At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage research projects and turn data into impactful stories for a leading brand.
- Company: Join the award-winning Customer Insight team at Marks & Spencer.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, competitive holidays, bonuses, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for career growth and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on customer experience and brand strategy from day one.
- Qualifications: Experience in market research, strong communication, and data presentation skills.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
If you’re excited by the idea of shaping how millions of people experience one of the UK’s most iconic brands, this is your chance to be right at the heart of it. Join the award-winning Customer Insight team at Marks & Spencer, where you’ll play a hands-on role in understanding what customers think, feel and want, and help senior leaders act on it. This is a role with real visibility, responsibility, and the opportunity to make a genuine impact from day one, including contributing to work that reaches senior leadership and the CEO.
You’ll work on some of our highest-profile research programmes, including our groundbreaking Fashion Collective customer panel, delivering insight that directly influences creative, marketing, product strategy and customer experience across Fashion, Home & Beauty. In this role, you’ll build a powerful hybrid skillset across quantitative and qualitative research, storytelling, brand tracking and communications, giving you a strong foundation to grow your career in Insight, Marketing, Brand, Digital or beyond. You’ll also be joining at an exciting time, as we redefine how customers experience M&S, with plenty of opportunity to develop, grow your career in Insight, and potentially also in Marketing and beyond!
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
- 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.
What you’ll do
- Your key accountabilities will include leading the day-to-day management of both quantitative and qualitative research from our new Fashion Customer Panel, turning complex data into powerful, actionable stories.
- Be the engine behind our BrandIndex tracking programme with YouGov, delivering reputation insights directly to senior leadership, marketing teams, and agency partners like Mindshare.
- Manage regular reporting from our Voice of the Customer programme, helping us understand how customers feel at every step of their M&S journey.
- Support ad hoc qualitative projects, including customer vox pops, to bring real voices into key business moments.
- Own twice-yearly Style / Value / Quality perception trackers — read by a very senior audience.
- Present insights confidently to Marketing teams and the wider FH&B organisation.
Who you are
- Your skills and experience will include having experience in market research or insight, especially with continuous tracking studies.
- Being comfortable working with quantitative tools and excited to build more qualitative skills.
- Being highly organised, proactive, and thriving when juggling multiple projects.
- Having strong PowerPoint and Excel skills, and the creativity to turn data into compelling narratives.
- Being a confident communicator who enjoys presenting and sharing a point of view.
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.
Insight Assistant employer: Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters collaboration and creativity within the award-winning Customer Insight team. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will have access to tailored training programmes and the opportunity to influence key business decisions from day one, all while enjoying generous benefits such as a 20% colleague discount, competitive holiday entitlement, and industry-leading parental policies. Join us in redefining customer experiences and be part of a diverse team that values your contributions and supports your career aspirations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Insight Assistant
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at M&S on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing the Insight Assistant role. Personal connections can give you an edge!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by diving deep into M&S's recent campaigns and customer insights. Show that you’re not just interested in the role, but that you understand the brand and its customers. Bring your A-game with examples of how you can contribute!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your presentation skills! Since the role involves sharing insights with senior leadership, being able to communicate your ideas clearly and confidently is key. Grab a friend and do some mock presentations to get comfortable.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at M&S. Let’s make it happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Insight Assistant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see how excited you are about shaping customer experiences at M&S. Share why this position speaks to you and how you can contribute to our mission.
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Insight Assistant role. Highlight relevant experience in market research or insight, especially any work with quantitative and qualitative studies. We love seeing how your skills align with what we’re looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to tell us your story. Use it to explain how your background and skills make you a perfect fit for the team. Don’t forget to mention specific projects or experiences that relate to the key accountabilities of the role!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our amazing company culture!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks & Spencer
✨Know Your Numbers
As an Insight Assistant, you'll be dealing with both quantitative and qualitative data. Brush up on your statistics and be ready to discuss how you've used data in past projects. Prepare examples that showcase your ability to turn complex data into actionable insights.
✨Master the Art of Storytelling
This role requires you to present insights confidently. Practice turning your findings into compelling narratives. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses during the interview, making it easier for the interviewer to see your impact.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since you'll be presenting to senior leadership, it's crucial to demonstrate strong communication skills. During the interview, engage with your interviewer, ask questions, and articulate your thoughts clearly. This will show that you're not just a data whiz but also a confident communicator.
✨Be Proactive and Organised
The job description highlights the need for someone who is highly organised and proactive. Share examples from your previous experiences where you successfully managed multiple projects or took the initiative to improve processes. This will illustrate that you can thrive in a fast-paced environment.
