At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive space optimisation and enhance store performance across Fashion, Home, and Beauty.
- 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: Collaborative environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on retail transformation while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Strong relationship-building skills and understanding of space planning processes.
The predicted salary is between 37800 - 46200 £ per year.
We are looking for a commercially focused, analytically and visually strong individual who can turn insight into action and deliver space optimisation in stores. As a Store Space Performance Planner, you play a central part in shaping how our stores bring the Fashion, Home and Beauty space and transformation strategy to life. Operating across multiple regions within a division, you will lead the application, allocation and optimisation of space through regular store visits, robust grading decisions and macro space changes.
As a key partner to Store, Regional and Divisional leadership teams, you will influence and support the delivery of macro space optimisation. Using analytical tools, performance insight and close collaboration with Regional Managers, Store teams and BU space teams, you will identify opportunities to drive sales, meet customer needs and drive space productivity. This is a varied role working across multiple stakeholder teams, requiring strong commercial acumen, influential partnership skills and the ability to translate data led insight into practical, strategic outcomes across a complex estate.
Your key accountabilities will include:
- Drive FHB Space & Grading Across the Division: Oversee all aspects of Fashion, Home and Beauty space and grading within your division, ensuring space is used efficiently, aligns with business strategy and meets customer needs to maximise sales, productivity and ROI.
- Drive commercial Space Optimisation across the Estate: Lead reviews of every store throughout the year using Red/Amber/Green methodology to assess complexity, identify opportunities, and drive BU space optimisation. Analyse store space performance to identify opportunities for macro-BU change, using data to build clear, commercially grounded recommendations for senior stakeholders. Produce PIRs to ensure learnings and insights are embedded into future store proposals.
- Develop & Present Store Block Plans: Create proposed macro space block plans to illustrate space changes, model the commercial benefits, and compile compelling summaries. Chair divisional store space surgeries involving regional managers, Field VM and Space management. Ensure commercial, operational and Space priorities are aligned, and that Space macro decision making remains strategic and future focused, presenting your store space proposals in these sessions.
- Translate Strategy into Practical Application: With the Store Performance Manager and BU Space Planning teams translate strategy, grading frameworks and space planning principles into actionable plans for each store. Use space performance data, modelling tools, and productivity leavers to support decision making and presenting commercially grounded recommendations for senior stakeholders.
- Act as Regional Space Partner and voice of stores: Serve as the primary point of contact for Regional Managers on all FHB space related topics. Build trusted relationships with Regional Managers and Store Directors, securing alignment and buy in to deliver space optimisation with momentum. Lead regular visits to stores with senior stakeholders to understand and provide expert guidance on operational realities, customer behaviour and the practicalities of delivering macro moves at scale. Support stores in adopting the M&S Way for Space and upskill new Store Managers and Regional Managers in the FHB Space and Transformation strategies.
Your skills and experience will include:
- Strong ability to initiate, build, and sustain relationships, influencing effectively at all levels across the Support Centre and Stores.
- Expert understanding of the Space Planning and Merchandising critical path, process flows, competencies, and related activities, including relevant and essential systems.
- Understanding of the entire store retailing environment, particularly in relation to product delivery, space execution, and operational processes.
- Knowledge of business IT systems and the space planning interdependencies.
- All relevant FH&B, Space & Retail reporting, and merch systems, specifically: Blue Yonder floor planning, RP, MP, GMOR, PowerBI.
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.
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.
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.
To stay close to customers, our support teams are in the office three days a week as we believe that skills are developed through collaboration, and that spending time together makes us more creative and connected.
Store Space Performance Planner in London employer: Marks & Spencer Group
Join M&S as a Customer Assistant in our Food section, where you'll be part of a dynamic team that values hard work and dedication. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, we offer a vibrant work culture that encourages collaboration and innovation. Located in Wolstanton, you will enjoy the benefits of working for one of the UK's fastest-growing retailers, with opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career while delivering exceptional service to our valued customers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Store Space Performance Planner 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 & Spencer Group, 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 & Spencer Group!
We think you need these skills to ace Store Space Performance Planner in London
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 & Spencer Group, 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 & Spencer Group 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 & Spencer Group that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks & Spencer Group
✨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!