At a Glance
- Tasks: Own demand forecasting and stock allocation for SSP stores to drive sales growth.
- Company: Join M&S, a leading retailer reshaping the food business with innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 20% discount, competitive holidays, and tailored training from day one.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Be part of a fast-paced team making a real impact in retail.
- Qualifications: Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and advanced Excel proficiency required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
We’re reshaping our Food business to broaden its appeal, protecting the magic our customers love while modernising everything else. That means outstanding quality, high sourcing standards, and market-leading innovation remain at our core, while we transform our supply chains, improve our stores, and deliver better value. We’re looking for motivated people ready to bring their whole self to work and thrive in a fast-paced, ambitious team.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Store Performance Planner to join our team, supporting the performance of SSP stores across the estate. This role plays a key part in driving sales growth, improving availability, and minimising waste through strong forecasting, planning, and cross‑functional collaboration.
As a Store Performance Planner, you will be responsible for owning demand forecasting and stock allocation across SSP stores. You will work closely with Franchise Partners, Retail, Commercial, Category, and Supply Chain teams to deliver strong trading performance, support key events and seasonal phases, and provide clear insight to support decision-making.
This is a fast-paced, analytical role suited to someone who enjoys working with data, solving problems, and influencing partners to achieve results.
What you'll do:- Own forecasting and inventory management across SSP stores, ensuring accurate stock allocation, strong availability, and minimal waste.
- Drive improvements in sales, availability, and waste to deliver positive like-for-like (LFL) performance.
- Plan and support phases, seasonal events, local events, and disruption trading with accurate stock placement.
- Collaborate with Franchise Partners, Retail, Commercial, Category, and Supply Chain teams to manage risk and performance.
- Provide clear performance reporting and data insight, highlighting risks and opportunities across range, sales, and availability.
- Strong analytical and numerical skills with the ability to turn data into actionable insight.
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in forecasting, reporting, and decision-making.
- Advanced Excel skills and confidence using forecasting and planning systems.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills to influence partners.
- Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to react quickly in a fast-paced environment.
Working at M&S means being part of something bigger – delivering 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.
- 20% colleague discount for you + 1 household member (after probation).
- Competitive holiday allowance + option to buy more.
- Discretionary bonus schemes linked to performance.
- Strong pension + life assurance.
- Tailored induction + training from day one.
- Perks and savings via M&S Choices portal.
- Market-leading family policies (parental, adoption, neonatal leave).
- 24/7 wellbeing support (GP access + mental health services).
- 1 paid volunteer day a year.
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.
Store Performance Planner - Convenience Channels employer: Marks & Spencer
Contact Detail:
Marks & Spencer Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Store Performance Planner - Convenience Channels
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research M&S Food, their values, and recent innovations. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to forecasting and inventory management. Use real-life examples from your experience to demonstrate your analytical skills and problem-solving abilities.
✨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 serious about joining the M&S family.
We think you need these skills to ace Store Performance Planner - Convenience Channels
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Store Performance Planner role. Highlight your analytical skills and experience with forecasting, as these are key to the position. We want to see how you can bring your unique flair to our team!
Showcase Your Data Skills: Since this role is all about turning data into actionable insights, don’t shy away from sharing specific examples of how you've used data in past roles. We love seeing how you’ve tackled challenges and driven results through your analytical prowess.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make your achievements stand out. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your strengths at a glance!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about what we do at M&S Food!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks & Spencer
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Store Performance Planner, you'll be working with data daily. Brush up on your analytical skills and be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in the past. Prepare examples of how you’ve improved sales or reduced waste through effective forecasting.
✨Master Excel and Forecasting Tools
Since advanced Excel skills are crucial for this role, make sure you're comfortable with functions, pivot tables, and data visualisation. If you have experience with specific forecasting systems, be prepared to talk about them and how they helped you manage inventory effectively.
✨Collaborate Like a Pro
This role involves working closely with various teams. Think of examples where you successfully collaborated with others to achieve a common goal. Highlight your communication skills and how you influenced partners to make data-driven decisions.
✨Stay Calm Under Pressure
The fast-paced nature of this job means you’ll need to think on your feet. Prepare for situational questions that test your problem-solving abilities. Share experiences where you had to react quickly to changes and how you managed to keep everything on track.