At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead store strategy development and analyse data for optimal location planning.
- Company: Join M&S, a dynamic and inclusive retail leader.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, competitive holidays, bonuses, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team driving innovation in retail.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in retail by shaping store locations and strategies.
- Qualifications: Experience in location planning and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Description
What You Will Do
- Lead the development of the store estate strategy across the East of England and North East London, providing expert insight and recommendations.
- Assess opportunities for new stores, relocations, extensions, closures and estate optimisation through detailed location planning analysis.
- Analyse large and complex data sets to identify trends, opportunities and risks that support investment and estate decisions.
- Develop and present business cases for property initiatives, ensuring recommendations are commercially robust and strategically aligned.
- Build strong partnerships with Retail Regional Managers and key stakeholders across Property, Finance, Customer Insight and Store Development teams.
- Who You Will Be
- An analytical and commercially focused professional with experience in location planning, market analysis or a related discipline.
- Curious about customer behaviour, retail trends and the factors that influence store performance.
- Confident working independently while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
- A strong communicator who can translate complex analysis into clear and actionable recommendations.
- Comfortable influencing stakeholders at all levels, including presenting findings and proposals to senior leaders.
- What You Will Bring
- Experience delivering analytical projects using large data sets and multiple data sources.
- Strong technical and analytical skills, ideally including experience with GIS platforms, sales forecasting models or predictive analytics.
- Experience using tools such as Excel, Power BI, SQL, Python, Alteryx or similar analytical software.
- An understanding of business case development and financial appraisal techniques.
- Excellent stakeholder management, presentation and relationship-building skills.
- 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 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…
- 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 our 24/7 Virtual GP and PAM Assist for you and your family.
- A charity volunteer day to support a cause you're passionate about through a dedicated day away from work.
- 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.
Location Planning Manager employer: Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer is an exceptional employer that prioritises inclusivity and employee growth, making it a fantastic place for those looking to thrive in the retail sector. With flexible working hours and a commitment to personal development, employees are encouraged to take ownership of their roles while contributing to a dynamic and supportive work culture. Join us in shaping a greener, more inspiring future in retail, where your contributions truly matter.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Location Planning Manager
✨Get to Grips with Data Visualisation Tools
If you're aiming for a full-time role in business intelligence, brush up on your skills with popular data visualisation tools like Tableau or Power BI. Showcasing projects where you've transformed raw data into clear visual insights can give you a real edge.
✨Join Local Business Intelligence Meetups
Look for local business intelligence meetups or analytics conferences in your area. These events are not just great for learning but also for networking with industry professionals who could lead you to opportunities at companies like Marks & Spencer!
✨Engage with Online BI Communities
Join online forums or communities focused on business intelligence—think LinkedIn groups, Reddit threads, or even dedicated Slack channels. Engage actively by sharing your insights and asking questions; this can help you build visibility and connect with potential employers.
✨Leverage Your University’s Career Support
If you're a recent graduate, definitely tap into your university's career services. Many have connections with companies in need of full-time BI specialists, and they can guide you on how to pitch yourself effectively—don't miss out on that!
We think you need these skills to ace Location Planning Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Analytical Skills:In the business intelligence field, showcasing your analytical skills is a must. Make sure your CV includes relevant experience with data analysis tools, programming languages like SQL or Python, and any projects where you've interpreted complex data sets to drive business decisions.
Showcase Your Business Acumen:Don't just focus on data; show us how you can apply your insights to real-world business problems. Highlight projects where you made a tangible impact on company performance, and be prepared to explain your thought process in your cover letter.
Tailor Your Documents for Us:When applying for a full-time role at Marks & Spencer, tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect our organisational goals and strategies. Mention specific tools and methodologies that align with what we do—this shows you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in our mission!
Include Relevant Certifications:Certifications like Google Data Analytics or similar qualifications can really make you stand out in business intelligence. Include these in your application, as they demonstrate your commitment to the field and your willingness to stay current with industry standards.
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks & Spencer
✨Show off your analytical skills
In a business intelligence role, you're going to need to demonstrate your analytical prowess. Be prepared to discuss specific tools you've used, like SQL, Tableau, or Power BI. Have real-world examples ready where you’ve turned data into actionable insights – this is what makes us shine in interviews!
✨Practice your technical know-how
Expect some technical questions during the interview that dive deep into your understanding of data modelling and analytics frameworks. Brush up on your knowledge of data warehousing concepts and be ready to tackle any real case scenarios they might present. They’ll want to see how you approach problems using your BI toolkit.
✨Portfolio of Projects
Since it's a full-time role, having a strong portfolio is key! Compile case studies demonstrating your previous projects, preferably showing how your insights led to business improvements. This can help us display how you think through complex datasets and your problem-solving process, which is what employers are keen on seeing.
✨Know their business model
Get familiar with Marks & Spencer’s business model and recent data-driven decisions. Be prepared to discuss how your skills can specifically support their objectives or challenges. Understanding their landscape shows that you’re not just a data buff, but you’re also genuinely interested in how BI can impact their bottom line.
