At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex Data and AI projects, ensuring successful delivery from start to finish.
- Company: Join M&S, a dynamic and inclusive retail leader committed to innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 20% discount, competitive holidays, bonuses, and a strong pension scheme.
- Other info: Access to wellbeing support and a charity volunteer day to give back.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a role that blends tech expertise with business strategy.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in program delivery and strong interpersonal skills required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
As a Head of Data and AI Delivery, you will have extensive experience and responsibility of Product and Programme delivery, combining your business knowledge with technical expertise to drive innovation, foster relationships and promote an 'own it and get it done' attitude. Excellent financial and commercial acumen including experience managing large budgets. You will be aware of emerging Data and AI industry trends and interface with senior stakeholders / peer groups to understand their applicability to M&S. Excellent interpersonal skills, proactive can do attitude and ability to set the standards for communicating effectively with both technical and non-technical individuals including director level. Experience working in retail - ideal, not mandatory.
What you will do:
- Drive, own and deliver highly complex and multi-disciplinary Data and AI initiatives, collaborating with business stakeholders and D&T peers.
- End‑to‑End Program Delivery: Ensure the successful delivery of all technical data programs, from initiation through to completion. This includes managing timelines, budgets, resources, and quality to meet or exceed expectations.
- Develop and foster trusted relationships with stakeholders across business areas using deep and relevant technology and data and AI experience to simplify complex technology issues to ensure successful delivery of outcomes through innovation and thought leadership in line with SLAs.
- Accountable for the data and AI budget and driving value for money in the smartest, most efficient way.
- Anticipate problems using specialist knowledge and put processes in place to improve capability and effectiveness.
What's in it for you:
- 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 exceptional quality, value, service to every customer, whenever, wherever and however they want to shop with us.
- 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.
- 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.
Head of Technical Program Management employer: Marks & Spencers
At M&S, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive and dynamic employer that values innovation and collaboration. As the Head of Technical Program Management, you will thrive in a culture that encourages personal growth and offers extensive training programmes, alongside competitive benefits such as a generous pension scheme and industry-leading parental policies. Join us in delivering exceptional quality and service while enjoying perks like a 20% colleague discount and wellbeing support tailored to enhance your work-life balance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Technical Program Management
✨Get Involved in Data Science Meetups
Tap into local data science meetups or workshops to connect with fellow enthusiasts and professionals. These events are goldmines for networking, and sometimes even lead directly to job openings at companies like Marks & Spencers!
✨Show Off Your Projects
Start building a public portfolio showcasing your data science projects on platforms like GitHub or personal websites. Highlight unique analyses or models you've developed. This not only demonstrates your skills but also gets your name out there for roles like Head of Technical Program Management at Marks & Spencers.
✨Leverage Professional Networks
Join professional bodies related to data science, like the Data Science Society or similar organisations. Getting involved can lead to mentorship opportunities and insider knowledge about full-time positions at companies like Marks & Spencers.
✨Apply Directly through Our Website
When you find a suitable opening like Head of Technical Program Management at Marks & Spencers, make sure to apply directly through our website. It gives you an edge and shows you're keen to join our team. Plus, who doesn’t love a direct application? It’s easier than navigating through job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Technical Program Management
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Projects:In the world of data science, your projects can speak volumes about your skills. Make sure to showcase a few key projects in your CV or portfolio, especially those that highlight your ability to work with data sets, build models, or use relevant tools like Python, R, or SQL. Don’t forget to include links to any GitHub repositories if applicable!
Quantify Your Achievements:Employers love numbers! When drafting your CV, highlight your achievements with quantifiable results. For instance, mention how your data analysis led to a certain percentage increase in efficiency or revenue at a previous job or project. These details can really make your application pop!
Craft a Tailored Cover Letter:For a full-time role at Marks & Spencers, your cover letter should reflect your passion for data science and your excitement about the specific projects or values of the company. Dive into why you’re a good fit, how your skills align with their needs, and any unique perspectives you can bring to the team.
Stand Out with Relevant Courses and Certifications:Although experience talks, relevant courses or certifications can be your ticket to impressing hiring managers at Marks & Spencers. Mention any standout courses you've completed that equipped you with essential skills, such as machine learning certifications or data visualisation courses. This shows your commitment to continuously developing your skills in the field!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks & Spencers
✨Brush Up on Your Statistics
For a data science role, we need to seriously sharpen our statistics skills. Get ready to tackle technical questions on probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. These are often the bread and butter of data science interviews, so don't just skim over them!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Prepare a killer portfolio showcasing your data science projects. We should include details about the datasets used, the tools and techniques applied, and the impact of your findings. If we can walk them through a particularly challenging project or a cool visualisation that had real-world implications, it’ll really make us stand out!
✨Get Comfortable with Python and R
Most data science positions require us to be proficient in programming languages like Python and R. We should practice common libraries like pandas, NumPy, and scikit-learn, and be ready for live coding exercises or algorithm questions. Showing off our coding chops can really impress the interviewers at Marks & Spencers!
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to encounter real-world case studies during the interview. We might be asked how we’d approach a data problem or analyse a dataset to extract insights. It's essential to think out loud and demonstrate our problem-solving process so that the interviewer can see our logical thinking in action.
