Senior Buyer - Global

Our International business has the exciting job of bringing our famous clothing, food and home products to over 32 million customers worldwide. Collaborating with our partner businesses and our UK teams you'll work with colleagues around the world to help us reshape International as we know it.

Our ambition is to more than double International sales, so there's never been a better time to join the department and make your mark as we continue to build inclusive and diverse relationships, and put the business and our colleagues at the forefront of every decision we make!

Are you a seasoned procurement professional with a strategic mindset and international experience? Join our International Buying Team to help drive product strategy and elevate our global brand across our overseas markets.

About the Role

As a Senior Buyer, you'll report to the International Head of Buying and be instrumental in strengthening our Global Product Strategy, embedding brand and Business Unit priorities into international markets, and optimising our product offering to deliver market-leading results.

This role is aligned with the structure of our UK team (e.g. JB, AB, BAA) to ensure consistency across both domestic and international buying functions.

The role is accountable for influencing and delivering the International Product Strategy, leading the Global brand and Business Unit strategy into our International markets, optimising our brand and product proposition and delivering against International performance objectives and KPIs.

To stay close to customers, our support teams are in the office three days a week as we believe that skills are developed through collaboration, and that spending time together makes us more creative and connected.

What’s in it for you

Being a part of M&S is exactly that – playing your part to bring the magic of M&S to our customers every day. We’re an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and ever evolving business built on doing the right thing and bringing exceptional quality, value, service to every customer, whenever, wherever, and however they want to shop with us.

Here are some of the benefits we offer that make working for M&S just that little bit more special…

• After completing your probationary period, you’ll receive 20% colleague discount across all M&S products and many of our third-party brands for you and a member of your household.
• Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days!
• Discretionary bonus schemes awarded based on how you achieve your personal objectives and our performance as a business.
• A generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and Life Assurance.
• A dedicated welcome to our teams with a tailored induction and a wide range of training programmes to develop your skills.
• Amazing perks and discounts via our M&S Choices portal to maximise your financial and personal wellbeing.
• Industry-leading parental, adoption, and neonatal policies, providing support and flexibility for your family.
• Access to a fantastic range of wellbeing support for all colleagues including access to our 24/7 Virtual GP and PAM Assist to support you and your family.
• A charity volunteer day to support a charity or cause you're passionate about through a dedicated day away from work.

What you’ll do

Your key accountabilities will include

• Deliver the Fashion, Home and Beauty budget and buying related KPIs in line with the Operating Model and International Objectives.
• Promote & drive a clear understanding of the M&S international customer and markets, ensuring the segments and demographics needs are understood and put at the heart of the product offer developed.
• Leads the ‘Go to Market’ process for International, ensuring readiness in product catalogue and product data, and that the sell-in events/opportunities are optimised and delivered to plan. Ensures the International critical path is adhered to.
• Act as the key point of contact for the Partnerships Team and in market Buying teams on all BU and product related topics; liaising into the BU where required and facilitating alignment/support.
• Provide leadership and direction to the buying team. Build and maintain strong relationships with other functions linking into the brand (e.g. Marketing, Press, M&S.com)

Who you are

Your skills and experience will include

• Expert in the field of Buying with significant Buying experience with a major clothing retailer, including in a senior position. International experience is required.
• Agile, adaptable and proactive with a strong ability to thrive in dynamic environments.
• Passion for delivering world class product through global, multi-channel retailing.
• Ability to build strong relationships with Product, Trading, Partnerships and wider stakeholders.
• An in-depth knowledge of the current competitive marketplace and key competitors with the ability to identify relevant product trends and commercial opportunities.
• A digital and Global mindset that supports the growth of International and Online Business

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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