Factory Standards Manager

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.

As our Factory Standards Manager, you will play a pivotal role in setting and upholding the M&S Food Group factory standards. This is a highly visible, specialist role within our central technical team, where you will lead supplier assurance programmes, manage risk, and future‑prove our business. You will work across the entire food hall, from poultry to wine bottling, setting standards and driving continuous improvement.

One day you could be auditing a new supplier overseas, the next you are solving a complex challenge in a UK factory. Expect variety, autonomy, and the chance to shape industry‑leading practices while collaborating with suppliers, auditors, and internal teams. If you love factories, thrive on problem‑solving, and want a role that takes you places, this is your opportunity to lead change and set the bar for excellence.

This role is based in Paddington and requires frequent travel across the UK and internationally, so you will need to be comfortable with a dynamic schedule and occasional short‑notice visits.

Due to high interest, this role may close earlier than advertised. We recommend applying as soon as possible.

• Set and uphold food safety and integrity standards across our supply base, ensuring compliance and driving best practice.
• Lead supplier assurance programmes, managing audit partners and driving standards that raise the bar for the industry.
• Carry out supplier approval audits, focussed factory visits and when required, reactive visits to tackle complex challenges and implement solutions that make a real difference.
• Collaborate with suppliers, technologists, and stakeholders to deliver innovation and future‑prove our business.
• Share expertise through working groups and coaching, helping to upskill teams and shape future technical agendas.

• Experienced in auditing, or technical management, with strong knowledge of hygiene and food safety standards, and qualified as a lead auditor or with extensive experience in factory standards auditing (M&S Standards / BRCGS / GFSI).
• Calm and logical under pressure, able to manage ambiguity and make sound decisions in complex situations.
• Skilled communicator with the ability to build relationships, influence stakeholders, and manage conflict effectively.
• Highly organised and proactive, comfortable with autonomy and frequent travel across diverse categories and locations.
• Passionate about learning, adaptable to change, and motivated to lead continuous improvement in a fast‑paced environment.

Working at M&S means being part of something bigger – helping to deliver 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.

Here are just a few of the benefits that make working here even more rewarding:

• 20% colleague discount on all M&S products and many third‑party brands for you and someone in your household, available once you’ve completed your probation
• Competitive holiday allowance with the option to buy more
• Discretionary bonus schemes linked to your performance and ours
• Strong pension and life assurance to help plan for the future
• Tailored induction and training to support your development from day one
• Exclusive perks and savings through our M&S Choices portal
• Market‑leading family policies, including parental, adoption and neonatal leave
• 24/7 wellbeing support, including virtual GP access and mental health services
• One paid volunteer day a year to support a cause that matters to you

We are ambitious about the future of retail. We’re disrupting, innovating and leading the industry into…