At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the in-store experience strategy for Fashion, Home & Beauty at M&S.
- Company: Join M&S, a forward-thinking retailer with a strong sense of purpose.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 20% discount, competitive holidays, and wellness support.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to transforming retail.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on customer experiences and drive retail innovation.
- Qualifications: Proven senior management experience in Visual Merchandising with strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
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.
- 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
What you'll do: The Head of Field VM is accountable for driving the instore experience strategy across Fashion Home & Beauty, encompassing the pillars of layout, product handling, kit usage and styling. Manages a clear end to process from engagement, through to training and implementation, in order to deliver a defined standard of visual excellence across our stores, which delivers to the business strategies to enable commercial growth through our UK retail spaces. Leads through expertise of the fashion retailing sector, with a detailed lens on the evolving landscape of competitors, globally. Leads through decisive and commercial strategic planning, and provides the Field VM team with clear prioritisation and structured ways of working. Takes the central guidance and implements with an expert understanding of space, layout and market opportunity, measuring commercial impact of decision making practical implementation to inform the ongoing evolution of our stores. Working across the UK, the Head of Field VM is an ambassador to delivering the marketing and product strategies and ensuring buy-in, to deliver the customer journey which both inspires and delivers ease of shop. This is a field‑based role, with travel and on‑site working expected as part of the remit.
Manages the plan to deliver the Model Store strategy by division which delivers in seasonal best practice and enables a format for delivering training to all VM colleagues. Leads all new store / renewal planning, including managing resource requirements. Manages the flow of trade actions both from retail and into retail (via the support centre). Proposes updates to guidance in season to maximise commercial gain. Manages the day to day ways of working with the Field VM Team, leading by example in terms of effective movements with a cost conscious lens. Confirms the tools required to deliver the Store Experience strategy across the varied store formats and concepts – i.e kit, new formats of POS, additional information. Is the primary contact for senior leadership within Retail and works in collaboration with support centre team, to engage and knowledge share at a senior retail level (Regional Managers, Store Directors). Manages relationships with key stakeholders and ensures the correct level of information is provided – Inform/ consult/ engage/ collaborate. Champions an open dialogue with Retail to obtain feedback on strategy, as well as initiating regular instore review enabling informed feedback / PIR, to obtain key learnings and inform the way forward. Champions a customer point of view and relates everything back to our customer, using relevant customer insight, commercial / industry data / KPIs to inform decision making and measure success. Supports strategic opportunities, inclusive of our Omni proposition, to aid business transformation, and encourages innovative thinking across team. Drives company values and behaviours across immediate and wider team, through effective leadership. Accountable for enabling an informed, engaged, and effective team who are experts in their roles.
Who you are: Proven experience working in VM in FH&B at senior manager level with proven leadership capability. Strategy management with proven commercial success in driving KPIs. Shows resilience and persistence through periods of change and challenge. Excellent technical Visual Merchandising and coaching capability. Excellent communication and key stakeholder management. Confident understanding / articulation of the brand identity.
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.
Head of Field VM in London employer: Marks & Spencer Plc
At Marks & Spencer, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive and dynamic employer that values quality, service, and the well-being of our colleagues. With a strong focus on personal development, competitive benefits including a generous colleague discount, and a commitment to work-life balance, we empower our employees to thrive in their roles while contributing to a meaningful customer experience. Join us in shaping the future of retail in a supportive environment that champions innovation and collaboration.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Field VM in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the fashion retail industry. Attend events, join online forums, or even hit up LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Head of Field VM role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to highlight your experience in visual merchandising and how you've driven commercial success in previous roles. Be ready to share specific examples that demonstrate your impact.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching M&S and their current strategies. Understand their brand identity and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their vision. Tailor your responses to show that you're not just a fit for the role, but also for the company culture.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the M&S team. So, get your application in and let’s make some magic happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Field VM in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Visual Merchandising:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for visual merchandising shine through. Share specific examples of how you've driven successful strategies in the past and how you can bring that expertise to M&S.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the job description. Highlight your experience in Fashion Home & Beauty and how it aligns with M&S's vision for delivering quality and service.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your achievements and how they relate to the role of Head of Field VM. We want to see your skills without wading through unnecessary fluff!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at M&S.
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks & Spencer Plc
✨Know Your Visual Merchandising Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends and techniques in visual merchandising, especially within the Fashion, Home, and Beauty sectors. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully implemented strategies in previous roles and how they can translate to M&S.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head of Field VM, you'll need to demonstrate your leadership capabilities. Prepare examples of how you've led teams through change, managed stakeholder relationships, and driven commercial success. Highlight your ability to inspire and engage your team.
✨Understand M&S's Brand Identity
Familiarise yourself with M&S's brand values and customer insights. Be prepared to articulate how your vision aligns with their mission of delivering quality and service. This will show that you're not just a fit for the role, but also for the company culture.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and strategic thinking. Think of scenarios where you've had to make tough decisions or adapt to market changes. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses effectively.
