PLEASE NOTE: As part of our organisational changes, our ongoing structure and roles continue to be reviewed. While this role is being advertised, circumstances may change and the role could be withdrawn/amended.

This is a Field Based role.

GRADE CAt WHSmith Europe 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. The Profit Protection Specialist is accountable for protecting margin, reducing loss, strengthening operational compliance, and helping ensure stores operate safely across the UK estate. Through structured and unannounced Store Assurance visits, the role provides independent risk assessment, drives corrective action, and supports stores to deliver stronger performance across loss prevention, cash and stock control, food safety, health and safety, colleague welfare, incident prevention, and brand protection.

What you will be doing:

• Owning the delivery of the Store Assurance Program through planned and unannounced visits that assess compliance, control effectiveness, and operational discipline.
• Producing clear risk-based reports, agree corrective actions with store and field leadership, and track completion through to sustainable resolution.

• Identifying shrinkage drivers, control weaknesses, and emerging loss risks, translating findings into targeted interventions that reduce financial exposure.
• Escalating material risks with evidence, recommended actions, and clear ownership to support timely leadership decision-making.

• Assessing food safety, hygiene, allergen, and brand-standard compliance to confirm stores are operating within required controls and customer expectations.
• Escalating critical risks promptly and verify that corrective actions restore compliance and protect brand reputation.

• Provide a robust assurance over health, safety, and colleague welfare standards, identifying hazards, unsafe behaviors, and control gaps that may create legal, operational, or reputational risk.
• Reinforce a proactive safety culture by coaching store teams on risk ownership, safe ways of working, accident prevention, and timely issue resolution.

• Coaching store teams on control standards, risk awareness, and practical improvement actions that strengthen local ownership.
• Share best practice across the estate to improve consistency, capability, and compliance performance.

• Updating leadership with actionable insight, clear escalation points, and agreed ownership for issue resolution.

What we are looking for:

• Retail profit protection or audit experience
• Knowledge of stock and cash control
• Strong understanding of health and safety, accident prevention, risk assessment, and food safety standards
• Confidence to challenge unsafe practice and influence corrective action with store and field leadership
• Strong communication skills

How we reward our teams:

• Hybrid Working Model from home and in the office
• 4pm Friday Finish
• Flexible Working
• 24 Days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday
• Family Friendly Leave
• Company Pension scheme
• Annual Bonus based on company and personal performance
• Competitive Salary
• Cycle to work scheme
• Staff Discount Card for railway stores (subject to policy)

About us:

Celebrating over 230 years, we’re proud to have grown into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries – the air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey. As a diverse group of over 6,000 colleagues, we’re all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.

Our business operates from two key locations, In a vibrant area of London, close to Aldgate and Liverpool Street Station, while the other is located at Swindon's International Business Park, just off the M4 with excellent transport links and over 100 on-site parking spaces.

For WHSmith Europe, our mission is simple – to create value for our stakeholders by providing a platform for global brands across airports, hospitals, rail stations and other markets. Our operational environment is fast-paced and highly regulated, requiring exceptional standards of maintenance, compliance, health & safety and colleague welfare across every location.

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!