At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic planning for trade events and promotions in a dynamic food business.
- Company: Join M&S, a forward-thinking leader in the retail food industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 20% discount, competitive holidays, and tailored training from day one.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive team that values diversity and innovation.
- Why this job: Shape the future of food retail while making a real impact on customer experience.
- Qualifications: Strong strategic mindset and experience in programme leadership required.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
We're reshaping our Food business to broaden its appeal, protecting the magic our customers love while modernising everything else. That means outstanding quality, high sourcing standards, and market-leading innovation remain at our core, while we transform our supply chains, improve our stores, and deliver better value.
We're looking for motivated people ready to bring their whole self to work and thrive in a fast-paced, ambitious team. After all, this isn't just food this is M&S Food.
Are you a strategic, commercially minded leader who thrives on shaping long term direction and driving cross functional delivery? We're looking for a Commercial Events and Trade Planning Manager to own and evolve the strategic roadmap that defines how we plan, prioritise, and deliver trade driving activity across Foods.
In this pivotal role, you'll set the 3-5 year vision for Trade Planning, Events, Promotions, and our Online Christmas Food to Order proposition - ensuring every decision is grounded in commercial insight and contributes to sustainable growth. You'll work at the heart of the business, collaborating with Online, Commercial, Marketing, Finance, Technical and Retail teams to influence decisions and orchestrate seamless execution.
What You'll Do
- Own and evolve the 3-5 year strategic roadmap across Trade Planning, Events, Promotions, and Online Christmas Food to Order
- Translate long term strategy into clear, prioritised, and executable cross functional programmes
- Maintain strong governance - managing risks, dependencies, trade offs, and ensuring appropriate escalation
- Drive improvements to ways of working across teams, enhancing clarity, pace, and effectiveness
- Influence and align key partners across Commercial, Online, Finance, Marketing, Technical, and Retail to enable effective, evidence based decisions
Who You Are
- Strong strategic and commercial acumen to define long term strategy and ensure commercial growth and return
- Programme leadership and governance capability - turning strategy into programmes and handling risks and dependencies
- Ability to confidently influence and align senior and cross functional partners
- High financial and analytical capability to interpret data and inform decision making
- Experience in operating model optimisation and continuous improvement to enhance pace and clarity of delivery
What's in it for You?
- 20% colleague discount for you & 1 household member (after probation)
- Competitive holiday allowance & option to buy more
- Discretionary bonus schemes linked to performance
- Strong pension & life assurance
- Tailored induction & training from day one
- Perks and savings via M&S Choices portal
- Market-leading family policies (parental, adoption, neonatal leave)
- 24/7 wellbeing support (GP access & mental health services)
- 1 paid volunteer day a year
Everyone is 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.
Commercial Events and Trade Planning Manager in City of London employer: Marks and Spencer
At M&S, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive and innovative employer, offering a dynamic work environment where you can truly thrive. As a Commercial Events and Trade Planning Manager, you'll benefit from a competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, and a range of family-friendly policies, all while contributing to our mission of delivering quality and value to millions. Join us in reshaping the future of retail, where your strategic insights will drive meaningful change and growth within a supportive and ambitious team.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Events and Trade Planning Manager in City of London
✨Show Your Creative Side
In marketing communications, standing out is key. Get creative with your application! Consider designing a mini-campaign or pitch that highlights your skills and understanding of the brand. Tailor it for Marks and Spencer and show them what you can bring to the table.
✨Engage in Marketing Communities
Get involved in local or online marketing communications groups. Check out platforms like Meetup for events and workshops. Networking here can lead to hidden job openings and valuable insights into the industry trends—this is where we often discover what companies like Marks and Spencer are looking for.
✨Leverage Social Media
Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to showcase your passion for marketing communications. Share insights, articles, and your own content that resonates with the industry. Tagging or interacting with Marks and Spencer on these platforms can catch the eye of recruiters and show you're genuinely interested in them.
✨Attend Industry Events
Keep an eye out for marketing conferences and workshops. These are great places to meet potential employers face-to-face and make connections that could land you a full-time role at Marks and Spencer. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Events and Trade Planning Manager in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit Marks and Spencer. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.
Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.
Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!
Demonstrate Your Understanding of Marks and Spencer:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about Marks and Spencer’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks and Spencer
✨Showcase Your Creative Campaigns
Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at Marks and Spencer will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.
✨Know Your Digital Tools Inside Out
If you’re heading into a marketing-communications role, make sure you're comfortable discussing key digital marketing tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or Hootsuite. Expect some technical questions about how you've used these tools in the past, as they'll want to gauge your hands-on experience and how you analyse data to drive marketing decisions.
✨Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions
At Marks and Spencer, they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing
As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.
