Policy Specialist Manager - 6 Month Fixed Term Contract

We’re looking for a passionate and people‑focused Policy Specialist Manager to lead our People Policy front‑line advisory service and shape the way we support line managers across M&S. This is a brilliant opportunity to combine your HR expertise and leadership skills to deliver a high‑quality, front‑line policy advice service that balances business needs, colleague experience and legal requirements. You’ll lead a team of Policy Specialists, driving performance, developing capability and continuously improving the service. Working at the heart of the People Hub, you’ll play a key role in influencing how we support our managers across stores, support centres and the distribution centre, creating a service that is responsive, insightful and genuinely valuable. This is a 6‑month fixed term contract.

What you’ll do

• Lead, coach and develop a team of Policy Specialists, creating a high‑performing, engaged and inclusive team culture.
• Drive strong operational performance across the service, ensuring SLAs are consistently met and call quality and efficiency measures are delivered.
• Manage resource planning and scheduling to ensure the right support is in place across all operating hours.
• Identify trends, risks and opportunities through data and insight, using these to continuously improve processes, service delivery and customer experience.
• Build strong relationships with business partners across the business, ensuring feedback is captured and translated into meaningful improvements.

Who you are

• Strong leadership experience, with a track record of managing and developing high‑performing teams.
• Solid HR knowledge, including employment policy, case management or generalist experience.
• Customer‑focused approach, with excellent listening skills and the ability to understand and respond to business needs.
• Confident coach, able to develop capability and support others to deliver high‑quality, balanced advice.
• Strong organisational, communication and business partner management skills, with the ability to adapt in a fast‑paced environment.

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. Benefits include:

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

Commitment to diversity

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.