Strategy Associate

Strategy Associate
£40,800 plus great benefits (Work Level 6A)
12-month secondment
Manchester city centre (hybrid – spending 2-3 days per week working from the office)

We’re looking for a Strategy Associate to join our Strategy team in Manchester on a 12-month secondment. In this role, you’ll play a big part in shaping and delivering strategic initiatives that support our exciting growth plans. You’ll contribute to the development of analysis, insights, and recommendations, using data to uncover patterns, trends, and opportunities that inform our strategic decision-making. We’ll look to you to collaborate with colleagues across Co-op to carry-out planning sessions, workshops, and project activities – making sure everything runs smoothly and stays aligned with our goals.

What you’ll do

• Support the delivery of strategic projects, working with team members / colleagues to shape analysis, insight and recommendations that inform key decisions
• Research and interpret data to spot patterns, challenges and opportunities across our business and markets
• Contribute to problem-solving discussions, using structured thinking to develop clear, evidence-based options
• Produce high-quality materials that clearly communicate insight, progress and impact to senior audiences
• Help plan and coordinate meetings, workshops and project activities to keep work focused and on track

What you’ll bring

• Experience in research, analysis or project coordination within a corporate or consultancy environment
• An interest in business strategy and a desire to learn how strategic decisions are shaped and delivered
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with curiosity to explore issues from different angles
• Clear and confident communication skills, able to turn analysis into simple, engaging stories and visuals
• A proactive and collaborative approach, comfortable working with different teams and senior stakeholders

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays 
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions 
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ) 
• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands 
• Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it 
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice 
• 24/7 colleague support service 
• Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.

We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we’ll support you.

Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion

As part of your application, you'll need to complete an online assessment. This assessment typically takes up to 50 minutes. If you're a current Co-op colleague, this does not need to be completed.