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- Tasks: Collaborate on space strategy and optimise store performance through data-driven insights.
- Company: Join the dynamic team at Marks & Spencer, a leader in retail innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy 20% discount, competitive holidays, and a range of wellbeing support.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in retail by driving customer-led space plans.
- Qualifications: Strong analytical skills and knowledge of space planning processes required.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are looking for a BU Grading Planner to join the team on a 12-month fixed-term contract. Working closely with the Space Planning Manager, the BU Grading Planner partners with Business Units to develop and deliver the BU Space Strategy. The role is accountable for BU space allocation across Seasonal and All-Year-Round (AYR) ranges, identifying opportunities to drive store and category performance in sales, margin, and controllable contribution. You will translate BU and Department strategies into a clear grading framework for each phase, ensuring space and stock are deployed to deliver a profitable return. This role plays a key part in optimising space use, supporting commercial decision-making, and enabling the delivery of customer-led, performance-driven space plans.
To stay close to customers, our support teams are in the office three days a week as we believe that skills are developed through collaboration, and that spending time together makes us more creative and connected.
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.
Your key accountabilities will include:
- Supports the development and delivery of the space strategy for the BU, fully aligned to the overall C&H strategy and works with the Space planning manager on the development and delivery of the BU strategy.
- Ensure delivery of the Space planning critical path aligning to the Buying critical path.
- Drive space productivity through the use of space data, insight, and analytics to inform grading optimisation, densities, ratios, space %TTs and SDG space allocation.
- Share Space performance data with BU’s on a weekly basis calling out opportunities for improvement.
- Ensure this information is the most optimal view of space, working with the other BU grading planners to improve when required.
- Works collaboratively with the Space and template planner to drive the accuracy, optimisation, and delivery of space planning for their BU.
- Ensures work is appropriately prioritised and resourced to meet the demands of Transformation.
Your skills and experience will include:
- Strong understanding of the Space/Merchandising critical path, process flows, competencies and activities.
- Good knowledge of the Space and Merchandising.
- Strong numerical and analytical skills.
- Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint to a high standard.
- All relevant C&H, Space & Retail reporting, and merch systems, specifically: JDA floorplanning, RP, MP, GMOR, PowerBI, Blue Yonder.
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.
bu Grading Planner employer: MARKS&SPENCER
Contact Detail:
MARKS&SPENCER Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land bu Grading Planner
✨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 knowing your stuff! Research M&S's recent projects and their space strategy. Show them you’re not just interested in the role but also in how you can contribute to their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a mate to do mock interviews with you. Focus on articulating how your skills align with the BU Grading Planner role and be ready to discuss your analytical prowess.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the M&S team!
We think you need these skills to ace bu Grading Planner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight how your skills align with the BU Grading Planner role. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since this role involves a lot of data analysis, don’t forget to mention any relevant experience you have with numerical and analytical tasks. We want to see how you can drive space productivity through insights!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your key achievements and experiences are easy to spot and understand.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows your enthusiasm for joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at MARKS&SPENCER
✨Know Your Space Strategy
Before the interview, make sure you understand the BU Space Strategy and how it aligns with the overall C&H strategy. Familiarise yourself with key terms like space productivity, grading optimisation, and space allocation. This will show that you're not just interested in the role but also invested in the company's goals.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Since strong numerical and analytical skills are crucial for this position, prepare to discuss your experience with data analysis. Bring examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles, especially in relation to space planning or merchandising. This will demonstrate your capability to contribute effectively from day one.
✨Collaborative Mindset
The role emphasises collaboration with various teams, so be ready to share examples of how you've successfully worked with others in the past. Highlight any experiences where you’ve partnered with different departments to achieve a common goal, as this will resonate well with the team-oriented culture at M&S.
✨Prepare Questions About the Role
Interviews are a two-way street, so come prepared with thoughtful questions about the BU Grading Planner role and the team dynamics. Ask about the current challenges they face in space planning or how success is measured in this position. This shows your genuine interest and helps you assess if the role is the right fit for you.
