At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex technical programmes and drive innovative initiatives across the organisation.
- Company: Join M&S, a dynamic and inclusive leader in retail innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy 20% discount, competitive holidays, and generous pension schemes.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in redefining retail while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in large-scale initiatives and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to making change happen.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
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 outstanding quality, value, 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:
- 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:
The Senior Head of Delivery is the glue of engineering, product and business strategies - owning Programmes and Delivery cadence of work of significant visibility and complexity with broad cross‑organisational and/or deep architectural impact. You are accountable for end‑to‑end technical delivery and performance across domains within the organisation and external suppliers, utilising your expertise in handling constraints, improving quality or removing blockers.
More specifically, the Senior Head of Delivery is the embodiment of ‘own it, and get it done’ with key responsibilities as follows:
- Plan, own and deliver highly sophisticated and multi‑disciplinary initiatives, collaborating with senior leaders to align strategic goals and drive a customer first mind‑set in Technology.
- Create roadmaps and objectives and key results alongside the Senior Head of Product & Senior Head of Engineering to ensure alignment to strategic ambitions for M&S including the Technology Strategy.
- Facilitate continuous refinement and prioritisation of initiatives working alongside Product, Engineering and Business leaders.
- Drive data driven decisions through metrics and regular reporting to provide visibility creating a culture of transparency.
- Develop trusted relationships with partners across business areas using deep and relevant technology experience to simplify complex technology issues.
Who you are:
- Extensive experience delivering large‑scale initiatives across multiple product functions and domains.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, proactive can‑do demeanour and ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non‑technical individuals including director level.
- Track record of providing Technical leadership across domains, product groups and Program management during all phases of software development from ideation to realising value, demonstrating critical thinking and thought leadership.
- Strong working knowledge/experience of Agile/Scaled Agile practices including Scrum, Kanban and DevOps.
- Highly diligent professional with excellent leadership and coaching skills in lean agile practices.
Everyone’s welcome:
We are ambitious about the future of retail. We’re redefining, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We’re redefining 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.
Senior Head of Technical Program Management - Tech Foundations employer: Marks & Spencer
Contact Detail:
Marks & Spencer Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Head of Technical Program Management - Tech Foundations
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at M&S on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding M&S's values and how they align with your experience. Think of examples from your past roles that showcase your ability to deliver complex projects and lead teams effectively.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! You’ll need to convey technical concepts clearly to both techies and non-techies. Mock interviews with friends can help you nail this down.
✨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 genuinely interested in joining the M&S team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Head of Technical Program Management - Tech Foundations
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Head of Technical Program Management role. Highlight your experience in delivering large-scale initiatives and your ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical individuals.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: We want to see your leadership style! Share examples of how you've led teams through complex projects, especially in Agile environments. This will help us understand how you embody the 'own it, and get it done' mentality.
Be Data-Driven: Since this role involves driving data-driven decisions, include metrics or outcomes from your previous projects. This shows us that you can create a culture of transparency and make informed decisions based on data.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at M&S.
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks & Spencer
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technical aspects of the role. Brush up on Agile methodologies, program management principles, and any specific technologies mentioned in the job description. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you’re not just a fit for the role, but that you’re genuinely passionate about it.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Senior Head of Technical Program Management, you’ll need to demonstrate your leadership abilities. Prepare examples of how you’ve successfully led cross-functional teams or managed complex projects. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and highlight your impact.
✨Align with Company Values
Familiarise yourself with M&S’s values and mission. During the interview, weave in how your personal values align with theirs, especially around customer focus and innovation. This will help you connect on a deeper level and show that you’re not just looking for a job, but a place where you can contribute meaningfully.
✨Prepare Questions
Interviews are a two-way street, so come prepared with insightful questions. Ask about the company’s future tech initiatives, how they measure success in this role, or what challenges the team is currently facing. This shows your interest and helps you gauge if the company is the right fit for you.