At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead new store launches and competitive strategies across Fashion, Home & Beauty.
- Company: Join Marks & Spencer, a leader in retail innovation and customer service.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 20% discount, competitive holidays, and tailored training from day one.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive team committed to diversity and positive change.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced, evolving retail environment.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in large-scale store programmes and strong stakeholder management skills.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 € per year.
We’re looking for a strategic and commercially driven Head of Store Launch & Competitive Strategy to lead the delivery of our UK & ROI store pipeline across Fashion, Home & Beauty. This role is accountable for end-to-end execution of new stores, renewals, closures, and store environment initiatives, ensuring minimal disruption and maximum commercial return. You will also lead the development and implementation of a robust competition defence strategy, protecting market share and driving performance across the estate.
What You’ll Do:
- Lead the end-to-end delivery of all new store launches, renewals, closures, and store environment schemes, ensuring strong performance from pre-opening through post-launch reviews.
- Drive operational excellence by developing and embedding best-in-class processes, minimising disruption, and maximising recapture across trading stores.
- Lead, coach, and prioritise a field-based team, ensuring clear phasing plans, high standards, and alignment with commercial and operational goals.
- Partner extensively across Retail, Property, Trading, and Finance to influence delivery, shape propositions, and ensure all initiatives are fit for purpose in-store.
- Define and implement the Competition Defence Strategy, embedding governance, reporting, and a targeted, insight-led approach to protect customer value and sales.
Who You Will Be:
- A proven senior leader with experience delivering large-scale store programmes, transformation, or multi-site operations.
- Highly effective at stakeholder management, with the ability to influence across Retail, Property, and cross-functional leadership teams.
- Commercially astute, with a strong understanding of store operations and the ability to balance customer experience with financial performance.
- A resilient and adaptable leader, able to manage remote teams and navigate complexity, ambiguity, and change.
- An impactful communicator who can create clarity, drive accountability, and lead teams to deliver at pace.
What’s in it for you?
Working at M&S means being part of something bigger - helping to deliver quality, value and service to millions of customers every day. We’re inclusive, fast-moving and always evolving, with a strong sense of purpose and a focus on doing the right thing. Here are just a few of the benefits that make working here even more rewarding:
- 20% colleague discount on all M&S products and many third-party brands for you and someone in your household, available once you’ve completed your probation.
- Competitive holiday allowance with the option to buy more.
- Discretionary bonus schemes linked to your performance and ours.
- Strong pension and life assurance to help plan for the future.
- Tailored induction and training to support your development from day one.
- Exclusive perks and savings through our M&S Choices portal.
- Market-leading family policies, including parental, adoption and neonatal leave.
- 24/7 wellbeing support, including virtual GP access and mental health services.
- One paid volunteer day a year to support a cause that matters to you.
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.
Head of Store Launch & Competitive Strategy employer: Marks and Spencer
Marks & Spencer is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where innovation and collaboration thrive. With a strong focus on employee development, competitive benefits including a generous discount scheme, and a commitment to wellbeing, M&S empowers its team members to excel in their roles while contributing to a purpose-driven mission. Join us in shaping the future of retail and enjoy the unique advantages of working in a company that values diversity and fosters growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Store Launch & Competitive Strategy
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those who work at M&S or similar companies. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about the role and even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching M&S's recent store launches and competitive strategies. Show us you’re not just interested in the role but also passionate about what we do!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with leading large-scale store programmes and managing teams. Confidence is key, so rehearse until it feels natural.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at M&S.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Store Launch & Competitive Strategy
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in store launches and competitive strategy. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a senior leader, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to manage teams and influence stakeholders. Share specific examples of how you've led teams through complex projects or changes, as this will resonate with us.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and make sure your key points stand out. This helps us quickly see why you’re a great fit!
Apply Early!:Due to high interest in this role, we recommend applying as soon as possible. Don’t wait until the last minute; get your application in through our website to ensure you don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks and Spencer
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Head of Store Launch & Competitive Strategy, you'll need to demonstrate your commercial acumen. Brush up on key metrics related to store performance, market share, and competitive positioning. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires strong leadership skills, so think about examples that highlight your ability to lead and coach teams. Prepare to discuss how you’ve managed remote teams and navigated complex situations, ensuring alignment with commercial goals.
✨Understand the Competition
Familiarise yourself with the current competitive landscape in the retail sector, especially in Fashion, Home & Beauty. Be prepared to share insights on how you would develop and implement a competition defence strategy that protects market share and drives performance.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Stakeholder management is crucial for this position. Think of examples where you've successfully influenced cross-functional teams. Be ready to discuss how you would partner with Retail, Property, Trading, and Finance to ensure initiatives are fit for purpose in-store.
