At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive strategic planning and investment decisions while collaborating with senior leaders.
- Company: Join Fortnum & Mason, a historic brand known for making joy for over 300 years.
- Benefits: Enjoy a generous discount, hybrid working, and 25 days holiday plus your birthday off.
- Other info: Flexible working options available to suit your lifestyle.
- Why this job: Be at the heart of strategic change and make a real impact on the company's future.
- Qualifications: Strong analytical skills and experience in strategy or programme delivery are essential.
The predicted salary is between 60300 - 73700 £ per year.
Here at Fortnum's, we have been in the business of making joy for our customers, our people and our connected communities for over 300 years.
Our challenge is to shape a successful future while remaining true to what makes Fortnum & Mason's distinctive.
The Strategy & Portfolio team works at the heart of Fortnum & Mason's strategic planning, investment prioritisation and delivery of major cross-business change.
Reporting to the Director of Strategy and working closely with the Executive Team, the Strategy & Portfolio Manager will help turn the company's strategic priorities into clear choices, coordinated plans and effective action.
The role has three core areas of focus
- Helping to maintain oversight and effective coordination of some of Fortnum's major investment programmes, ensuring that dependencies, decisions, risks and accountabilities are understood across the business.
- Supporting high-quality Executive and Board decision-making through clear analysis, recommendations and reporting.
- Contributing to the development of company strategy and selected strategic priorities.
This is a broad, hands-on role offering significant exposure to senior leaders and some of the company's most important opportunities and challenges.
It would suit someone who combines strong judgement, analytical thinking and communication with the ability to bring structure and momentum to complex cross-functional work.
- Major programmes and investment portfolio
- Help maintain oversight and effective coordination of selected major investment programmes, ensuring that milestones, dependencies, decisions, risks and accountabilities are clear.
- Identify issues that cut across programmes or functions and help to ensure that they are resolved or escalated at the right level.
- Support the prioritisation, governance and reporting of the wider strategic investment portfolio, including ongoing monitoring of project commercials.
- Executive and Board decision support
- Work with the Director of Strategy and Executive Team to structure priority business questions, evaluate options and develop clear recommendations.
- Produce concise, high-quality analysis and reporting for Exec Team and Board discussions.
- Bring together financial, operational, customer and external evidence to improve the quality and pace of senior stakeholder decision-making.
- Strategy development and strategic analysis
- Contribute to future iterations of Fortnum & Mason's company strategy and support to communicate strategic priorities to the wider business.
- Lead or support selected strategic projects, from defining the question and conducting analysis through to recommendations and implementation planning.
- Assess business performance, customer insight and external developments to identify emerging opportunities, challenges and strategic implications.
- Role Specific Criteria
- We expect the successful candidate to have the following skills and experience:
- Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, with a track record of tackling complex business questions, identifying what matters and reaching clear, evidence-based conclusions.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience turning complex information into concise analysis and recommendations for senior stakeholders.
- Strong commercial judgement, with the ability to consider financial, customer and operational implications rather than viewing issues through a single functional lens.
- Experience coordinating complex work across multiple teams, identifying dependencies and risks, and maintaining momentum through others.
- The credibility to work with senior stakeholders, challenge constructively and influence decisions without relying on formal authority.
- A curious, proactive and adaptable approach, with the ability to manage competing priorities and focus on what matters most.
- Experience in strategy, commercial finance, transformation or programme delivery.
- Exposure to strategic projects, business cases or Executive and Board-level work.
- Knowledge of retail, hospitality, luxury or another consumer-facing business.
- In return, we offer
- A discretionary annual bonus scheme
- A generous store and restaurant discount (of up to 40%)
- A subsidised staff restaurant which uses Fortnum's ingredients
- 25 days paid holiday (plus bank holidays) a year and an extra day off for your birthday
- Development opportunities to help grow your career
- Additional annual leave and a gift once you have been with us for 5 years
- A hybrid working model - you can expect to be working approximately 3 days per week from our Piccadilly office, with the flexibility to work elsewhere on other days
- Flexible working options - Fortnum's encourages flexible working arrangements so do discuss this with us if you wish to consider a part-time role
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Strategy and Portfolio Manager - 9 Month FTC in London employer: Fortnum & Mason
At Fortnum & Mason, we pride ourselves on creating extraordinary experiences and fostering a supportive work environment that values each team member's contributions. As a Retail Guest Experience Host in our iconic Piccadilly location, you'll enjoy competitive pay, generous discounts, and numerous opportunities for career development while being part of a rich heritage that celebrates exceptional service and inclusivity. Join us to not only enhance your skills but also to create magical moments for our customers every day.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategy and Portfolio Manager - 9 Month FTC in London
✨Tap into Consulting Networks
Get active in local management consulting networks and organisations. Attend meetups, workshops, or webinars specific to consulting where you can connect with professionals who may know of temporary roles opening up at places like Fortnum & Mason. Don’t underestimate word-of-mouth – it’s massive in our field!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Real-Time
As a temporary hire, you need to demonstrate your value quickly. Consider creating a mini-case study or analysis relevant to the industry and share it on platforms like LinkedIn or even during networking events. This can be an impressive way to showcase your analytical skills and problem-solving prowess – just what consulting firms are looking for!
✨Check for Temporary Roles on Niche Job Boards
Look for temporary roles on specialised job boards for consulting gigs rather than just generic platforms. Websites like Consultancy.uk or even the Careers pages of major firms could have short-term projects or roles that are perfect for you to jump in at Fortnum & Mason.
✨Leverage University and Alumni Resources
If you’re fresh out of uni or connected with a local institution, take advantage of their career services and alumni networks. Many universities have exclusive connections to consulting firms seeking temporary help. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other aspiring consultants who might share leads about opportunities at Fortnum & Mason.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategy and Portfolio Manager - 9 Month FTC in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:In management consulting, employers love to see your problem-solving abilities right from the get-go. Be sure to highlight any relevant analytical projects you've worked on, particularly those that show how you tackled complex problems. If you’ve done any case studies or analysis during your studies, throw those in your CV!
Tailor Your Experience for the Role:Since this is a temporary position, your application should reflect your adaptability and relevant experience quite clearly. Focus on showcasing experiences that demonstrate your ability to hit the ground running, like previous projects, internships, or freelance gigs in consulting or project management.
Craft a Targeted Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to sparkle! Use it to explain why you're interested in this temporary role at Fortnum & Mason and how your skills suit the specific project needs. Remember to mention how you can provide immediate value based on your past experiences.
Include Certifications or Relevant Training:If you've got any certifications like PMP, Six Sigma, or even coursework that’s super relevant, make sure to list those in your application. Management consulting can be competitive, and these extra qualifications can help you stand out in the recruitment process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Fortnum & Mason
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In management consulting, case study interviews are a big deal. Expect to tackle real-world business problems on the spot. We should practise structuring our thoughts, developing hypotheses, and presenting our solutions clearly, as this is what firms like Fortnum & Mason will want to see.
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
You’ll need to demonstrate strong analytical skills and logical reasoning. Brush up on frameworks like SWOT or Porter's Five Forces, as these can come in handy. Think of instances from your experience where you tackled a complex issue—this could set you apart when speaking to Fortnum & Mason.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary role, it's crucial we showcase our ability to hit the ground running. Have examples ready that illustrate how we've adapted quickly in past positions or projects. This shows that we can contribute effectively from day one at Fortnum & Mason.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Cultural Fit
Temporary roles often come with a focus on team dynamics. Prepare to discuss how we align with the values and culture at Fortnum & Mason. We want to highlight our teamwork experiences and how we can mesh with their consulting teams, making it clear that we're not just looking to fill a spot but to add value.
