Category Project Manager

We’re looking for a Category Project Manager to join our Foods team, supporting Product Development and Commercial Operations. This is a brilliant opportunity for someone who enjoys bringing structure, pace and clarity to complex product activity, working across multiple teams to get launches delivered on time and right first time.

You’ll own the end-to-end delivery of product activity, helping teams move through each stage of the process with clear plans, strong governance and proactive risk management. Working closely with Category, Technical, Packaging, Design, Ashbury, GSPs and Supply Chain, you’ll keep activity on track, unblock issues and make sure everyone is aligned on what needs to happen and when.

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

What you’ll do

Your key accountabilities will include:

• Lead product activity through each stage of the Stage Gate process, from kick off through to post-launch review, making sure launches land safely and successfully
• Build and handle clear critical paths across trading clusters and workstreams, bringing cross-functional partners together into one joined-up plan
• Identify risks, blockers and dependencies early, taking ownership of mitigation plans and advancing with clear options where needed
• Provide simple, forward-looking updates on RAG status, risks, actions and key decisions, helping teams stay focused and aligned
• Drive better ways of working across teams by improving planning, reducing replans and supporting a more consistent, right-first-time approach

Who you are

Your skills and experience will include:

• Experience delivering complex, fast-paced projects or programmes across multiple teams and partners
• Confident working in areas where the process may not be fully defined, with the ability to create structure and move things forward
• Strong communication and influencing skills, with the confidence to engage partners at different levels
• Highly organised, proactive and comfortable balancing pace, risk and decision-making
• Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills, with the ability to turn information into clear, useful updates and recommendations

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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