Merchandiser - Transformation - 9 Month FTC

From Merchandising and Marketing - Product Development and Design, through to Supply Chain and Space Planning - our mission is to bring stylish wardrobe, home and beauty essentials to our customers via an easy, inspiring shopping experience online and in store that will delight them every time. As we accelerate the transformation of our business to suit the changing needs of our customer, we need results‑orientated colleagues that not only have a passion for our product, but a strong team working ethos, creativity and a healthy commercial aim to join us on our journey. Please note this is a 9 month fixed term contract.

Here are some of the benefits we offer that make working for M&S just that little bit more special:

• 20% colleague discount across all M&S products and many of our third party branded products for you and one member of your household.
• Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days.
• Discretionary bonus schemes depending on your role and our business performance.
• Cover for twice your salary up to age 70 (double with our Pension Plan).
• Pension Savings Plan, Share Buy and Sharesave schemes.
• Discounts and offers to save on everyday costs and access to great health benefits.
• Bike/accessory hire with Cycle to Work and save on tax and national insurance.
• Interest‑free financing for the latest technology directly from your salary.
• Resources to support your wellbeing, including a free virtual GP service.
• Support for your favourite charities by donating through your pay or volunteering for them.
• Industry‑leading maternity, paternity, adoption and neo‑natal policies, providing support and flexibility for you and your family.

What you'll do... As the Transformation Merchandiser you will drive structured ways of working, with a strong focus on task management, operational discipline and deadline ownership. You will be responsible for ensuring all workflows run smoothly, data is consistently checked and validated, and actions are completed on time and to the required standard. You will introduce and embed new, more efficient ways of working, using structured routines and clear processes to optimise performance and prevent operational issues.

Your key accountabilities will include:

• Lead the monthly demand forecasting process, ensuring forecasts are built, checked, validated and maintained through disciplined routines that minimise errors and improve accuracy.
• Run a disciplined monthly trading rhythm, preparing accurate data inputs, checking for errors, and driving follow through on all agreed actions to ensure issues are resolved promptly.
• Manage the commercial plan for the category, following a structured planning process and ensuring all milestones and deadlines are met across annual and seasonal cycles.
• Manage all in‑season merchandising tasks, including stock reviews, intake management and replenishment planning, ensuring each step follows a consistent process and is completed on time.
• Monitor data quality and system accuracy, ensuring inputs are checked regularly so that decisions are based on reliable information.
• Proactively identify process gaps or inefficiencies, and introduce improvements that strengthen operational control and streamline category management.

Who you are... Skills and experience required:

• Extensive Merchandising experience with a major retailer, ideally with experience in the Branded space.
• Working to at least Junior Merchandiser level.
• Knowledge and experience of the planning & trading complexities associated with multi‑channel retailing.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills to interpret sales and trading data and optimise trading performance.
• In‑depth knowledge of the processes and systems required to support the setting and monitoring of forecasts, stock plans and budgets for sales and profit.
• Organised, able to drive delivery in line with the critical path and manage an operational team by setting clear targets and ensuring they are met.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills and ability to build positive collaborative relationships; ability to coach and support personal development of other members of the wider Merchandising team to drive success.
• A digital and global mindset that supports the growth of international and online.

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.