At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead exciting store transformations and drive operational excellence across multiple locations.
- Company: Join M&S, a forward-thinking retailer committed to quality and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 20% discount, competitive holidays, and tailored training from day one.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with a focus on personal development and community support.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team shaping the future of retail and making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in large-scale operations and strong stakeholder management skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
What You’ll Do
- Lead the end‑to‑end delivery of all new store launches, renewals, closures, and store environment schemes, ensuring strong performance from pre‑opening through post‑launch reviews.
- Drive operational excellence by developing and embedding best‑in‑class processes, minimising disruption, and maximising recapture across trading stores.
- Lead, coach, and prioritise a field‑based team, ensuring clear phasing plans, high standards, and alignment with commercial and operational goals.
- Partner extensively across Retail, Property, Trading, and Finance to influence delivery, shape propositions, and ensure all initiatives are fit for purpose in-store.
- Define and implement the Competition Defence Strategy, embedding governance, reporting, and a targeted, insight‑led approach to protect customer value and sales.
Who You Will Be
- A proven senior leader with experience delivering large‑scale store programmes, transformation, or multi‑site operations.
- Highly effective at stakeholder management, with the ability to influence across Retail, Property, and cross‑functional leadership teams.
- Commercially astute, with a strong understanding of store operations and the ability to balance customer experience with financial performance.
- A resilient and adaptable leader, able to manage remote teams and navigate complexity, ambiguity, and change.
- An impactful communicator who can create clarity, drive accountability, and lead teams to deliver at pace.
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.
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.
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 Store Transformation & Competition Defence Strategy employer: Marks & Spencer
At Marks & Spencer, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive and dynamic employer, dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. As the Head of Store Transformation & Competition Defence Strategy, you will benefit from a competitive salary, generous colleague discounts, and extensive professional development opportunities, all while working in a fast-paced environment that values your contributions and supports your well-being. Join us in shaping the future of retail, where your leadership will drive meaningful change and enhance customer experiences across our stores.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Store Transformation & Competition Defence Strategy
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn and ask about their experiences. This can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the company’s recent store transformations and competition strategies. Show us you’re not just interested in the role, but that you understand our mission and challenges.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've led teams through change or improved store operations. We love hearing about real-life successes.
✨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 our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Store Transformation & Competition Defence Strategy
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in store transformation and competition defence strategy. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a senior leader, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to lead and coach teams effectively. Share examples of how you've managed remote teams and navigated complex situations. We love to see impactful communication in action!
Highlight Stakeholder Management Experience:Since this role involves extensive collaboration across various departments, make sure to emphasise your stakeholder management skills. Tell us about times you’ve influenced decisions or shaped propositions in a retail environment.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and get you started on this exciting journey with us at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks & Spencer
✨Know Your Store Strategy
Before the interview, dive deep into the company's store transformation strategies. Understand their recent store launches and closures, and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to these initiatives. This shows that you're not just interested in the role but also invested in the company's vision.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams through change or transformation. Highlight your experience in managing remote teams and navigating complex situations. This will demonstrate your resilience and adaptability, which are key traits for this position.
✨Master Stakeholder Management
Think about times when you've influenced cross-functional teams or stakeholders. Be ready to share specific instances where your communication skills made a difference. This is crucial as the role requires extensive collaboration across various departments.
✨Balance Customer Experience with Financial Performance
Be prepared to discuss how you can enhance customer experience while also driving financial results. Bring examples of how you've achieved this balance in previous roles. This will show that you understand the commercial aspects of store operations, which is vital for success in this role.
