At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive online trading strategies and optimise performance for our UK & ROI markets.
- Company: Join Marks & Spencer, a leader in retail innovation and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy 20% discount, competitive holidays, wellbeing support, and tailored training.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to driving change and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in onsite trading and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 33075 - 40425 £ per year.
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 What you'll do This role will focus on driving the online trading strategy for your Categories across our UK & ROI markets, identifying key levers for growth and working closely with Category Managers to drive optimisation and performance.
You will line manage 1 or 2 assistants, fostering a culture of innovation, ownership, and continuous improvement.
The ideal candidate will bring onsite merchandising experience, strong analytical skills, and the ability to influence and align teams around the onsite trading strategy.
This role is ideal for someone who is comfortable challenging the status-quo and is passionate about delivering exceptional customer experiences through data-driven trading decisions.
Own and drive your BU’s trading strategies with your Category Manager, including POAP, aligning with D&T, Content and Optimisation.
Identify opportunities for testing and optimisation improvements and lead initiatives to drive change across onsite trading.
Own front-end & back-end tools and capabilities to drive optimisations Work with Optimisation to drive change aligned to online strategy, collaborate to create a testing plan and challenge stakeholders to maximise commercial impact for specific areas Accountable for the onsite execution of the trade calendar for your BU’s Champion innovation and continuous improvement across the team, empowering others to take ownership to drive meaningful impact Line manage 1 or 2 assistants.
Set clear objectives, provide regular feedback, and support career development.
Oversee workload and guide Assistant Managers in supporting strategic projects Who you are Comfortable challenging the status quo and driving change.
Expert in onsite trading.
Strong delegation, prioritisation and coaching skills.
Proven ability to build and maintain a high-performing, collaborative team culture.
Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
Commercially astute with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
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. #LI-CA1
M&S is ready to push boundaries to lead the industry into a greener, speedier, more inspiring digital era.
That’s why we’re revolutionising how we work and offering our most exciting opportunities yet.
There’s never been a better time to be part of our team.
Marks & Spencer aims to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers.
Join us and make an immediate impact.
We are committed to an active Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunities Policy, which starts with our recruitment and selection process and we are happy to talk smart/flexible working.
From Merchandising and Marketing - Product Development and Design, through to Supply Chain and Space Planning - our mission is to bring stylish wardrobe, home and beauty essentials to our customers via an easy, inspiring shopping experience online and in store that will delight them every time.
As we accelerate the transformation of our business to suit the changing needs of our customer, we need results-driven colleagues that not only have a passion for our product, but a strong team working ethos, creativity and a healthy commercial drive to join us on our journey.
Assistant Trading Manager in London employer: Marks & Spencer
Joining M&S as a Senior Technical Program Manager means becoming part of a vibrant and inclusive team dedicated to delivering exceptional customer experiences. With competitive benefits like a generous pension scheme, extensive training programmes, and a strong focus on employee wellbeing, M&S fosters a culture of growth and collaboration. Located in a dynamic environment, you'll have the opportunity to lead transformative projects while enjoying a supportive work-life balance and the chance to make a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Trading Manager in London
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Marks & Spencer, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Marks & Spencer!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Trading Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Marks & Spencer, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Marks & Spencer and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Marks & Spencer that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks & Spencer
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
