M&S Food is changing, and fast! We are undergoing one of the biggest transformations in retailing today to build a bigger, better, fresher food business.
From Percy Pig to the freshest M&S Select Farms produce, we grow, source, and develop our own products to give our customers family-ready food that’s unbeatable on flavour and innovation.
We need motivated people who are ready to bring their whole self to work and give it their all in a fast-paced team committed to being the best. After all, this is not just food… This is M&S Food.
An Agronomy role in M&S is all about leading the way and driving the future forward in the produce category. Relentlessly driving great quality and seasonality at all times and building and delivering future plans around sourcing and new varietals. Working collaboratively with our suppliers and growers to understand future opportunities and innovation and build an amazing plan delivering the best quality produce every day.
As a Senior Agronomist you will use your technical knowledge, expertise and judgement to ensure the consistent delivery of innovative, high quality, safe, and legal products, which meet our brand values, ensuring categories meet their sales, and profit targets. You will identify and deliver (be responsible for the delivery) of strategic technical initiatives and to take accountability for key technical workstreams. Using your knowledge and skills you’ll deliver innovative technical solutions to continue to drive sales and customer satisfaction. Sharing your experience and knowledge you’ll aid other members of the technical team to widen their knowledge and to deliver category business objectives.
Key accountabilities and measures:
Category & Supply Base
- Working with suppliers and growers to ensure products made safely to agreed standards
- With category team development of innovative products and setting of quality standards
- Sourcing & developing suppliers to deliver the strategic business needs
- With commercial team using skills to source raw materials that meet the buying strategy
- Understanding of different sourcing models in produce and the skill set to develop successful models to drive quality and availability
NPD & Innovation
- Continually drive best quality product through knowledge relationships and strategic sourcing, varietal and innovation plans
- To develop and deliver a robust varietal and sourcing plan over future years to ensure M&S keeps ahead of the competition with regard to quality, consistency and offer
- Create and deliver research and plans for innovation
- Input to/Determine technical and sourcing vision and input into the Business Unit strategy for product area
- To work with suppliers and specialists to develop different packaging formats to drive sustainability and different look and feel across produce
Quality
- Drive exacting quality and consistency year-round, through clear sourcing and quality improvement plans
- Manage sourcing calendar and season change overs to deliver great quality and availability
- Ensure product quality is continually monitored and maintained
- Find opportunities for quality improvement
Governance
- Utilise knowledge of Food Law to ensure product and packaging is legal
- Ensure Marks & Spencer’s Quality Management System implemented both internally and at suppliers
- Ensure suppliers are audited as appropriate ensuring non compliances are remedied
- Management of an appropriate independent product testing programme where appropriate
- Management & reduction of Customer complaints
Technology
- Provide up to date technical advice across the BU for specific products and other areas of technical responsibility
- Representation of the function and the company externally on industry issues
- Work with cross discipline groups on initiatives that require technical input
- Exploit new systems and processes to build a better business
- Ensure ongoing technical benchmarking of industry sector to provide input for selecting a supply base
People
- Maintain professional status & accreditation of IFST/BASIS (or similar body) through appropriate Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
Key skills/preferred experience:
- Degree level technical qualification in an appropriate subject or significant industry experience at an appropriate level
- Where appropriate to hold an externally recognised professional competence ( e.g. BASIS )
- Related / Industry experience of specific industries within the Food Sector
- Has an empathy with producers and a sound understanding of horticultural production
- Ability to communicate, influence, enrol and engage internal and external partners
- Managing suppliers and the relationships with their growers
- Understanding of customer needs and brand values
- Understanding of impact on margin and profit of sustainable supply
M&S is ready to push boundaries to lead the industry into a greener, speedier, more inspiring digital era. That’s why we’re revolutionising how we work and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. There’s never been a better time to be part of our team. Marks & Spencer aims to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make an immediate impact. We are committed to an active Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunities Policy, which starts with our recruitment and selection process and we are happy to talk smart/flexible working.
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