Team Manager – Food – Southampton Area

Job Description

As a Team Manager in Food, you will lead a team on the shop floor to deliver exceptional availability, 5‑star service, and commercial results. This is a frontline leadership position in one of the most competitive retailers in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coach a team to deliver consistently under pressure, setting pace, building capability and maintaining standards.
• Absorb responsibility for sales, standards, availability and team performance, taking ownership when outcomes fall short.
• Collaborate across departments to create a seamless customer experience, fixing problems early with pace and purpose.
• Drive commercial performance by understanding numbers, translating them into action and keeping the team laser‑focused on priorities.

Purpose

• Support the growth and profitability of the store through the implementation of the retail plan and delivery of KPI measures.
• Role‑model great customer service and ensure a customer‑focused service proposition through the team, delighting customers.
• Recruit, develop and nurture talent within the customer assistant team, supporting succession requirements.
• Motivate colleagues to deliver their part and understand their contribution.
• Ensure the store trades safely and legally, protecting customers, colleagues and the brand.
• Support the delivery of an inspirational, consistent visual customer journey in‑store, encouraging repeat visits.

Key Accountabilities

• Drive profitability and sales for the area through the Retail Plan and KPI delivery.
• Embed the business transformation plan and change initiatives for the area.
• Deliver high standards and service by setting clear expectations with store colleagues.
• Create a culture that models new digital ways of working and leadership behaviours.
• Build a multiskilled team, coaching and training them to fully utilise all available tools.
• Deliver excellent basics through the team.
• Seek and act on customer feedback for continuous improvement.
• Use data and insights to enhance customer experience, operations and performance.
• Support the delivery of Plan A.
• Review individual performance through quality conversations, managing underperformance and celebrating success.
• Recruit for the team, ensuring a strong onboarding experience.
• Deliver line‑management activities in line with company process and policy.
• Build active partnerships with BIG, providing feedback and supporting BIG reps.
• Drive operational excellence to maximise product availability and minimise stock and cash loss.
• Ensure processes and tasks are delivered according to standards and business expectations.
• Maintain a safe and legal store environment.
• Support visual merchandising updates across launches, events and campaigns.

Technical Skills / Experience

• Lead a team to deliver excellent customer service and KPIs across the store.
• Model new digital ways of working and leadership behaviours.
• Demonstrate up‑to‑date knowledge of commercial, visual, operational and people processes and systems.
• Use data and MI to identify commercial, visual, cost‑saving and customer opportunities to increase profit.
• Have a good working knowledge of VM principles.
• Possess strong digital capability and use all systems effectively.
• Understand legal requirements across the area and the store.
• Know people policies and manage performance within a team.
• Handle difficult conversations with effective resolution.
• Communicate clearly, inspire and share knowledge and best practices.
• Plan and review across the week and month.
• Deliver under pressure, demonstrating resilience.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders across the store and region.
• Adapt to change, leading teams through transformation with a growth mindset.

Key Leadership Capabilities

• Embed change for lasting commercial impact and results.
• Address resistance to change and support colleagues in adapting.
• Own and accept accountability for team success.
• Coach colleagues to accelerate performance and personal growth.
• Recognise high performers and support under‑performers to improve.
• Show why colleagues matter to the organisation and the impact of their work.
• Use customer feedback and market trends to guide team work.
• Help teams understand information and business messages by actively seeking opinions and asking questions.
• Communicate using appropriate channels and technology for clarity and openness.
• Collaborate proactively across the business for the best solution.

Key Relationships and Stakeholders

• Customers
• Colleagues
• Store Leadership
• Regional Leadership
• BIG

Equal Opportunities

Marks & Spencer aims to be an inclusive organisation and we are committed to an active Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunities Policy.

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