At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape product vision and manage tools for Ranging, Assortment, Space, and Display planning.
- Company: Join M&S, a leading retailer focused on innovation and inclusivity.
- Benefits: 20% discount, competitive holidays, bonus schemes, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team driving change in the retail industry.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in retail by optimising processes and enhancing customer experience.
- Qualifications: Interest in product management, strong communication, and analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
As Space & Assortment Product Manager your goal is to provide joined up tools and services for business stakeholders to manage Ranging, Assortment, Space and Display planning processes. Removing existing manual and parallel processes, exceptions and duplication to support the operational optimization of our Food Group and the expansion of capability within Fashion, Home & Beauty.
You will be responsible for understanding business problems and pain points relating to your domain. You will set the strategy across your team for the area and create a roadmap and prioritized backlog of work to achieve the business goals. Set yearly/quarterly objectives and key results that you and your team(s) can measure.
You will work with two main delivery teams; the ‘BAU’ Product Squad and the Programme team, as well as working with various partners and internal teams who operate in the space to bring the overall strategy to life. The shapes of these teams may change over time as work is delivered and you would be expected to help inform the best fit shape for the area based on business priorities. You will retain ultimate responsibility for the domain and act as the key subject matter expert for the area within Foods D&T.
What you'll do
- Support shaping the product vision to influence business outcomes, balancing customer needs, product health and industry trends; collaborating across M&S to deliver resilient solutions
- Collaborate closely with partners to align business, product and technical priorities, supporting product direction and promoting the roadmap
- Manage and prioritise the backlog, defining user stories, features and functionality to address pain points and improve customer experience
- Partner with a multi-disciplinary squad (Analysts, Engineers, UX/UI Designers) through the Product lifecycle, ensuring success measures are defined, tracked and communicated
- Support business case creation, DevOps processes and launch readiness; track industry developments and identify innovation opportunities to keep M&S best in class
Who you are
- An understanding of and interest in product management and customer needs
- Able to organise and prioritise work collaboratively across multiple disciplines
- Analytical and logical in problem solving, with good communication skills across cross-functional teams
- Awareness of Agile product delivery, product health and performance principles
- Experience with product management tools and processes; retail or Space, Range & Display exposure desirable but not essential
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.
Product Manager - Space & Assortment employer: Marks & Spencer
At Marks & Spencer, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive and innovative employer, dedicated to delivering quality and value to our customers while fostering a supportive work environment. As a Product Manager in our Space & Assortment team, you'll benefit from competitive perks such as a generous colleague discount, flexible holiday options, and tailored training programmes that promote your professional growth. Join us in shaping the future of retail, where your contributions will be valued and your career aspirations supported in a dynamic and collaborative setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Manager - Space & Assortment
✨Join Product Management Meetups
Get involved in local product management meetups or workshops. These events are perfect for meeting industry folks, sharing ideas, and staying updated on trends. Plus, you never know who might be hiring—it's a fantastic way to make connections that could lead to a job at places like Marks & Spencer!
✨Show Off Your Product Sense
Create case studies or mini-projects showcasing your product management skills, and share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This not only puts your skills on display but also boosts your visibility in the product community. Imagine how impressed the hiring team at Marks & Spencer would be by your initiative!
✨Utilise Online Communities
Dive into online product management communities like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. These platforms are goldmines for networking and finding hidden job opportunities—many companies often scout talent from within these circles.
✨Leverage Your University Network
If you’ve recently graduated or are still in uni, tap into your alumni network for connections in product management. Many universities have their own job boards and affinity resources to help graduates land roles. Don't forget to keep an eye out for job openings at Marks & Spencer through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Manager - Space & Assortment
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Product Manager - Space & Assortment, let your passion for developing products shine through in your cover letter. Share specific examples of products you've managed, how you solved user needs, and any successful outcomes you've achieved. This is your chance to showcase your understanding of the product lifecycle!
Highlight Your Cross-Functional Skills:Product management isn't just about understanding the product; it’s about collaborating with different teams! Make sure to emphasise your experience working with developers, designers, and marketers. Use your CV to showcase your ability to bridge gaps between these areas, and include relevant experiences that demonstrate your communication and leadership skills!
Include Your Metrics and Achievements:In a full-time product management application, data speaks volumes! Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you increase user retention by a certain percentage? Launch a product ahead of schedule? Include these metrics in your CV to paint a picture of your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Make sure your CV is tailored for the Product Manager - Space & Assortment position at Marks & Spencer. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your relevant experiences are front and centre. Highlight any certifications or relevant training you’ve completed that will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the role. And remember, we’re excited to see your application on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks & Spencer
✨Understand the Product Life Cycle
As a product management candidate, we need to get our head around the complete product life cycle. Be prepared to discuss real-world examples of how you’ve managed product development from ideation to launch. Bring specific insights on tools like JIRA or Trello that can help streamline these processes.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management is all about collaboration. We should be ready to highlight how we’ve worked across teams—think marketing, engineering, and design. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to mediate differing opinions and how you got everyone on board with a shared vision.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In a full-time role, we can expect to encounter case study questions during our interviews. Practise solving hypothetical product problems on the spot, such as prioritising features for a new app or improving user engagement metrics. This will show our analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
✨Know Your Metrics
Let’s face it, numbers are our best friends in product management. We should prepare to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how we've used analytics to inform product decisions. Dive into examples where data has driven our strategy for improvements or justified product changes.
