Section managers
Salary: £18,000 – £25,000 dependent on location and experience.
Taking charge of a particular store area in a large store, or working as a Duty Manager in our Simply Food Stores, our section managers are responsible for coaching, motivating and inspiring their team of customer assistants to deliver a service people talk about. Managing from 5 to 25 people, they see to their team’s training needs and instil in them a real passion for the products they work with.
"I was in and out in no time. It's great to get service like that on a busy Saturday."
To find out how the role of section manager differs in each area of the store, read the profiles below.
Profile of Kate
Section Manager, Finsbury Pavement, London
What brought you to Marks & Spencer?
A few members of my family were already working here, so I knew Marks & Spencer was a good employer that could offer a range of management opportunities – something I was particularly interested in. Also, because of my family’s experience, I knew I’d be well looked after and would enjoy real job security too.
Training was another big draw. When I started, I went to the Marks & Spencer Training Programme where you’re put through a series of courses covering all aspects of your job. The programme takes place on various days over about six months and for the first two weeks I got to ‘buddy-up’ with another section manager, which helped me to find my feet a lot quicker.
What’s the working environment like?
It’s a retail environment but there’s a lot more to it than simply selling products. You also have to consider things like due diligence, pricing, and compliance. I’ve been here for 18 months now but I’m still learning new things all the time.
It took me a while to adjust to the way the Company works but everyone was really supportive. It’s definitely a friendly place. And there are loads of events to get involved in, giving you the chance to socialise with people all over the store rather than just those in your immediate team.
Describe your day-to-day responsibilities?
I’m in charge of Home and Childrenswear, and have six team members to manage. As well as looking at daily sales reports (to check that we are in line with targets) I monitor availability of sizes and assess my best sellers. Bringing in new lines is another important aspect of my job and part of that involves working out how best to merchandise them on the shop floor. I also deal with suppliers and keep in regular contact with head office to feed back any issues I have with my section.
What's the best part of your job?
I’m very much a hands-on manager, so I love the fact that I get to work so closely with the merchandise I’m selling. I also enjoy deciding how best to promote products to our customers.
Profile of Paul
Section Manager Menswear, High Street Kensington store
What brought you to Marks & Spencer?
After running my own catering business, I managed the home department at a major departmental store in London for four and a half years. I was on the look out for a different challenge when I saw an advert for Marks & Spencer. I’d always heard about their reputation for quality (both in terms of the products they offer and the people they employ) and decided that sounded like the place for me. I was also after a faster paced and more exciting environment.
What’s the working environment like?
It was a bit daunting at first as I had to get used to new procedures and ways of working but the support I had was fantastic, both through the induction and planned courses at the Training Programme, and the internal assistance in my job. A lot of people here have a great deal of experience, which is invaluable when it comes to learning about how the business works. And they are only too happy to help you.
Describe your day-to-day responsibilities?
I oversee the day-to-day running of the Menswear section. This involves monitoring stock levels, ensuring my team are delivering the highest standards of customer service and conducting their ongoing training in line with Company guidelines. I only started 18 months ago, but I've already taken on additional responsibility for the Beauty and Homeware sections after they were moved to my floor.
What’s the best part of your job?
The best aspect of the job is never knowing what will happen from one day to the next, thinking on your feet and constantly making sure that you’ve got things organised. With three departments to oversee, it really keeps you on your toes. You never know what’s going to happen next and have to deal with everything from delivering new concepts and overseeing store refits to streamlining stocks and ranges ready for the next generation of Marks & Spencer customers. And you need to be able to do all this while keeping our existing customers happy. It may sound a lot but I love the fact I get the chance to influence the success of our store across so many areas.
Profile of George
Food Section Manager, London
What brought you to Marks & Spencer?
After finishing my English degree at Warwick, I joined a leading fashion retailer on their management graduate training programme and worked for them for two years before looking to move to a larger store in Central London. And you can’t get more high profile than Marks & Spencer. I also knew a manager at Marks & Spencer who told me they treated their people well, so I applied and joined soon after. I’ve been working here about three years now, first in Ladieswear and now in Foods.
What’s the working environment like?
Coming from a wholly fashion background, I’d always wanted to work in a bigger and more varied environment – like a department store. My current store ticks both of those boxes. It’s a big store (we employ 1,500 people) and at first I thought it might be quite intimidating but in fact I’ve found it to be the exact opposite. Everyone’s really welcoming and there's a great support network in place if you need any help.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I really enjoy developing my team. I look after 17 people and I’ve gained a great deal of satisfaction from helping them learn new skills and grow into their jobs. As a company we’re really good at supporting people and putting their wellbeing first.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
I’d say managing my team’s performance. One size doesn’t fit all, so you have to come up with development plans that make the most of people’s individual talents in order to help them achieve their potential. Also, different people respond to motivation in different ways – it’s all about finding the right balance.
Profile of Sven
Menswear Section Manager, London
What brought you to Marks & Spencer?
Before Marks & Spencer I worked for a high-end retailer, running their oversees operation in New York. However, I wanted to get back into mainstream retail in the UK and answered a Marks & Spencer advert on the web for section managers. Because of my background I was assigned to the flagship store in London.
What’s the working environment like?
The people here are really friendly and approachable, and everyone pulls together to get things done. There’s a lot of experience within the store too. We also have some great people coming into the business and they bring with them new ideas and ways of doing things.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love the fact that no two days are the same. One day I could be dealing with a flood on the third floor, the next I’m helping to kit out a women’s football team in suits. It’s that diverse. I also enjoy driving sales and promoting our best-selling lines.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
The challenge comes from trying to meet the development needs of my team while delivering excellent customer service and managing the sheer range of stock we have in Menswear. But I wouldn't have it any other way.
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