Assistant Marketing Manager - Category Marketing (12-Month Fixed Term Contract)

Inspired Thinking Group (ITG); Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Time off that works for you - 25 days'

Wellbeing Day

Flexible bank holidays

Option to buy or carry over up to 5...

Smart Working up to 40% from home

Work from abroad for up to 90 days a

Enhanced family friendly leave

Wedding/honeymoon leave

Employee Assistance Programme

Pension scheme

Corporate Medical Cash Plan

Electric car salary sacrifice

Payroll giving to charities

Funding for professional courses

Employee of the Month awards

Referral bonuses up to £1,500

Wellbeing Workshops and Champions

Volunteer Day

Perks platform with discounts

Job summary

Inspired Thinking Group (ITG) is seeking a Category Marketing professional to support M&S Food campaigns. You will partner with trading teams to translate product launches and category plans into cohesive multi-channel marketing, managing briefs, artwork, approvals and delivery details to land great ideas in store.

This hands-on role involves coordinating schedules, maintaining trackers, briefing channels, and ensuring consistent customer messaging across in-store, social, CRM and PR as relevant.

Qualifications

• Be curious about customers and food.
• Take ownership of the detail, work generously with others and speak up when something can be better.
• Be proactive and collaborative to land strong launches.

Responsibilities

• Support the Category Marketing Manager to build and deliver customer relevant plans for M&S Food products, launches and seasonal moments.
• Build strong relationships with trading teams, buyers and product developers.
• Keep close to launches and commercial priorities to ensure marketing plans reflect real priorities.
• Maintain plans and trackers, organize meetings and actions, manage timelines and chase inputs and approvals.
• Write clear artwork and campaign briefs with accurate product stories, prices and promotions.

Job description

You will be right at the heart of what is coming next in M&S Food, working with the trading teams to understand new products, upcoming launches and longer term category plans. You will help turn those plans into joined up marketing across channels, keeping the briefs, artwork, approvals and details moving so great ideas land brilliantly. It is a hands on role with plenty of coordination and administration, and a chance to learn how food marketing works from product idea to customer experience in our amazing stores.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Category Marketing Manager to build and deliver customer relevant plans that bring M&S Food products, launches and seasonal moments to life.
• Build strong relationships with trading teams, buyers and product developers.
• Keep close to what is launching, what matters commercially and where the category is heading, so marketing plans reflect the real priorities.
• Keep the day to day detail on track: maintain plans and trackers, organise meetings and actions, manage timelines, gather information and chase inputs and approvals with confidence.
• Write clear artwork and campaign briefs, ensuring the product story, customer message, price and promotional details are accurate.
• Coordinate feedback and manage content and artwork approvals through to final sign off.
• Brief the right marketing channels, including in store, social, CRM, PR and advertising as relevant, and help ensure the same proposition is communicated consistently wherever customers see it.
• Work with Category Marketing, Propositions, Own Brand, Events and other teams to support joined up launches and seasonal activity, following trade planning processes and deadlines.
• Check creative and content carefully before it goes live, flagging issues early and helping resolve them quickly with the right teams.
• Management of food samples for content and working with the creative team on photography briefs.
• Support launch reviews by bringing together results, feedback and practical learnings that can improve the next campaign.

Measures of success

• Briefs and approvals are accurate, clear and delivered on time.
• Launches and campaigns land consistently across agreed channels and within budget.
• Trading and marketing partners have the information they need, when they need it.
• Activity is reviewed against relevant commercial and customer measures.
• Positive feedback from our store colleagues, customers and stakeholders from around the business.

Key relationships and stakeholders

Retail colleagues Category Marketing team Marketing channels with Food Marketing, in particular Store, events, proposition and own brand marketing. Buyers, trading managers, trade planning, Product Developers and Supply Chain across the Food Group.

Values and behaviours

Be curious about customers and food. Take ownership of the detail, work generously with others and speak up when something can be better. Bring pace, care and a positive attitude to every launch. Work's a treat!

Perks at ITG - alongside a competitive salary, here's what you can look forward to:

• Time off that works for you - 25 days' holiday + bank holidays, a paid Wellbeing Day, flexible bank holidays to honour cultural or religious observances, and the option to buy or carry over up to 5 extra days.
• Flexibility & lifestyle - Smart Working with up to 40% from home, and after 12 months, the option to work from abroad for up to 90 days a year.
• Family & life milestones - Enhanced family friendly leave, 3 extra days for your wedding/honeymoon, and an Employee Assistance Programme whenever you need support.
• Financial perks - Pension scheme, Corporate Medical Cash Plan, electric car salary sacrifice scheme, and tax-efficient payroll giving to your favourite charities.
• Growth & recognition - Funding for professional qualifications, monthly Employee of the Month awards (£250 bonus), and referral bonuses of up to £1,500.
• Community & wellbeing - Regular Wellbeing Workshops, 30+ Wellbeing Champions, a paid Volunteer Day, and an online perks platform with discounts on top brands, days out, and gym memberships.

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