Head of Food Activity

M&S; City Of London; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food retailer in the UK is seeking a pivotal role that involves managing product delivery and leading cross-functional teams. You will be responsible for overseeing the entire product development process, ensuring efficiency and collaboration. Ideal candidates will have strong leadership skills, be proactive problem solvers, and possess excellent communication abilities. This exciting opportunity offers competitive benefits and a chance to make a lasting impact.

Benefits

20% colleague discount on all products

Competitive holiday allowance

Discretionary bonus schemes

Strong pension and life assurance

Tailored induction and training

Exclusive perks and savings

Market-leading family policies

24/7 wellbeing support

One paid volunteer day a year

Qualifications

• Led complex programmes and delivered results.
• Experience managing teams and critical paths.
• Data-driven problem solver with creativity.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of all Food Group activities.
• Manage product and packaging timelines.
• Oversee artwork process with legal teams.
• Drive consistency across teams.

Skills

Leadership in complex environments

Strong communication

Problem-solving

Relationship building

Organisational skills

Job description

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Job Description

This is a pivotal role at the heart of M&S Food. You'll be accountable for delivering our full Food Group activity plan—from new product launches to packaging and artwork. You'll lead cross-functional teams, manage complex timelines, and drive high performance across every stage of the product development pipeline. If you're ready to take ownership, shape outcomes, and deliver excellence from concept to shop floor, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Due to high interest, this role may close earlier than advertised. We recommend applying as soon as possible.

What you\'ll do

• Lead the delivery of all Food Group activity, making sure products and projects move smoothly through development.
• Manage product and packaging timelines, spotting and solving issues early.
• Oversee the artwork process, working closely with legal and graphic partners.
• Improve systems, data and reporting to support technical delivery.
• Drive consistency and collaboration across teams to meet shared goals.

Who you are

• You\'ve led complex programmes in fast-paced environments and delivered results.
• You\'re confident working with people at all levels and building strong relationships.
• You\'re a clear communicator who can influence and challenge constructively.
• You\'re a skilled leader with experience managing teams and critical paths.
• You\'re organised, resilient and comfortable solving problems with data and creativity.

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.

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