At a Glance
- Tasks: Collaborate on space strategy and optimise store performance for M&S.
- Company: Join the dynamic team at Marks & Spencer, a leader in retail innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy 20% discount, competitive holidays, and wellbeing support.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in retail while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Strong analytical skills and knowledge of space planning processes.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Everyone is welcome at M&S. No exceptions. It's your background, abilities and differences that make you, uniquely you. And when you're part of M&S, that individuality has the potential to make waves.
We are looking for a BU Grading Planner to join the team on a 12-month fixed-term contract. Working closely with the Space Planning Manager, the BU Grading Planner partners with Business Units to develop and deliver the BU Space Strategy. The role is accountable for BU space allocation across Seasonal and All-Year-Round (AYR) ranges, identifying opportunities to drive store and category performance in sales, margin, and controllable contribution. You will translate BU and Department strategies into a clear grading framework for each phase, ensuring space and stock are deployed to deliver a profitable return. This role plays a key part in optimising space use, supporting commercial decision-making, and enabling the delivery of customer-led, performance-driven space plans.
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.
What's in it for you? 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, 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.
Your key accountabilities will include:
- Supports the development and delivery of the space strategy for the BU, fully aligned to the overall C&H strategy and works with the Space planning manager on the development and delivery of the BU strategy.
- Ensure delivery of the Space planning critical path aligning to the Buying critical path.
- Drive space productivity through the use of space data, insight, and analytics to inform grading optimisation, densities, ratios, space %TTs and SDG space allocation.
- Share Space performance data with BU's on a weekly basis calling out opportunities for improvement.
- Ensure this information is the most optimal view of space, working with the other BU grading planners to improve when required.
- Works collaboratively with the Space and template planner to drive the accuracy, optimisation, and delivery of space planning for their BU.
- Ensures work is appropriately prioritised and resourced to meet the demands of Transformation.
Your skills and experience will include:
- Strong understanding of the Space/Merchandising critical path, process flows, competencies and activities.
- Good knowledge of the Space and Merchandising.
- Strong numerical and analytical skills.
- Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint to a high standard.
- All relevant C&H, Space & Retail reporting, and merch systems, specifically: JDA floorplanning, RP, MP, GMOR, PowerBI, Blue Yonder.
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.
Bu Grading Planner in England employer: Marks & Spencer
Contact Detail:
Marks & Spencer Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Bu Grading Planner in England
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at M&S on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding M&S's values and how they align with your own. Be ready to share examples of how you've demonstrated similar values in your past roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or family. This will help you articulate your thoughts clearly and confidently when it’s your turn to shine.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the M&S team.
We think you need these skills to ace Bu Grading Planner in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the BU Grading Planner role. Highlight your relevant experience in space planning and analytics, and show how your skills align with M&S's values and goals.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since this role requires strong numerical and analytical skills, be sure to include specific examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles. This will help us see your potential impact on our team.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where necessary to make it easy for us to read and understand your key achievements and experiences.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This ensures your application is received by the right team and gives you the best chance to showcase your fit for the role!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks & Spencer
✨Know Your Numbers
As a BU Grading Planner, you'll need to demonstrate strong numerical and analytical skills. Brush up on your data analysis techniques and be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles. Prepare examples that showcase your ability to interpret space performance data and make recommendations based on your findings.
✨Familiarise Yourself with the Space Strategy
Make sure you understand the basics of space planning and merchandising critical paths. Research M&S's current space strategy and think about how you can contribute to it. Be prepared to discuss how you would align your work with the overall C&H strategy and what innovative ideas you might bring to the table.
✨Collaboration is Key
This role involves working closely with various teams, so highlight your teamwork skills. Think of examples where you've successfully collaborated with others to achieve a common goal. Be ready to discuss how you would work with the Space Planning Manager and other BU grading planners to optimise space use.
✨Show Your Passion for Retail
M&S is all about bringing exceptional quality and service to customers. During the interview, express your enthusiasm for retail and how you can contribute to enhancing customer experience through effective space planning. Share any relevant experiences that demonstrate your commitment to delivering value and service in a retail environment.