a preferred supply base that can deliver consistently across multiple markets, formats and geographies.
- Develop opportunities to use the WHSmith supply chain to support Franchise partners, enabling them to deliver projects on time, to cost and to quality through preferred suppliers, while creating opportunities for annual rebates and wider Group value.
- Investigate opportunities to broaden the commercial proposition and use the supply chain to support wider branded in-store activities and commercial opportunities.
Digital, Data & Process Improvement:
- Work with the design standard and technical manager to modernise and digitise WHSmith’s approach to maintenance, management and record keeping for store kit and equipment.
- Whilst also improving the quality, accessibility and consistency of technical and standard-detail information across the Group by moving to an online model.
- Establish robust and accurate digital records and Bills of Materials (BoMs) for stores and store components.
- Investigate how these processes can evolve over time towards greater automation, including opportunities to connect BoM records with ordering, procurement and scheduling processes.
- Create scalable processes and systems that improve visibility, reduce manual intervention and provide better data for future store delivery and tendering.
Cross-Functional Store Delivery:
- Work closely with Construction, Creative, Marketing, Operations, Commercial and Group Procurement to support the effective delivery of in-store activity.
- Ensure design and specification decisions are aligned with operational requirements, customer experience, commercial objectives and construction realities.
- Act as a key interface between design development, procurement and delivery, ensuring opportunities identified during the design process translate into tangible cost, quality and programme benefits.
- Support the development of consistent standards and processes that can be adopted across the wider Group.
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What we are looking for:
- Commercially astute, with a strong understanding of cost, value engineering, procurement and supplier management.
- Technically confident, with the ability to understand and challenge M&E standards, specifications, construction details and supplier requirements.
- Experienced in developing or managing standardised specifications, components, technical details or kit-of-parts approaches.
- Comfortable analysing complex supplier and cost structures and identifying opportunities for standardisation, consolidation and savings.
- Experienced in working collaboratively with Procurement and external supply partners to improve tender outcomes and commercial terms.
- Highly organised, able to establish clear processes, governance and performance measures.
- A confident stakeholder manager who can work effectively across Construction, Creative, Marketing, Operations, Commercial and Procurement.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where priorities can evolve and where initiative and practical problem-solving are valued.
- Able to translate technical information into clear, accessible information for a broad range of stakeholders.
- Passionate about using data, digital tools and automation to improve ways of working.
How we reward our teams:
- Hybrid Working Model from home and in the office
- 4pm Friday Finish
- Flexible Working
- 25 Days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday
- Family Friendly Leave
- Company Pension scheme
- Sharesave Scheme
- Annual Bonus based on company and personal performance
- Competitive Salary and Car Allowance
- Private Medical
- Staff Discount Card for stores and online
About us:
Celebrating over 230 years, we’re proud to have grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries around the world, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. As a diverse group of over 5,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.
Our UK Travel office is based in a buzzing part of central London close to Liverpool Street Station. We are an ambitious team that thrives on pace, collaboration and innovation resulting in a real entrepreneurial culture. It’s perfect for people who are happy to use their initiative and embrace life outside their comfort zone.
At WHSmith, we’re all about creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone can be themselves and do their best. No matter your background, age, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, race or ethnicity, marital status, religion, sex, sexual orientation or anything else that makes you, you—you’re welcome here.
We’re also open to flexible working where possible, so if that’s something you need, let’s chat. And if you need any adjustments during the selection process, just let our Talent Acquisition team know—we’re happy to help!
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