At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive data-informed decisions and improve customer experience in a dynamic retail environment.
- Company: Join Marks & Spencer, a leader in innovative retail solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, competitive holidays, bonuses, and comprehensive wellbeing support.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive team committed to innovation and positive change.
- Why this job: Shape strategy and make a real impact on customer experiences with data-driven insights.
- Qualifications: 4+ years as a Business Analyst with strong collaboration and communication skills.
We are looking for a highly motivated and commercially savvy Senior Business Analyst with a passion for data and retail. This role is critical in driving data‑informed decisions across our business, helping to shape strategy, improve customer experience, and identify growth opportunities. The Senior Business Analyst will lead business analysis across complex Data products and transformation work. You’ll work closely with product, delivery, design, data and technology teams to understand our business priorities, end‑customer needs and service challenges. Using insight and evidence, you’ll turn this into clear recommendations and well‑defined requirements that help us deliver better outcomes for our customers and the business.
Due to high interest, this role may close earlier than advertised. We recommend applying as soon as possible.
What You’ll Do
- Define Business Analysis frameworks as part of an ever‑more efficient Data Delivery Model, balancing the need for pace with quality of deliverables and artefacts. Ability to make and implement recommendations to continuously improve how we deliver Data Products.
- Take ownership of the product delivery process, working closely with business stakeholders to understand needs, define project scope, and document functional and non‑functional requirements and lead on testing.
- Act as a trusted advisor to stakeholders across the business, translating business needs into compelling user stories and requirements for more complex Data Products and Programmes, suitable for differing audiences.
- Communicate complex technical concepts to non‑technical stakeholders, ensuring clarity and alignment. Ability to also accurately translate business needs into technical requirements suitable for development teams to take on.
- Contribute to best practices in model development, deployment, and monitoring across the team.
Who You Are
- 4+ years of experience as a Business Analyst, with a focus on business requirements gathering, process design, and project delivery.
- Experience managing Business Analysts and developing processes and frameworks.
- Proven experience in working with cross‑functional teams to deliver business‑driven solutions, especially in a data‑centric environment.
- Experience leading Business Analysis within a data transformation programme or product environment.
- Strong collaborator and communicator, comfortable working across Product, Engineering, and business teams.
What's in It For You
- After completing your probationary period, you’ll receive a 20% colleague discount across all M&S products and many of our third‑party brands for you and a member of your household.
- Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days!
- Discretionary bonus schemes awarded based on how you achieve your personal objectives and our performance as a business.
- A generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and Life Assurance.
- A dedicated welcome to our teams with a tailored induction and a wide range of training programmes to develop your skills.
- Amazing perks and discounts via our M&S Choices portal to maximise your financial and personal wellbeing.
- Industry‑leading parental, adoption and neonatal policies, providing support and flexibility for your family.
- Access to a fantastic range of wellbeing support for all colleagues including access to our 24/7 Virtual GP and PAM Assist to support you and your family.
- A charity volunteer day to support a charity or cause you’re passionate about through a dedicated day away from work.
Being a part of M&S means playing your part to bring the magic of M&S to our customers every day. We’re an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and ever‑evolving business built on doing the right thing and bringing exceptional quality, value, and service to every customer, whenever, wherever, and however they want to shop with us.
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 do not 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 Business Analyst 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 Business Analyst
✨Get to Grips with Data Visualisation Tools
If you're aiming for a full-time role in business intelligence, brush up on your skills with popular data visualisation tools like Tableau or Power BI. Showcasing projects where you've transformed raw data into clear visual insights can give you a real edge.
✨Join Local Business Intelligence Meetups
Look for local business intelligence meetups or analytics conferences in your area. These events are not just great for learning but also for networking with industry professionals who could lead you to opportunities at companies like Marks and Spencer!
✨Engage with Online BI Communities
Join online forums or communities focused on business intelligence—think LinkedIn groups, Reddit threads, or even dedicated Slack channels. Engage actively by sharing your insights and asking questions; this can help you build visibility and connect with potential employers.
✨Leverage Your University’s Career Support
If you're a recent graduate, definitely tap into your university's career services. Many have connections with companies in need of full-time BI specialists, and they can guide you on how to pitch yourself effectively—don't miss out on that!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Business Analyst
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Analytical Skills:In the business intelligence field, showcasing your analytical skills is a must. Make sure your CV includes relevant experience with data analysis tools, programming languages like SQL or Python, and any projects where you've interpreted complex data sets to drive business decisions.
Showcase Your Business Acumen:Don't just focus on data; show us how you can apply your insights to real-world business problems. Highlight projects where you made a tangible impact on company performance, and be prepared to explain your thought process in your cover letter.
Tailor Your Documents for Us:When applying for a full-time role at Marks and Spencer, tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect our organisational goals and strategies. Mention specific tools and methodologies that align with what we do—this shows you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in our mission!
Include Relevant Certifications:Certifications like Google Data Analytics or similar qualifications can really make you stand out in business intelligence. Include these in your application, as they demonstrate your commitment to the field and your willingness to stay current with industry standards.
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks and Spencer
✨Show off your analytical skills
In a business intelligence role, you're going to need to demonstrate your analytical prowess. Be prepared to discuss specific tools you've used, like SQL, Tableau, or Power BI. Have real-world examples ready where you’ve turned data into actionable insights – this is what makes us shine in interviews!
✨Practice your technical know-how
Expect some technical questions during the interview that dive deep into your understanding of data modelling and analytics frameworks. Brush up on your knowledge of data warehousing concepts and be ready to tackle any real case scenarios they might present. They’ll want to see how you approach problems using your BI toolkit.
✨Portfolio of Projects
Since it's a full-time role, having a strong portfolio is key! Compile case studies demonstrating your previous projects, preferably showing how your insights led to business improvements. This can help us display how you think through complex datasets and your problem-solving process, which is what employers are keen on seeing.
✨Know their business model
Get familiar with Marks and Spencer’s business model and recent data-driven decisions. Be prepared to discuss how your skills can specifically support their objectives or challenges. Understanding their landscape shows that you’re not just a data buff, but you’re also genuinely interested in how BI can impact their bottom line.
