At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape and execute the Fashion business strategy while leading complex projects.
- Company: Join Marks & Spencer, a dynamic leader in the retail industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 20% discount, competitive holidays, and generous pension schemes.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with ample training and wellbeing support.
- Why this job: Be part of an innovative team transforming the future of retail.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategy or business development with a passion for fashion.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 ÂŁ per year.
We're looking for a Business Development Manager to help shape the next phase of growth within our Fashion business. Following significant progress over the past two years across market share, dotcom penetration, and the development of internal talent, we've built strong foundations rooted in style, quality, value and innovation. With clear direction on our “why,” “what” and “how,” the opportunity now is to accelerate forward by sharpening our focus on customer, channel and product strategy, unlocking new areas of growth across markets and platforms.
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.
What's in it for you
Being a part of M&S is exactly that – playing your part to bring the magic of M&S to our customers every day. We're an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and ever‑evolving business built on doing the right thing and bringing exceptional quality, value, service to each customer, whenever, wherever, and however they want to shop with us.
Benefits
- After completing your probationary period, you'll receive a 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.
- Ample 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.
What you'll do
Your key accountabilities will include:
- Shape and execute the long‑term Fashion business strategy in partnership with the Fashion Leadership Team and Business Unit Director.
- Own the super season and strategic planning processes, ensuring alignment from long‑term strategy through to annual budgets and priorities.
- Provide strategic leadership through KPIs, scorecards, 3‑5 year plans, board papers and business cases, with a strong focus on ROI and delivery.
- Act as the central strategic integrator for the Fashion BU, filtering priorities and aligning stakeholders across Retail, Dotcom, Brand, Marketing, CIU, Sourcing and external partners.
- Embed transformation, culture and ways of working across Fashion, providing regular performance updates and ensuring delivery against strategic milestones.
Who you are
Your skills and experience will include:
- Previous experience in strategy, strategy consulting or business development is essential.
- Strong understanding of Fashion and/or Clothing & Home retail and the wider market landscape.
- Proven experience leading complex strategic projects: diagnosing problems, synthesising insight, generating options and driving execution.
- Highly organised, with experience managing multiple priorities, initiatives and deadlines while maintaining attention.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparation and presentation of Board‑level materials and business cases.
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.
Business Development Manager employer: M&S
Contact Detail:
M&S Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the fashion industry, especially those who work at M&S. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by knowing your stuff! Research M&S's recent projects and their business strategy. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in their growth and how you can contribute.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a friend to do mock interviews with you. Focus on articulating your experience in strategy and business development clearly, so you can impress the hiring team with your confidence.
✨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 ready to bring the magic to our customers.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Business Development Manager role. Highlight your experience in strategy and business development, especially in the fashion sector, to show us you’re the perfect fit!
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your past roles, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to lead complex strategic projects. Use metrics where possible to quantify your success – we love numbers!
Be Clear and Concise: We appreciate clarity! Ensure your written application is well-structured and easy to read. Avoid jargon and keep your language straightforward to make a strong impression.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity with M&S.
How to prepare for a job interview at M&S
✨Know Your Fashion Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends in the fashion industry. Understand the market landscape and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with the company's vision for growth. This will show that you're not just interested in the role, but also passionate about the industry.
✨Prepare Your Strategic Insights
Since the role involves shaping long-term strategies, come prepared with examples of past projects where you've successfully led strategic initiatives. Be ready to discuss how you diagnosed problems, synthesised insights, and drove execution. This will demonstrate your capability to handle complex projects.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Excellent communication is key for this position. Practice presenting your ideas clearly and concisely, as if you were addressing a board. Prepare to discuss how you've effectively communicated with various stakeholders in previous roles, highlighting your ability to align priorities across teams.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Since the company values teamwork and collaboration, share examples of how you've worked closely with cross-functional teams in the past. Highlight any experiences where you fostered a collaborative culture or contributed to team success, as this aligns with their belief in developing skills through teamwork.