Category Strategy Manager

Marks and Spencer; London; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company based in London is seeking a Category Strategy Manager to lead transformation initiatives in its Food business. The role requires strong analytical skills and collaboration across teams to deliver impactful strategies. Ideal candidates will have experience in data analysis and effective communication skills. The position offers a range of benefits including colleague discounts and wellness support.

Benefits

20% colleague discount for you + 1 household member

Competitive holiday allowance + option to buy more

Discretionary bonus schemes

Strong pension + life assurance

Tailored induction + training from day one

Market-leading family policies

24/7 wellbeing support

1 paid volunteer day a year

Qualifications

• Strong analytical skills to structure and solve complex problems.
• Clear and concise written communication across various formats.
• High attention to detail with a focus on accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Lead transformation projects, managing timelines and risks.
• Perform deep-dive data analysis to uncover insights and inform strategy.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with various teams to build integrated plans.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Collaboration

Data analysis (Excel, SQL, Python, PowerBI, Tableau)

Job description

Overview

We're reshaping our Food business to broaden its appeal, protecting the magic our customers love while modernising everything else. That means outstanding quality, high sourcing standards, and market-leading innovation remain at our core, while we transform our supply chains, improve our stores, and deliver better value. We're looking for motivated people ready to bring their whole self to work and thrive in a fast-paced, ambitious team. After all, this isn't just food this is M&S Food.

This isn't just any job this is an M&S Category Strategy Manager job!

M&S Food is transforming—and fast. As Category Strategy Manager, you'll be at the heart of this change, helping to reset and evolve our customer proposition across the food business. Reporting to the Head of Category Transformation, you'll lead critical initiatives that shape the future of our categories, driving commercial impact and customer relevance.

This role is all about combining insight, analysis, and collaboration. You'll manage transformation programmes end-to-end, from planning and governance to delivering clear, actionable recommendations. You'll work across teams—from Trading and Product Development to Marketing and Finance—to build integrated category plans that deliver results.

You'll dive deep into data, uncover opportunities, and present compelling strategies to senior partners. Whether it's range architecture, pricing strategy, or promotional mechanics, you'll be the go-to expert for driving clarity and direction.

What you'll do

• Lead and handle category reset and transformation projects, ensuring timelines, risks, and communications are effectively handled
• Own all programme management activities, including planning, governance, risk/issue tracking, and important metric measurement
• Conduct range and price architecture analysis to identify gaps, ensure clear tiering, and support strategic pricing decisions
• Perform deep-dive data analysis using multiple sources (financial, customer, store, etc.) to uncover insights and inform strategy
• Collaborate cross-functionally with teams across Trading, Product Development, Marketing, Finance, and more to build and deliver integrated category plans

Who you are

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to structure and solve complex problems
• Clear and concise written communication across formats (PowerPoint, Word, Email)
• High attention to detail and a strong focus on accuracy and quality of output
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multiple partners across the business
• Experience working with financial, transactional, and customer data; proficiency in Excel and familiarity with tools like SQL, Python, PowerBI, or Tableau is a plus

What's in it for you?

Working at M&S means being part of something bigger - delivering 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.

• 20% colleague discount for you + 1 household member (after probation)
• Competitive holiday allowance + option to buy more
• Discretionary bonus schemes linked to performance
• Strong pension + life assurance
• Tailored induction + training from day one
• Perks and savings via M&S Choices portal
• Market-leading family policies (parental, adoption, neonatal leave)
• 24/7 wellbeing support (GP access + mental health services)
• 1 paid volunteer day a year

Everyone is Welcome

We are ambitious about the future of retail - disrupting, innovating and leading into a more inspiring digital era. We want diverse, representative teams where everyone can bring their whole selves to work.

If you need support or adjustments during recruitment, let us know in your application. Our team will make sure you have what you need to do your best.

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