At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of building and engineering specifications across our retail estate.
- Company: Join M&S, a fast-moving and inclusive company with a strong sense of purpose.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 20% discount, competitive holidays, and tailored training from day one.
- Other info: Collaborate cross-functionally and drive continuous improvement in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainability and innovation in a key leadership role.
- Qualifications: Experience in technical specifications and strong understanding of safety regulations required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 45000 £ per year.
As Technical Specification & Standards Manager, you will lead the development, governance and continuous improvement of building, engineering and equipment specifications across the retail estate. Acting as the technical authority, you will ensure all store development activity delivers consistent brand standards, safe and compliant environments, and cost effective, future proofed solutions aligned to sustainability ambitions. This is a key leadership role, managing a team of specialist managers and working cross functionally to shape specification strategy across new stores, renewals, refurbishments and store environment. Support centre mobility role with travel to Waterside and across the estate as required.
What You’ll Do
- Lead the development and governance of building, mechanical, electrical, refrigeration and equipment specifications across the estate.
- Set standards and compliance frameworks covering materials, finishes, HVAC, power, data, fire safety, accessibility and life safety.
- Own and evolve specification strategies to ensure alignment with brand, cost, operational performance and sustainability goals.
- Drive innovation and continuous improvement through the adoption of new technologies, including energy, carbon reduction and refrigeration solutions.
- Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure consistent delivery, quality control and effective rollout across all store formats.
What You Will Be
- Provide leadership to a team of specialist technical managers across engineering and equipment disciplines.
- Act as the central technical interface across Design, Construction, Procurement, Facilities Management and Sustainability teams.
- Oversee supplier engagement, ensuring high quality, cost effective and scalable manufacturing and installation solutions.
- Use operational data and performance insight to drive continuous improvement in asset performance and efficiency.
- Ensure all specifications support long term resilience, compliance and Plan A sustainability outcomes.
What You Will Bring
- Proven experience in building and technical specifications within retail or large scale estates.
- Strong understanding of fire, health and safety regulations and compliance requirements.
- Engineering qualification or equivalent industry experience within mechanical, electrical or refrigeration disciplines.
- Knowledge of energy and carbon reduction technologies and strategies.
- Strong communication, influencing and organisational skills with the ability to lead cross functional collaboration.
What’s in it for you?
- 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.
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.
Technical Standards Manager employer: Marks & Spencer Plc
Joining M&S as a Technical Standards Manager means becoming part of a dynamic and inclusive team dedicated to delivering quality and sustainability across our retail estate. With a strong focus on employee development, you will benefit from tailored training, competitive perks, and a supportive work culture that values innovation and collaboration. Enjoy a range of benefits including a generous colleague discount, flexible holiday options, and comprehensive wellbeing support, all while contributing to a purpose-driven organisation that prioritises doing the right thing.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Technical Standards Manager
✨Networking in the Right Circles
Dive into communities focused on building systems and supply engineering. Join LinkedIn groups, attend industry-specific trade shows, and don’t shy away from local meetups. These are golden opportunities to connect with industry professionals who could help you land that full-time role at places like Marks & Spencer Plc.
✨Showcase Your Projects
If you've worked on any projects—big or small—related to building systems, make sure to showcase them! Creating a portfolio or a detailed case study on your approach can do wonders. It’s all about showing prospective employers, like Marks & Spencer Plc, that you’ve got hands-on experience and a solid understanding of the field.
✨Leverage University Resources
Are you still connected with your university? Tap into their career services! Many universities have relationships with firms in the building systems sector and can provide leads on exclusive job openings. This could be your ticket to landing the full-time job you want.
✨Get Involved in Professional Bodies
Consider joining professional organisations related to building systems and supply engineering. These often have job boards, career development events, and networking opportunities. Engaging with these can significantly increase your visibility to firms like Marks & Spencer Plc and may help you secure that full-time position sooner!
We think you need these skills to ace Technical Standards Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Engineering Skills:In the building systems supply engineering field, make sure to highlight your technical skills in your CV. Include any relevant software certifications or engineering tools you’re proficient with. Demonstrating your ability to use industry-specific technologies can really set you apart!
Quantify Your Achievements:Employers love to see how you've made an impact in your previous roles. When detailing your work experience, try to include quantifiable achievements—like how you improved a system’s efficiency by a percentage or managed a project that saved your last company X amount. This shows you're results-driven and could help us at Marks & Spencer Plc.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Don’t just reuse the same old cover letter! Personalise it for the Technical Standards Manager role at Marks & Spencer Plc. Talk about your passion for building systems and why this position excites you. We want to see your personality shine through and how you envision contributing to our team.
Include Relevant Projects:If you’ve worked on specific projects related to building systems supply engineering, don’t forget to mention them! Include any reports or case studies that showcase your problem-solving abilities and project management skills. This portfolio of work can really illustrate your expertise to us.
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks & Spencer Plc
✨Know Your Technical Stuff
For a role in building systems supply engineering, make sure you're clued up about the latest technologies and tools in the field. Brush up on your knowledge of HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical layouts, and any relevant software used in modelling or design.
✨Showcase Real Projects
Since this is a full-time position, the interviewers will be keen to see your relevant experience. Bring along a portfolio that highlights the projects you've worked on, focusing on your role and the impact you had. Be ready to discuss the challenges faced and how you overcame them.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions during your interview. They may ask how you would approach a specific design challenge or troubleshoot an existing system. Think about examples from your past work where you successfully tackled problems, and be ready to articulate your thought process.
✨Understand the Industry Landscape
It's crucial to have a good grasp of the current trends affecting building systems, like sustainable engineering practices or smart technology integration. Familiarise yourself with recent advancements and be prepared to discuss how they might influence your work at Marks & Spencer Plc.
