At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead labour planning and drive continuous improvement across retail operations.
- Company: Join M&S, a forward-thinking retailer committed to innovation and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 20% discount, competitive holidays, and 24/7 wellbeing support.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team driving change in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in retail while shaping the future of labour management.
- Qualifications: Experience in retail operations, labour planning, and stakeholder management required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
What You'll Do
- Lead labour planning and forecasting, ensuring the right resources are in place to deliver service, sales, and operational efficiency across stores.
- Define and embed best in class labour management frameworks, including budgeting, deployment, and long term capacity planning.
- Build and influence cross functional relationships to ensure labour plans reflect business priorities and changes across the organisation.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives across the store estate, identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency and strengthen the operating model.
- Partner with Technology and stakeholders to shape the future labour management roadmap and embed a sustainable CI culture.
Who You Will Be
- A strong leader with experience managing complex retail operations and labour planning at scale.
- Commercially and analytically strong, with expertise in financial modelling, workforce planning, and performance measurement.
- Highly effective in stakeholder management, able to influence across senior leaders and cross functional teams.
- Deep understanding of retail operations, with the ability to translate insight into practical, scalable solutions.
- Organised, strategic, and forward thinking, with a passion for driving continuous improvement and operational excellence.
What you will bring
- Proven expertise in labour planning, workforce modelling, and operational performance within a retail environment.
- Strong analytical capability, including financial modelling, work measurement, and data driven decision making.
- Experience leading continuous improvement or transformation initiatives at scale.
- Ability to influence and align senior stakeholders across multiple business functions.
- A strategic, commercially focused mindset with a drive to improve efficiency and customer outcomes.
What's in it for you?
Working at M&S means being part of something bigger - helping to deliver 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. Here are just a few of the benefits that make working here even more rewarding:
- 20% colleague discount on all M&S products and many third-party brands for you and someone in your household, available once you've completed your probation.
- Competitive holiday allowance with the option to buy more.
- Discretionary bonus schemes linked to your performance and ours.
- Strong pension and life assurance to help plan for the future.
- Tailored induction and training to support your development from day one.
- Exclusive perks and savings through our M&S Choices portal.
- Market‑leading family policies, including parental, adoption and neonatal leave.
- 24/7 wellbeing support, including virtual GP access and mental health services.
- One paid volunteer day a year to support a cause that matters to you.
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.
Head of Store Resourcing & Continuous Improvement in London employer: MARKS&SPENCER
At Marks & Spencer, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive and forward-thinking employer, dedicated to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence. As the Head of Store Resourcing & Continuous Improvement, you will benefit from a competitive salary, generous colleague discounts, and a strong focus on personal development through tailored training and support. Join us in shaping the future of retail while enjoying a rewarding work environment that values diversity and collaboration.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Store Resourcing & Continuous Improvement in London
✨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 Head of Store Resourcing & Continuous Improvement in London
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!
