Food Team Leader

Lincolnshire Co-op; Grantham; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme with up to 12% employer

Generous colleague discounts

Annual discretionary award

Ongoing learning, development and well

Community initiatives

Job summary

Lincolnshire Co-op is seeking a Food Team Leader to lead and develop a team within a local Food Store. You will coach staff, ensure exceptional customer service, and maintain standards across stock, merchandising and store operations, while upholding food safety and loss-prevention procedures.

The role emphasises hands-on leadership and community-focused service. You will work closely with the Store Manager to create a welcoming, well-run store and to deliver outstanding customer experiences

Qualifications

• Experience in retail or customer-focused environment.
• Willingness to lead by example and support colleagues.
• Able to authorise age-related sales (over 18).

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and support colleagues to deliver exceptional customer service every day.
• Coach and develop your team, helping colleagues build their confidence, skills and knowledge.
• Maintain excellent standards across the store, including availability, merchandising, presentation and cleanliness.
• Support stock control, minimise waste and help maximise sales opportunities.
• Ensure food safety, cash handling, security and operational procedures are followed at all times.
• Monitor store performance, contributing ideas and improvements that help drive results.

Job description

About the role:

Inspire your team. Support your community. Lead with purpose.

At Lincolnshire Co-op, our Food Stores are at the heart of communities across Lincolnshire and the surrounding counties. We're more than somewhere to pick up the weekly shop – we're a place where local producers are championed, great service comes as standard and colleagues genuinely make a difference every day.

As a Food Team Leader, you'll lead by example, support and develop your team and help ensure every customer leaves with a positive experience.

Working closely with the Store Manager, you'll help create a welcoming, well-run store where colleagues feel empowered and customers enjoy shopping.

Lead from the front in a role where every day is different

As a Food Team Leader every day is different, one moment you'll be coaching a colleague to build their confidence, the next you'll be ensuring shelves are fully stocked, overseeing promotional displays or stepping in to support the store during busy trading periods.

You'll have the opportunity to influence how your store performs by motivating your team, maintaining excellent operational standards and delivering the outstanding customer service that Lincolnshire Co-op is known for. Whether you're resolving a customer query, managing stock availability or identifying opportunities to improve sales, you'll play an important part in your store's success.

This is a hands on leadership role where you'll balance supporting your colleagues with making sure the day to day operation runs smoothly, safely and efficiently.

As a Food Team Leader, you'll:

• Lead, motivate and support colleagues to deliver exceptional customer service every day.
• Coach and develop your team, helping colleagues build their confidence, skills and knowledge.
• Maintain excellent standards across the store, including availability, merchandising, presentation and cleanliness.
• Support stock control, minimise waste and help maximise sales opportunities.
• Ensure food safety, cash handling, security and operational procedures are followed at all times.
• Monitor store performance, contributing ideas and improvements that help drive results.

Why you'll thrive with us

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who's ready to take the next step in their retail career or build on existing leadership experience. You'll have the chance to make a genuine impact - not only by helping your team grow but by creating a store that customers trust and enjoy visiting.

In return, you'll receive comprehensive training, ongoing development opportunities and the support of a business that invests in its people. Every day brings new challenges, new opportunities and the satisfaction of knowing your work helps strengthen the communities we serve.

Because at Lincolnshire Co-op, we're not just leading stores – we're helping make life better in our communities.

INDMP

About You

Bring out the best in yourself and others

Being a great Team Leader isn't about knowing everything from day one – it's about leading with confidence, supporting those around you and creating an environment where colleagues and customers can thrive.

You'll enjoy motivating people, setting high standards and leading by example. Whether you're coaching a colleague, supporting a busy trading period or finding solutions to everyday challenges, you'll be someone your team can rely on.

Ideally, you'll have experience in a retail or customer-focused environment and be ready to take ownership, embrace new challenges and look for opportunities to improve the way things are done. You'll share our passion for delivering outstanding customer service and making a positive difference within your local community.

You’ll need to be over 18 years old to be a Team Leader, as you need to authorise age-related sales.

The difference you'll make

As a Food Team Leader, you'll do much more than help run a successful store. You'll inspire your team to deliver exceptional service, create a welcoming environment for customers and help maintain the high standards our communities expect from Lincolnshire Co-op.

Through your leadership, you'll help build a motivated team, create memorable customer experiences and ensure the store remains a place where colleagues enjoy working and customers enjoy shopping. Every decision you make will contribute towards making life better in the communities we proudly serve.

What you'll receive in return

Up to 30 days' annual leave (pro rata), including bank holidays.

• A pension scheme with up to 12% employer contributions.
• Generous colleague discounts across our family of businesses.
• An annual discretionary award to recognise and reward your hard work.
• Ongoing learning, development and wellbeing support.
• Opportunities to get involved in community initiatives.

We're proud to be an Investors in People Platinum employer, committed to helping our colleagues grow, develop and thrive throughout their careers.

A full job description is available to download on this page, including further information about the responsibilities, experience and skills required for the role.

About Us

From a single store in 1861 we have grown to be one of the most successful co-operatives in the UK. We’re proud to be able to offer a wide range of services from across our family of businesses. From Food Stores and Pharmacies to Post Offices and Support Services, we’re a growing society made up of over 220 outlets and nearly 3,000 colleagues.

We're owned by our members, the people of Lincolnshire and surrounding counties, and have been for more than 160 years! Communities are at the heart of everything we do and motivates us to deliver more than great customer service. We support them by sharing dividend with our members, investing in new and improved services, raising money for charity through our Community Champion scheme, supporting local schools and so much more! Find out more about us, our purpose and wonderful colleagues here.

We work together as a Society and are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is barrier free and as inclusive as possible for everyone. If you need any adjustments, would like us to do anything differently during the interview or would like to get in touch with us about anything else, please contact our Recruitment team on [phone], or alternatively you can email [e-mail].