About this role
Shape the future of one of the UK’s most iconic brands and accelerate M&S’s international franchise growth.
This is a standout opportunity for a bold, commercially minded leader to take ownership of franchise performance across a dynamic international region. You’ll lead and inspire a team of Franchise Partner Managers, turn local customer and market insight into action, and build ambitious partnerships that unlock sustainable growth.
With accountability for the regional P&L and omni-channel franchise strategy, you’ll set the pace for performance—delivering KPIs, shaping market-relevant product strategies and optimising retail execution. Working closely with partners and teams across M&S, you’ll create exceptional customer experience and drive profitable, long-term growth.
You’ll also shape commercial terms, adapt our Franchise Playbook for local markets and serve as the vital link between M&S and its franchise partners—bringing clarity, challenge and shared ambition to every relationship.
If you’re energised by international retail, know how to turn strong partnerships into commercial success and want to make a visible impact on M&S’s global growth story, we’d love to hear from you.
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
- Works with the in-market merchandising team and Clothing & Home and Food BU teams is responsible for achieving an optimum product assortment across all the selling channels
- Helps to grow the Online business through new flagships, marketplaces and developing existing ones, plus omnichannel activity in store
- Actively listens to partner feedback/requirements and co-ordinates with central / Online/Food, Clothing and Home BU functions to help establish appropriate and cost-effective support/actions for partners
- Provides robust and rigorous operational focus to the team, looking for ways to continually improve delivery through the transfer of best practice to and between Franchisees to ensure they run efficiently and in line with brand operating standards.
- In conjunction with the legal teams, review, shape, and update franchise agreements which delivers brand and commercial growth and success; shape successful partnership relationships and define clear performance targets and brand requirements
Who you are
Your skills and experience will include
- Strong commercial acumen and proven track record in driving sales and maximising profit
- Entrepreneurial - identify and influence commercial opportunities and act on them
- Retail experience - Stores and Online
- Highly skilled at relationship building and influencing key stakeholders at senior levels within M&S and externally
- Experience in managing global to local business relationships
Everyone’s welcome
We are ambitious about the future of retail. We are disrupting, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We are 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.
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.