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- Tasks: Lead the strategy and operations of product samples for Fashion, Home & Beauty Marketing.
- Company: Join M&S, a dynamic and inclusive retail leader transforming the shopping experience.
- Benefits: Enjoy 20% discount, competitive holidays, bonuses, and wellbeing support.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of innovative marketing strategies and sustainability initiatives.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience and strong organisational skills required.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Being a part of M&S is exactly that – 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.
Here are some of the benefits we offer that make working for M&S just that little bit more special:
- After completing your probationary period, you’ll receive 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.
The Marketing Samples Manager leads the end-to-end strategy and operations of all physical product samples across Fashion Home & Beauty Marketing. Responsible for ensuring every sample is accurately tracked, efficiently circulated, and available to key teams, this role is central to enabling timely product launches, campaigns, and to support our social and PR growth.
Key responsibilities include:
- Review and transform sample process - develop and implement scalable sample management processes to support business growth.
- Partner with senior stakeholders to forecast sample volumes and prioritise key activities (seasonal launches, campaigns, PR/social media events, celebrity ambassador/influencer dressing & gifting).
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency through system enhancements, automation, or workflow redesign.
- Lead on sustainability initiatives, optimising sample reuse, recycling, and responsible disposal.
- Reposition role of samples in the Marketing department as a critical enabler (lead cultural change around sample management).
- Act as the key liaison between Buying, Merchandising, Studio, PR/Social, and Marketing teams to ensure sample alignment with business calendars.
- Work closely with the product photography team to support delivery and return of samples for hybrid shoots.
- Support PR/Social team with event resource where required (in-house studio shoots, content shoots, display samples, goodie bags, attendee dressing etc).
- Work closely with Marble Arch Showroom Manager to align processes and identify synergies/process improvements.
- Provide visibility of sample status and priorities through reporting and dashboards.
- Manage and mentor a team of ITG marketing executives, fostering a high-performance, accountable & collaborative culture.
- Champion operational excellence and encourage proactive problem-solving.
Who you are:
- Proven experience leading a team and improving operational systems and workflows.
- Strong understanding of fashion critical path, seasonal calendars, and go-to-market processes.
- Highly proficient in Excel and/or inventory management.
- Excellent organisational, analytical, and communication skills.
- Experience managing multiple stakeholders across departments.
- Strategic thinker with strong operational acumen.
- Calm, solution-oriented, and able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Exceptionally organised, with a meticulous eye for detail.
- Collaborative leader with strong interpersonal skills.
- Passionate about process improvement and product excellence.
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.
Marketing Samples Manager employer: Marks & Spencer Plc
Contact Detail:
Marks & Spencer Plc Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Marketing Samples Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those at M&S. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info on what they're really looking for.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching M&S's values and recent campaigns. Show us how your skills align with their mission and how you can contribute to their exciting journey.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience in managing samples and improving processes can help M&S enhance their marketing efforts. Confidence is key!
✨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 serious about joining the M&S family.
We think you need these skills to ace Marketing Samples Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Marketing Samples Manager role. Highlight your experience in managing samples and leading teams, and show us how you align with our values at M&S.
Showcase Your Skills: We want to see your organisational and analytical skills shine through! Use specific examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your ability to improve processes and manage multiple stakeholders effectively.
Be Authentic: Let your personality come through in your application. We’re looking for someone who’s not just qualified but also passionate about what they do. Share your enthusiasm for fashion and sustainability initiatives!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our official 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 Samples Inside Out
As a Marketing Samples Manager, you’ll need to demonstrate a solid understanding of the sample management process. Familiarise yourself with M&S's current practices and think about how you can improve them. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've optimised sample processes in the past.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role involves managing a team, so be prepared to talk about your leadership style. Share experiences where you’ve successfully led a team or improved operational systems. Highlight how you foster collaboration and accountability within your team.
✨Be a Strategic Thinker
M&S is looking for someone who can think strategically about sample management. Prepare to discuss how you would forecast sample volumes and prioritise activities. Bring examples of how you’ve approached strategic planning in previous roles.
✨Emphasise Your Communication Skills
You’ll be liaising with multiple departments, so strong communication skills are a must. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. Be ready to provide examples of how you’ve effectively managed stakeholder relationships in the past.
