AI Tech Development Manager

Marks & Spencer Plc; London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in London seeks an AI Technology & Engineering Manager to drive AI initiatives within the Data & AI department. This role is responsible for leading a team to build scalable AI solutions that enhance productivity and innovation. The ideal candidate has extensive AI expertise and leadership skills. Generous benefits include a colleague discount, holiday entitlement, and a Defined Contribution Pension Scheme.

Benefits

20% colleague discount

Competitive holiday entitlement

Discretionary bonus schemes

Defined Contribution Pension Scheme

Dedicated training programmes

Wellbeing support

Charity volunteer day

Qualifications

• Dynamic, high-energy leader eager to push technological boundaries.
• Proven track record of building and leading high-performing AI teams.
• Deep understanding of AI in the data landscape.
• Well-connected to the evolving AI ecosystem.
• Ability to foster cross-functional partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Shape and lead the technical vision for harnessing AI.
• Apply AI to solve real business challenges.
• Manage a team delivering scalable AI solutions.
• Establish an adaptable operating model for AI.
• Champion continuous improvement through AI.

Skills

Proactive Attitude

Visionary Leadership

Strategic AI Expertise

Industry Insight

Collaborative Influence

Job description

Summary
We are seeking a highly skilled and visionary AI Technology & Engineering Manager to lead the build of our AI technology initiatives within the Data & AI department. This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on technical oversight, responsible for building, scaling, and maintaining AI systems that drive data-driven decision-making and intelligent automation across the organisation.
You will collaborate closely with product teams, peers in architecture, data and ML engineering to build and operationalise AI solutions, lead technology roadmaps, and ensure the technical delivery of AI solutions across the enterprise.

What’s in it for you

Being a part of M&S is exactly that – playing your part to bring the magic of M&S to our customers every day. We’re an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and ever evolving business built on doing the right thing and bringing exceptional quality, value, service to every customer, whenever, wherever and however they want to shop with us.

Here are some of the benefits we offer that make working for M&S just that little bit more special…

• After completing your probationary period, you’ll receive 20% colleague discount across all M&S products and many of our third-party brands for you and a member of your household.
• Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days!
• Discretionary bonus schemes awarded based on how you achieve your personal objectives and our performance as a business.
• A generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and Life Assurance.
• A dedicated welcome to our teams with a tailored induction and a wide range of training programmes to develop your skills.
• Amazing perks and discounts via our M&S Choices portal to maximise your financial and personal wellbeing.
• Industry-leading parental, adoption and neonatal policies, providing support and flexibility for your family.
• Access to a fantastic range of wellbeing support for all colleagues including access to our 24/7 Virtual GP and PAM Assist to support you and your family.
• A charity volunteer day to support a charity or cause you're passionate about through a dedicated day away from work.

What you'll do

• Define the Strategy – Shape and lead the technical vision for how M&S will harness AI to drive enterprise-wide productivity and innovation.
• Solve Business Challenges – Apply AI to address real business problems, enabling teams to self-serve insights and solutions wherever possible.
• Build Scalable Solutions – Lead and manage a team delivering AI solutions, whether developed in-house or sourced externally, at scale across M&S.
• Design the Operating Model – Establish a scalable and adaptable operating model encompassing people, processes, and technology to support rapid evolution.
• Drive Continuous Improvement – Champion a culture of steadfast efficiency, embedding AI into every facet of operations to unlock ongoing value

Who you are

• Proactive Attitude – A dynamic, high-energy leader with a contagious enthusiasm for pushing technological boundaries to elevate business performance.
• Visionary Leadership – A seasoned leader with a validated ability to build and lead high-performing AI-focused teams from the ground up.
• Strategic AI Expertise – Deep conceptual understanding of AI within the data landscape, with the confidence to challenge and guide technology decisions that deliver maximum value to M&S.
• Industry Insight – Extraordinarily well-connected to the constantly evolving AI ecosystem, staying ahead of market trends and emerging innovations.
• Collaborative Influence – Skilled at encouraging cross-functional partnerships to unite top talent around solving complex business challenges through AI driven solutions.

Everyone's welcome

We are ambitious about the future of retail. We’re redefining, innovating and leading the industry into a more diligent, inspiring digital era. We’re reconsidering 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.

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