Senior Editor - Fixed-Term Parental Leave Cover

We’re looking for a Senior Food Editor to shape and deliver standout food content across recipes, online editorial features, publications and CRM communications. You’ll set the editorial direction, lead a dedicated team of editors, copywriters and content specialists, and make sure every piece of content feels inspiring, useful and unmistakably M&S. This is a brilliant opportunity for an experienced food editorial leader who combines strong creative judgement with commercial thinking, exceptional attention to detail and the confidence to influence senior partners. Please note, this role is a fixed-term parental leave cover.
Due to high interest, this role may close earlier than advertised. We recommend applying as soon as possible.
What you’ll do
Your key accountabilities will include:

• Set and deliver the food editorial strategy and content calendar across customer-facing channels, aligned to customer needs and business priorities.
• Lead, develop and inspire the Food Editorial and Recipes team, alongside freelance partners, creating a collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Oversee the creation, testing, commissioning and publication of recipes and food content, maintaining high standards for quality, accuracy, accessibility and brand tone.
• Own the end-to-end delivery of M&S food publications and lead copy strategy across email, app and other personalised customer communications.
• Act as the senior editorial voice across the business, working with design, photography, video, production and senior partners to deliver engaging, commercially effective content.

Who you are
Your skills and experience will include:

• Significant experience in food editorial, food publishing, content marketing or a related editorial leadership role.
• A strong track record of creating and managing recipe, food and lifestyle content across digital and print channels.
• Excellent copywriting, editing, proofreading and storytelling skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Experience leading and developing editorial or content teams and managing freelancers, agencies or production partners.
• A good understanding of digital publishing, SEO and content performance, with the confidence to use insight and trends to improve engagement and discoverability.

What’s in it for you?
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

Everyone’s welcome
We are ambitious about the future of retail. We’re disrupting, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We’re transforming 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.