At a Glance
- Tasks: Ensure top-notch service delivery and compliance across tech platforms while driving continuous improvement.
- Company: Join M&S, a leading retailer committed to innovation and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 20% discount, competitive holidays, and tailored training from day one.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic environment with a focus on diversity and personal growth.
- Why this job: Be a key player in transforming retail service management and making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Deep knowledge of ITIL4, DevOps, and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
The Senior Service Assurance Manager ensures effective Service Management delivery across assigned D&T products, platforms, or infrastructure Tribes. Embedded within Tribes, the role acts as the key link between Service Management practices and teams, ensuring compliance, full integration, and delivery of IT services that meet business and store service levels.
As a Service Management ambassador, you promote ITIL4, DevOps, and SecOps as complementary frameworks, helping teams balance speed and throughput with standardisation, risk reduction, and operational stability. You will proactively monitor performance, identify trends, risks, and issues, and work with Tribe leaders to generate insights, determine root causes, and drive continuous improvement initiatives. Accountable for Tribe performance, you will demonstrate measurable gains in service quality and maturity over time. The role also requires regular engagement with Tribe leadership and business stakeholders to align on priorities, address challenges, and secure support for Service Management improvements.
What you'll do
- Drive Service Management excellence by assuring quality, performance, and compliance of key practices across the Tribe.
- Champion adoption and awareness of Service Management, communicating its value and embedding consistent ways of working.
- Coach and support teams through training, guidance, and targeted interventions to meet service standards and SLAs.
- Monitor performance and manage risk by analysing trends, identifying issues, and leading root cause analysis with actionable improvements.
- Lead continuous improvement and stakeholder engagement by reporting insights, scaling best practices, and collaborating with leadership to enhance service outcomes.
Who you are
- Deep Service Management expertise with strong knowledge of ITIL4, DevOps, SecOps and governance best practices (retail experience advantageous).
- Analytical and data-driven, with proven ability to monitor performance, interpret metrics, assess risks, and drive informed decision-making.
- Continuous improvement mindset, experienced in optimising processes and delivering measurable service quality enhancements.
- Strong communicator and influencer, able to engage stakeholders at all levels, manage change effectively, and handle conflict with professionalism.
- Commercially and strategically aware, with solid understanding of IT operations, service tools, and how service delivery impacts business outcomes in fast-paced environments.
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.
Senior Service Assurance Manager in Manchester employer: Marks and Spencer
Marks and Spencer is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration, particularly within the Corporate HR technology team. Employees benefit from a supportive environment that prioritises professional growth and development, alongside competitive remuneration and benefits. Working in a dynamic location, you will have the opportunity to lead impactful projects that enhance the colleague experience throughout their journey with the company.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Service Assurance Manager in Manchester
✨Join the IT Consultancy Buzz
Get involved in local or virtual IT consultancy meetups and forums. This is where we can rub shoulders with industry professionals, get insights into what Marks and Spencer values, and even spot unadvertised opportunities. Don't miss out on these chances to make a name for ourselves in the IT world!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a personal project or case study relevant to the challenges Marks and Spencer might face. Use platforms like GitHub or Medium to share your findings. This not only demonstrates our consulting skills but shows a proactive attitude, making us stand out from the crowd when applying for that full-time gig.
✨Leverage LinkedIn for Connections
Follow and engage with the relevant thought leaders and influencers in IT consultancy on LinkedIn. Share insightful content and join discussions to gain visibility. A well-placed comment or shared article could catch the attention of someone at Marks and Spencer!
✨Direct Apply to Marks and Spencer
Let's not forget to apply directly through the Marks and Spencer website! Tailor your application to showcase our understanding of their consulting style and how we can contribute to their projects. A personalised approach can make a huge difference in landing that full-time position!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Service Assurance Manager in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at Marks and Spencer.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at Marks and Spencer. Share stories about your experiences in IT consulting, and how they shaped your desire to join our team. Mention why you’re excited about this particular role, and how you see yourself contributing to our projects.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We're all busy, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points for key achievements, and don’t overload us with jargon. A clean, professional layout goes a long way. Remember, the clearer your application, the more likely we are to invite you in for an interview!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks and Spencer
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Skills
For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach
IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.
✨Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions
When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.
