Store Planner

Job description

Job Description:

Summary

M&S is a leading retailer with a strong heritage of brand values, extraordinary colleagues and customers who want to see us succeed. The key to unlocking our future success is our commitment to the strong belief about how behaviour drives business success and employee engagement.

As our business transforms, all our stores require continuous investment to ensure each is fit for purpose for both our customers and colleagues.

We are looking for Store Planners to join our Property Team, where you will produce detailed store layouts, consistent to agreed formats and bringing the excitement of retail to life through layout and environment. Continued support with the delivery Team is essential to see the scheme from concept design through to delivery for our Retail teams to realise the vision.

About the role

Your key accountabilities will include:

·  Manage the end to end Store Planning process for Food, Clothing & Home, Hospitality, Back of House and operational space in all new store openings, developments and modernisations. Provide considered and expert advice to architects and contractors
·  Use experience to influence and shape future policy to ensure the customer’s needs are always met
·  Provide visible leadership for new store projects through attendance at meetings (design teams, pre-start, progress and PC) and offering, smart, effective solutions to any on-site challenges as they arise
·  Work seamlessly with Design and Retail colleagues to ensure each project is managed and delivered within agreed framework. Ensure visible team presence at key meetings and collectively manage and influence change as required
·  Brief, sign off and own the complete drawing package for schemes to include signage, internal and external elevations
·  Deliver layouts that maximise operational efficiency and deliver clear, easy to shop stores. Identify potential operational challenges and offer pragmatic, budget appropriate, solutions
·  Work with Office and Store colleagues to ensure schemes are delivered within budget by applying pragmatic decision making and keeping change to a minimum
·  Deliver strong, clear and consistent communication to Heads of Region and Store teams. Act as key point of contact within the Property Group and for Retail and Office colleagues for all aspects of store planning and space development.
·  Work closely with Food Teams and C&H Layout & Planning Teams to ensure each plan delivers footage in line with current policies and meets the customer shopping mission.
·  Maintain strong awareness and knowledge of the evolving retail landscape, competitor activity and consumer behaviour

About you

Your skills and experience will include:

·  Skills across architectural planning software preferable but not essential
·  Strong communication and influencing skills
·  Having worked within retail and have a strong understanding of operational issues that affect stores
·  Ability to manage multiple tasks and complex projects
·  Ability to analyse, manage and present data and information