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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive cost-saving initiatives and optimise value across the food supply chain.
- Company: Join M&S, a leader in retail innovation and sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 20% discount, competitive holidays, and wellness support.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on cost transformation while collaborating with diverse teams.
- Qualifications: Strong problem-solving skills and experience in cross-functional teamwork.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive culture that values your unique contributions.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Overview
You will drive the end to end delivery of cost saving initiatives that help the Food Group meet its Lowering Costs Programme target. Working at the centre of our cost transformation agenda, you will bring together value optimisation, packaging sourcing and cost modelling to unlock efficiencies across the full value chain. You will build a strong pipeline of opportunities, shape ideas quickly and turn them into clear action plans, partnering closely with Trading, Product Development, Technical, Logistics and Supply Chain teams. You will keep delivery moving with pace, track progress, raise risks early and ensure every initiative lands on time with full benefit realisation. You will share insight, surface opportunities and champion continuous improvement to strengthen low cost, efficient ways of working across M&S Food.
What you'll do
- Own the end to end delivery of cost saving initiatives, from shaping ideas and modelling options through to implementation and benefit tracking, to deliver the Lowering Costs Programme target.
- Build and maintain a dynamic pipeline of value optimisation opportunities across packaged goods, fresh and ambient portfolios, working closely with Trading, Product Development and Technical teams.
- Lead cross functional teams to turn opportunities into action, setting clear plans, agreeing timelines and driving pace so milestones are met.
- Facilitate focused workshops with internal and external partners to generate ideas, solve problems quickly and strengthen low cost ways of working across the value chain.
- Provide clear, consistent weekly reporting that gives senior leaders visibility of progress, risks and new opportunities across the Food Group cost agenda.
Who you are
- A commercially strong problem solver, confident using cost models and data to spot value opportunities and support robust decisions.
- Skilled at working with cross functional teams, you build trusted relationships with colleagues in Trading, Product Development, Technical, Supply Chain, Logistics and suppliers.
- Calm and organised under pressure, you juggle competing priorities, keep work moving and follow through to delivery.
- A clear, adaptable communicator who can bring people with you, influence outcomes and keep stakeholders aligned on plans and progress.
- Curious and improvement focused, you challenge the way things are done today and look for practical ways to embed low cost, efficient ways of working.
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.
Value Optimisation Manager employer: MARKS&SPENCER
Contact Detail:
MARKS&SPENCER Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Value Optimisation Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those already working at M&S. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could help your application stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to cost optimisation and cross-functional teamwork. We recommend using the STAR method to structure your answers – it helps keep things clear and concise!
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for continuous improvement! Be ready to discuss how you've identified inefficiencies in past roles and what steps you took to address them. This will resonate well with the hiring team.
✨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 family and contributing to our exciting journey.
We think you need these skills to ace Value Optimisation Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in cost-saving initiatives and cross-functional teamwork. We want to see how your skills align with our goals at M&S!
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, give examples of how you've tackled challenges in the past. We love candidates who can demonstrate their ability to spot value opportunities and drive improvements.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to communicate your achievements and how they relate to the role of Value Optimisation Manager.
Apply Early!: Due to high interest in this role, we recommend applying as soon as possible through our website. Don’t miss out on the chance to join our dynamic team at M&S!
How to prepare for a job interview at MARKS&SPENCER
✨Know Your Cost Models
Make sure you brush up on your understanding of cost models and data analysis. Be ready to discuss how you've used these tools in the past to identify value opportunities. This will show that you can hit the ground running in the role.
✨Showcase Cross-Functional Collaboration
Prepare examples of how you've successfully worked with cross-functional teams. Highlight specific projects where you built relationships with colleagues from different departments, as this is crucial for the Value Optimisation Manager role.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Continuous Improvement
Think about instances where you've challenged the status quo and implemented improvements. Share your ideas on how to embed low-cost, efficient ways of working, as this aligns perfectly with the company's goals.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. You’ll need to influence outcomes and keep stakeholders aligned, so being an adaptable communicator will be key during your interview.
