Reports to:
Programme lead
About the programme:
GS1 UK is partnering with industry to harness the power of next generation barcodes – QR codes powered by GS1.
Consumers, brand owners, retailers and regulators: everyone is looking for better ways to access more information about products by scanning a code on the packaging.
QR Codes powered by GS1 offer producers, brand owners and retailers new ways to connect with consumers and shoppers. Just by scanning one of these barcodes with a smartphone, consumers and shoppers can instantly see ingredients, allergens, recipes, rewards, promotions and more, as well as brand-authorised details about where the item was manufactured, facts about sustainable sourcing, guidance on recycling, easy ways to re-order and other kinds of information.
In addition to holding the GS1 GTIN®, these high-capacity barcodes can also have a product’s batch or lot number, serial number, expiry date and more. With access to that data, business partners up and down the supply chain can boost transparency, improve inventory management, enable traceability and sustainability initiatives, reduce waste, and simplify recall and return processes.
GS1 UK has established this programme to support industry to harness the power of these barcodes to enable new business solutions for today and into the future.
Accountabilities
This role will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of the ‘QR codes powered by GS1’ programme on behalf of GS1 UK, with a specific focus on leading and maintaining high levels of communication across a diverse range of stakeholders.
Direct reports:
None
Key responsibilities
Programme management:
- Support the development and maintenance of project plans, including milestones, timelines and resource requirements
- Regularly connect with project leads to understand progress and ensure actions are completed:
- Effectively address unforeseen challenges with a solutions-oriented mindset
- Maintain the risks and issues log, capturing potential risks and monitoring mitigation plans
- Support project managers in navigating changes in project scope, schedule and resources & ensure relevant stakeholders are kept informed
- Organise programme board meetings, managing the agenda, eliciting contributions from board members and preparing minutes/actions
- Regularly communicate programme updates and solicit feedback from stakeholders
Communication planning and execution:
- Publicly promote and act as an ambassador for GS1 UK. Advocating what we do and how we help solve industry challenges
- Build comprehensive communication plans to support the delivery of the programme both internally (UK team, Global office and other MO’s) and externally (members, partners and other key stakeholders)
- Create and deliver internal communication strategies that foster engagement in the programme
- Work with the retail and partnerships team to generate ideas that improve the communication, awareness and understanding of QR powered by GS1 to the retail sector, including using compelling cases studies
- Proactively grow our clear and cohesive value proposition for QR powered by GS1: Identify and develop key messages and target audiences, and work with Marketing to agree channels, timing and execution to maximise effectiveness of communication
- Create ‘QR powered by GS1’ content for events, including: creating impactful presentations, managing partner attendance/involvement and messaging, working with marketing to ensure key audiences are targeted with tailored messaging
- Ensure all communications align with the company’s brand guidelines
Stakeholder engagement:
- Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Provide support to the programme lead in managing stakeholder engagement, e.g. following up queries, booking/coordinating events attendance
- Attend GS1 global events and forums related to QR codes powered by GS1 (virtual), sharing back insights and learnings from other markets with the relevant GS1 UK audiences
- Develop and lead webinar programme
Person specification
Background and experience
Essential:
- Proven track record of working collaboratively within cross-functional teams to deliver against strategic plans
- Knowledge of the retail sector, their partners and trading communities
- A good understanding of the retail value chain, consumer challenges and digitalisation opportunities
- Fully conversant in the key trends affecting retailers and their communities and able to articulate how the adoption of GS1 standards would add value
- Digital bias with experience in how to embrace digital, technology and innovation to meet the needs of consumers
- Demonstrable experience in producing clear action plans and successfully delivering against them
Desirable:
- Retail industry experience
- Project management experience
- Marketing/communications experience
Personal strengths and style:
- Excellent planning, time management and organisational skills
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- Proactive, enthusiastic and committed – a can-do attitude
- Able to engage, communicate and influence effectively with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders
- Highly collaborative, good at working within a cross-functional matrix team
- Comfortable with ambiguity - able to deliver despite uncertainty and readily adapt to new information
- Able to synthesise and evaluate information to provide clear and consistent messaging across all stakeholders
- Strong prioritisation – focused on the tasks that deliver the most impact
- Professional - ethical, honest and respectful