Space Planning Programme Manager (Fashion, Home & Beauty) in London

Space Planning Programme Manager (Fashion, Home & Beauty) in London

London Full-Time 50000 - 65000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Marks and Spencer

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the Tactical Space Programme, optimising store layouts and ensuring project delivery across 10-15 stores annually.
  • Company: Join Marks & Spencer, a leading retailer known for quality, value, and service to millions of customers.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a 20% colleague discount, competitive holiday allowance, and 24/7 wellbeing support including virtual GP access.
  • Other info: This role involves strong stakeholder management and governance across multiple projects.
  • Why this job: Be part of a pivotal change in the Fashion, Home & Beauty sector, driving impactful store transformations.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in delivering retail change programmes and strong analytical skills to interpret complex data.

The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.

Lead the delivery of store projects that impact space, ensuring both qualitative and quantitative outcomes drive improved performance. You will own space optimisation across the store change programme, aligning transformation goals with wider business objectives.

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.

Benefits:

  • 20% colleague discount on all M&S products and many third‑party brands for you and someone in your household 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 the 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.

What You’ll Do:

This is an exciting opportunity to join the FH&B Space Planning team at a pivotal moment, as we deliver ambitious and impactful change across the estate. The Programme Manager – Tactical Space & Concessions plays a critical role in leading the delivery of the Tactical Space Programme, optimising our store estate through a strong data‑led and customer‑centric approach.

  • Own the end‑to‑end delivery of the Tactical Space Programme (c.10–15 stores annually), translating commercial priorities into clear, phased plans that maximise value and minimise disruption.
  • Drive pace, cost control and delivery discipline across multiple projects, ensuring outputs meet M&S standards and identifying efficiencies where possible.
  • Support the delivery of concessions (M&P, TSE, existing and new brands) within the FH&B store estate.
  • Lead store engagement and site visits, securing buy‑in, validating scope, and ensuring strong execution across all locations.
  • Use data, insight and post‑implementation reviews to track performance, challenge outcomes and continuously improve future decisions.
  • Provide strong governance and stakeholder management, proactively managing risks, influencing cross‑functional teams, and fostering a high‑performance, collaborative culture.

Who You Are:

  • Strong ability to initiate, build and sustain relationships, influencing effectively at all levels across the Support Centre and Stores.
  • Proven experience delivering store‑based, property‑led or tactical change programmes, ideally in retail.
  • Highly numerate and analytically strong, with the ability to interpret complex data to inform sound commercial decisions.
  • Demonstrates drive, ownership, resilience and determination, with the ability to navigate complexity and cut through barriers.
  • Effective leadership, with the ability to inspire, guide and motivate teams to deliver high‑quality outcomes.
  • Exposure to concessions, brands or space planning is desirable.
  • Organised, resilient and comfortable operating in ambiguity.
  • Previous examples of programme management and cost management.
  • Experience writing business cases.
  • Strong programme and financial management skills, with a disciplined approach to cost control.
  • Strong understanding of the Fashion, Home & Beauty business model and operations.
  • Knowledge of property processes and timescales relevant to FH&B.
  • Understanding of the entire store retailing environment, particularly in relation to product delivery, space execution and operational processes.

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.

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.

Space Planning Programme Manager (Fashion, Home & Beauty) in London employer: Marks and Spencer

Marks & Spencer offers a competitive benefits package including market-leading family policies and tailored training. Located in the UK, the company is committed to inclusivity and building diverse teams. Join a team that values collaboration and innovation in the retail industry.

Marks and Spencer

Contact Details:

Marks and Spencer Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Space Planning Programme Manager (Fashion, Home & Beauty) in London

Get Your Retail Game On

Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!

Join Retail Networks and Forums

Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Marks and Spencer, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!

Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities

Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.

Show Off Your Customer Service Skills

Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Marks and Spencer!

We think you need these skills to ace Space Planning Programme Manager (Fashion, Home & Beauty) in London

Space Optimisation
Data Analysis
Project Management
Stakeholder Management
Cost Control
Commercial Acumen
Leadership Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.

Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Marks and Spencer, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.

Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Marks and Spencer and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!

Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Marks and Spencer that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!

How to prepare for a job interview at Marks and Spencer

Show Off Your Customer Service Skills

Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!

Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems

Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!

Understand Product Knowledge

Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.

Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios

Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!