At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of M&S's pension and benefits strategy while managing policies and projects.
- Company: Join M&S, a dynamic retailer committed to quality, value, and exceptional service.
- Benefits: Enjoy 20% discount, competitive holidays, bonuses, and wellbeing support.
- Why this job: Be part of an inclusive team shaping the future of retail with innovative rewards.
- Qualifications: Experience in pensions and benefits management, strong stakeholder skills, and HRIS familiarity required.
- Other info: M&S values diversity and offers support throughout the recruitment process.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
At M&S, we’re committed to creating a workplace where our colleagues feel valued, supported, and rewarded. We’re looking for a Pension & Benefits Manager to join our Reward team and help shape the future of our total reward offering.
As the Pension & Benefits Lead, you’ll play a pivotal role in developing and delivering our reward strategy. You’ll work closely with the Head of Reward, People Partners, and third-party providers to ensure our offering is competitive, compliant, and colleague-focused.
To stay close to customers, our support teams are in the office three days a week as we believe that skills are developed through collaboration, and that spending time together makes us more creative and connected.
What’s in it for you
Being a part of M&S is exactly that – playing your part to bring the magic of M&S to our customers every day. We’re an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and ever-evolving business built on doing the right thing and bringing exceptional quality, value, service to every customer, whenever, wherever and however they want to shop with us.
- After completing your probationary period, you’ll receive 20% colleague discount across all M&S products and many of our third-party brands for you and a member of your household.
- Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days!
- Discretionary bonus schemes awarded based on how you achieve your personal objectives and our performance as a business.
- A generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and Life Assurance.
- A dedicated welcome to our teams with a tailored induction and a wide range of training programmes to develop your skills.
- Amazing perks and discounts via our M&S Choices portal to maximise your financial and personal wellbeing.
- Industry-leading parental, adoption and neonatal policies, providing support and flexibility for your family.
- Access to a fantastic range of wellbeing support for all colleagues including access to our 24/7 Virtual GP and PAM Assist to support you and your family.
- A charity volunteer day to support a charity or cause you’re passionate about through a dedicated day away from work.
What you’ll do
Your key accountabilities will include:
- Support the Head of Reward in designing and embedding the pensions and benefits strategy.
- Own and manage policies, ensuring effective delivery through internal teams and external suppliers.
- Lead the recognition and long service strategy across M&S.
- Lead on pension and benefit projects, including annual reviews and renewals.
- Drive colleague engagement through campaigns, events, and clear communications.
- Collaborate with the Pension Trustee team and support governance activities, including presenting to committees.
- Provide expert guidance across the People function and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation and maintaining up-to-date market insight.
- Coach and develop a Benefits Consultant to support their growth and performance.
Who you are
Your skills and experience will include:
- Proven experience in DC pensions and benefits within a complex organisation.
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
- Experience in policy ownership and third-party management.
- DB pension and recognition programme experience.
- Familiarity with HRIS systems (e.g., Oracle).
Everyone’s welcome. We are ambitious about the future of retail. We’re disrupting, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We’re transforming how we work together and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. Marks & Spencer strives to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make change happen. We are committed to building diverse and representative teams, where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and be at their best. We support each other and work together to win together. If you feel you’d benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know when completing your application. This information will be picked up by our team, so we can try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.
Contact Detail:
Marks and Spencer Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Pension and Benefits Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in pensions and benefits. Understanding current market insights will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to staying informed in this ever-evolving field.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the pensions and benefits sector. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to connect with others who can provide insights and potentially refer you to opportunities at M&S.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with stakeholder management and influencing skills. Think of specific examples where you've successfully navigated complex relationships, as these are crucial for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your familiarity with HRIS systems, particularly Oracle. If you have experience with similar systems, be ready to explain how you've used them to enhance processes or improve efficiency in previous roles.
We think you need these skills to ace Pension and Benefits Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure to thoroughly read the job description for the Pension and Benefits Manager position. Understand the key responsibilities and required skills, as this will help you tailor your application effectively.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your proven experience in DC pensions and benefits, particularly within complex organisations. Use specific examples to demonstrate your stakeholder management and influencing skills.
Showcase Your Skills: Make sure to highlight any experience with policy ownership, third-party management, and familiarity with HRIS systems like Oracle. This will show that you have the necessary skills to succeed in the role.
Personalise Your Application: Tailor your cover letter to reflect M&S's values and commitment to inclusivity. Mention how your personal values align with their mission and how you can contribute to their reward strategy.
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks and Spencer
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Pension and Benefits Manager. Familiarise yourself with M&S's current reward strategy and think about how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Stakeholder Management Skills
Prepare examples that demonstrate your strong stakeholder management and influencing skills. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully collaborated with various teams and third-party providers in previous roles.
✨Highlight Compliance Knowledge
Since compliance is crucial in this role, be prepared to talk about your knowledge of relevant legislation and how you've ensured compliance in past positions. This will show your understanding of the importance of governance in pensions and benefits.
✨Engage with Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions to ask during the interview. This could include inquiries about M&S's future plans for their pension and benefits strategy or how they measure colleague engagement. It shows your interest and enthusiasm for the role.