Lead Planning Manager - Distribution

M&S is transforming at pace, and our growth in online demand means we’re expanding our operational capability. Our Castle Donington is our flagship Distribution Centre which is over our 900,000 sq. ft, and responsible for over 65% of all e‑commerce orders. With over £95 million invested to support our ambition, it’s our people who continue to make the real difference and you could be one of them!

Do you have an Operational background and experience of Data based Labour Planning to deliver outstanding Performance?

Then we are looking for a Lead Planning Manager to head up our Planning team to ensure the distribution centre operates with precision, efficiency, and an unwavering focus on online and store customers. The role is accountable for the full planning and performance cycle across Inbound, Occupancy, Despatch and Service Proposition, using data‑driven insight to keep the site running smoothly and sustainably.

This position partners with Logistics Leadership, Ecommerce Operations, Supply Chain Planning and other Business Units to enable proactive planning, seamless execution, and consistently excellent service. As the site’s key labour‑planning budget holder, the role balances cost, capability and demand—continuously identifying smarter, more efficient ways of working in a fast‑paced, variable operation.

As part of the Senior Leadership Team, the Lead Planning Manager role‑models M&S behaviours, fosters a culture where colleagues thrive, and ensures the customer remains the focus of every decision and action. This is a pivotal opportunity for a forward‑thinking leader to bring clarity, influence and momentum to a high‑performing distribution operation.

We’re looking for an influential leader with experience in automated distribution centres and a strong grasp of warehouse control systems. Someone who thrives in fast‑paced retail and e‑commerce environments, builds trusted relationships, and works effectively with partners at every level. A leader who inspires confidence, empowers teams, and brings people together to deliver great results. If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you!

What you’ll do

Your key accountabilities will include:

• Lead end‑to‑end site planning, ensuring optimal occupancy, product flow and weekly/monthly/yearly operational activity through data‑driven forecasting, cross‑functional collaboration and effective performance review.
• Own all labour and resource planning, delivering productivity and cost targets— including stewardship of a £50m variable labour budget, 3rd‑party agency management and strategic staffing decisions that support sustainable growth.
• Present, align and secure approval for operational and resource plans with senior key partners, then adjust and refine plans based on real‑time performance, volumes and customer demand to drive continuous improvement.
• Drive operational excellence, including release strategy execution, preventative maintenance scheduling, system and process governance, risk identification, and initiatives that maximise online stock availability and customer proposition.
• Provide strong leadership across the Planning function, building capability, leading change initiatives, nurturing talent, and contributing to the broader Senior Leadership Team to deliver site vision, strategy and exceptional customer outcomes

Who you are

Your skills and experience will include:

• Strong leadership experience in automated distribution centres, with solid understanding of warehouse control systems and fast‑paced retail/e‑commerce operations
• Skilled relationship‑builder, able to influence, challenge constructively, and work effectively with partners at all levels to protect customer outcomes
• Clear, confident communicator with the presence to inspire trust, drive alignment, and present information in a structured, persuasive way
• People‑focused leader who empowers teams through effective delegation, coaching, constructive feedback and a collaborative, team‑first approach
• Resilient, customer‑focused decision‑maker able to balance operational and technical needs, manage expectations, and maintain performance under pressure

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.

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