At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic planning for trade events and promotions, driving cross-functional collaboration.
- Company: Join Marks & Spencer, a leader in retail innovation and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, competitive holidays, bonuses, and 24/7 wellbeing support.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to transformation and sustainability.
- Why this job: Shape the future of retail while making a real impact on commercial growth.
- Qualifications: Strong strategic mindset, leadership skills, and financial acumen required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 € per year.
Are you a strategic, commercially minded leader who thrives on shaping long term direction and driving cross functional delivery? We are looking for a Commercial Events and Trade Planning Manager to own and evolve the strategic roadmap that defines how we plan, prioritise, and deliver trade driving activity across Foods.
In this pivotal role, you will set the 3-5 year vision for Trade Planning, Events, Promotions, and our Online Christmas Food to Order proposition—ensuring every decision is grounded in commercial insight and contributes to sustainable growth. You will work at the heart of the business, collaborating with Online, Commercial, Marketing, Finance, Technical and Retail teams to influence decisions and orchestrate seamless execution.
What You’ll Do
- Own and evolve the 3-5 year strategic roadmap across Trade Planning, Events, Promotions, and Online Christmas Food to Order
- Translate long term strategy into clear, prioritised, and executable cross functional programmes
- Maintain strong governance - managing risks, dependencies, trade offs, and ensuring appropriate escalation
- Drive improvements to ways of working across teams, enhancing clarity, pace, and effectiveness
- Influence and align key partners across Commercial, Online, Finance, Marketing, Technical, and Retail to enable effective, evidence based decisions
Who You Are
- Strong strategic and commercial acumen to define long term strategy and ensure commercial growth and return
- Programme leadership and governance capability - turning strategy into programmes and handling risks and dependencies
- Ability to confidently influence and align senior and cross functional partners
- High financial and analytical capability to interpret data and inform decision making
- Experience in operating model optimisation and continuous improvement to enhance pace and clarity of delivery
What’s in it for You?
- 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 is welcome. We are ambitious about the future of retail. We are disrupting, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We are 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 would 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.
Commercial Events And Trade Planning Manager employer: MARKS&SPENCER
Marks & Spencer is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide tailored training from day one, competitive benefits including a discretionary bonus scheme, and market-leading family policies. Join us in our mission to transform retail while enjoying a supportive environment that values diversity and well-being.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Events And Trade Planning Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills and experiences make you the perfect fit for the role. Keep it concise and focus on how you can contribute to their long-term goals.
✨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, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Events And Trade Planning Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your strategic and commercial acumen. Use specific examples from your experience that align with the role's requirements, especially around trade planning and cross-functional collaboration.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:In your application, emphasise your programme leadership capabilities. Share instances where you've successfully turned strategy into actionable programmes and how you've managed risks and dependencies in past roles.
Be Data-Driven:Since this role requires strong financial and analytical skills, include examples of how you've used data to inform decision-making. This will show us that you can contribute to sustainable growth through evidence-based insights.
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 this exciting opportunity to shape the future of retail with us!
How to prepare for a job interview at MARKS&SPENCER
✨Understand the Strategic Vision
Before your interview, take time to really grasp the company's long-term strategy and how the role of Commercial Events and Trade Planning Manager fits into that vision. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to shaping and evolving that roadmap.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Experience
This role requires collaboration across various teams. Think of specific examples from your past where you've successfully influenced or aligned with different departments. Highlight your ability to drive cross-functional programmes and how you managed any challenges that arose.
✨Demonstrate Financial Acumen
Since the role involves interpreting data for decision-making, brush up on your financial and analytical skills. Be ready to discuss how you've used data in previous roles to inform strategic decisions and drive commercial growth.
✨Prepare for Governance Discussions
Governance is key in this position. Prepare to talk about your experience in managing risks and dependencies in projects. Think of examples where you maintained strong governance and how it led to successful outcomes.
