At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage store planning for new openings and modernisations, ensuring operational efficiency.
- Company: Join M&S, a leader in retail innovation and design.
- Benefits: Enjoy 20% discount, competitive holidays, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Be part of transforming retail and making a real impact on store environments.
- Qualifications: Experience in store planning and proficiency in layout systems like AutoCAD.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
Description
We are passionate about maintaining our market leading store environments and formats, and as such you will be working closely with our in-house store design teams to implement new initiatives and concepts at pace into our pipeline of projects.
This requires collaborative working and the ability to manage change and ambiguity at pace whilst maintaining firm control of the overall store plan.
- What you’ll do
- Your key accountabilities will include
- Manage the end to end Store Planning process for Food, Clothing & Home, Hospitality, Back of House and operational space in all new store openings, developments and modernisations.
Provide considered and expert advice to architects and contractors.
- Accountable for the brief and formal review of the complete drawing package for schemes to include signage, internal and external elevations and store layout.
- Deliver layouts that maximise operational efficiency and deliver clear, easy to shop stores.
Identify potential operational challenges and offer pragmatic, budget appropriate, solutions.
- Deliver strong, clear and consistent communication to Store Directors, Heads of Region and Store teams.
Act as key point of contact for internal stakeholders on all aspects of store planning.
- Provide visible leadership for store projects through entire project life cycle (design team meetings, pre-start, progress and PC.) Provide cost effective and innovative solutions to any on-site challenges as they arise.
- Work closely with key stakeholder groups across the business to ensure each plan delivers footage in line with current requirements and meets the customer shopping mission.
In particular, the Food Space Range & Display and Clothing & Home Layout Planning teams.
Who you are
- Your skills and experience will include
- Previous Store planning experience in a large format retailer or similar business preferred.
- Experience of utilising 2D layout planning systems including Storespace and Auto CAD.
- Stakeholder Management – Confidence to communicate across all levels of the business both internally and externally, providing considered challenge when required and providing solutions to feedback received.
- Decision Making and Time Management – working independently and managing own workload.
- Communication and Influencing across project teams
- What’s in it for you
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.
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 beat your best through this process.
Store Planner 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 Store Planner
✨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 Store Planner
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!
