Overview
Personal Assistant – Maternity Cover – London, Greater London
Everyone is welcome at M&S. No exceptions. It’s your background, abilities and differences that make you, uniquely you. And when you’re part of M&S, that individuality has the potential to make waves.
Summary
We’re reshaping our Food business to broaden its appeal, protecting the magic our customers love while modernising everything else. That means outstanding quality, high sourcing standards, and market-leading innovation remain at our core, while we transform our supply chains, improve our stores, and deliver better value. We’re looking for motivated people ready to bring their whole self to work and thrive in a fast-paced, ambitious team. After all, this isn’t just food… this is M&S Food.
All the details
Step into a role where no two days are the same! As a Personal Assistant in our Foods business area, you’ll be at the heart of the action—supporting senior leaders and shaping the rhythm of a fast-moving, innovative environment. You won’t just handle diaries; you’ll orchestrate schedules, coordinate high-profile meetings, and ensure everything runs like clockwork. And all of this within the award winning M&S Food Marketing department – from Percy Pig on TikTok to groundbreaking multichannel marketing campaigns, and viral sensations like the Strawberry Sando, this is the team that are responsible for keeping M&S Food on the map. And your role working with the leadership team will put you right at the centre of the action.
This is your chance to be the go-to person for Directors, a trusted partner who keeps things moving behind the scenes. From planning overseas travel to pulling together key insights for leadership discussions, you’ll play a pivotal role in making big things happen. If you thrive on variety, love solving problems, and want to make a real impact in a business that’s constantly evolving, this is the role for you.
This is a 12 month maternity cover.
What you’ll do
- Handle complex diaries and organise facilities for meetings and events
- Prepare briefing documents and act as the link between Directors and wider leadership teams
- Handle queries from internal and external partners promptly and professionally
- Arrange detailed UK and overseas travel itineraries and process expenses via Concur
- Coordinate information for committee meetings, store visits, and group functions
- Act as gatekeeper for Directors, filtering mail and calls, and drafting responses where needed
Who you are
- Previous PA experience in a complex environment
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise under pressure
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
- Flexible, proactive, and confident in handling challenging situations
- Problem-solving attitude with a drive for continuous improvement
What’s in it for You?
Working at M&S means being part of something bigger – delivering 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.
- 20% colleague discount for you & 1 household member (after probation)
- Competitive holiday allowance & option to buy more
- Discretionary bonus schemes linked to performance
- Strong pension & life assurance
- Tailored induction & training from day one
- Perks and savings via M&S Choices portal
- Market-leading family policies (parental, adoption, neonatal leave)
- 24/7 wellbeing support (GP access & mental health services)
- 1 paid volunteer day a year
Everyone’s Welcome
We are ambitious about the future of retail – disrupting, innovating and leading into a more inspiring digital era. We want diverse, representative teams where everyone can bring their whole selves to work.
If you need support or adjustments during recruitment, let us know in your application. Our team will make sure you have what you need to do your best.
#LI-Hybrid #hybridrole
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
