Analytics Manager - Distribution

Marks and Spencer; Hemington; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

20% discount for you and household

Holiday allowance with option to buy

Discretionary bonus schemes

Pension and life assurance

Induction and training

M&S Choices portal perks

Family policies

Wellbeing support

Volunteer day

Job summary

Marks & Spencer in Derbyshire (Castle Donington DC) seeks a Lead Data Analytics Manager to turn data into competitive advantage, leading a team of analysts, delivering predictive models, experimentation, and analytical solutions that drive commercial performance and operational efficiency.

You will collaborate across data science, product, engineering and business teams, champion best practices, and translate complex data into clear commercial insights.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading analytics teams in a retail or FMCG environment.
• Strong command of analytics methods including forecasting, modelling and experimentation.
• Proficiency in SQL and Python or R to work with large datasets.
• Ability to translate complex analytical findings into clear commercial insights and influence decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the analytics agenda for highly automated distribution centres and end-to-end logistics operations, monitoring performance and driving improvements.
• Drive advanced analytics through statistical modelling, forecasting, optimisation and experimentation to deliver measurable value.
• Collaborate with operations, engineering, automation vendors and technology teams to ensure insight supports safe, stable operation of automation tech.
• Shape and deliver the advanced analytics roadmap, prioritising initiatives to aid decision-making and growth.
• Act as a trusted analytics leader, promoting best practices and communicating insights through data storytelling.

Skills

Leadership

Retail analytics

SQL

Python/R

Forecasting

Statistical modelling

Experimentation

Data storytelling

Stakeholder mgmt

Tools

Python

R

Job description

Summary

Are You Ready to Lead a team to turn data into competitive advantage and help shape the future of analytics at our Castle Donington Distribution Centre? Join a team based on site as the Lead Data Analytics Manager and be at the forefront of our data-driven transformation, where advanced analytics play a critical role in driving commercial performance, operational efficiency, and strategic decision-making. This is an opportunity to lead a team of talented analysts, delivering predictive models, experimentation, and analytical solutions that solve complex business challenges and generate measurable value.

All the details

Working across Data Science, Data Product, Engineering, and business teams, this role translates commercial priorities into impactful analytical outcomes, influencing decisions through robust insight, innovation, and scalable analytics capabilities. As a key leader within the broader Data & AI function, the role will champion best practice, foster a culture of experimentation and continuous learning, and help accelerate the organisation's analytical maturity.

The ideal candidate will bring proven experience leading high-performing analytics teams, combined with a strong retail or FMCG background and expertise in advanced analytics, statistical modelling, forecasting, and experimentation. Strong technical skills in SQL and tools such as Python or R will be complemented by a track record of delivering analytical solutions that drive measurable business impact. The ability to collaborate across data, product, engineering, and business teams, while translating complex data into clear commercial insights, will be key to success in this role.

NB this role is based at our Distribution centre in Derbyshire but regular travel to our London Support centre will be required.

What you’ll do

Your key accountabilities will include

• Lead the analytics agenda for highly automated distribution centres and end-to-end logistics operations, using data from warehouse management, warehouse control, automation, transport and labour systems to monitor performance, identify constraints and improve flow, capacity, service, productivity, cost and resilience.
• Drive advanced analytics solutions by applying statistical modelling, predictive analytics, forecasting, optimisation, and experimentation to solve complex business challenges and unlock commercial value
• Partner with operations, engineering, automation vendors and technology teams to define measures, diagnose system and process issues, evaluate changes and ensure insight supports safe, stable and effective operation of robotics, material-handling equipment and other automation technologies.
• Shape and deliver the advanced analytics roadmap, prioritising initiatives that enhance decision-making, improve operational performance, and support organisational growth
• Act as a trusted analytics leader, championing best practices, promoting a test-and-learn culture, and communicating complex insights through compelling data storytelling and visualisation

Who you are

Your skills and experience will include:

• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing analytics teams, creating an environment that fosters innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Strong retail or FMCG expertise, with a deep understanding of commercial and operational drivers and the ability to apply analytics across areas such as material flow planning, labour scheduling, supply chain optimisation, and forecasting
  • Advanced analytical and technical capability, including statistical modelling, experimentation, forecasting, predictive analytics, and proficiency in SQL and tools such as Python or R to work with large, complex datasets
  • Track record of delivering high-impact analytics solutions, leading projects from problem definition through to stakeholder adoption and measurable business outcomes
  • Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills, with experience working across cross-functional teams and translating complex analytical findings into clear, actionable commercial insights

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 reinventing, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We're redefining 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.