General Merchandise Manager

TN United Kingdom; London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a General Merchandise Manager to lead a dynamic team in a fast-paced retail environment. This role emphasizes people development, operational excellence, and outstanding customer service. You'll be responsible for managing day-to-day operations, fostering a positive team culture, and ensuring a seamless shopping experience for customers. With a focus on training and development, this position offers opportunities for career advancement within a supportive management structure. Join a company that values your growth and is committed to delivering exceptional service.

Benefits

10% discount at Sainsbury’s, Argos, Tu, and Habitat

Free food and drinks

Generous holiday entitlement

Pension scheme with employer contributions

Sainsbury’s share scheme

Wellbeing support

Colleague networks for personal development

Cycle to Work scheme

Special offers on gyms and restaurants

Qualifications

• Experience managing or supervising teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Motivated to develop and bring out the best in others.

Responsibilities

• Manage a medium to large in-store team, assigning tasks and planning breaks.
• Support the Lead General Merchandise Manager in improving customer outcomes.

Skills

People Development

Operational Management

Customer Service

Team Leadership

Communication

Education

Experience in Management

Tools

Digital Tools for Stock Management

Job description

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You’re ambitious for more leadership responsibility. Maybe one day, you’d like to run your own store or take on a bigger role in the future. First, you want to focus on your people development skills – crafting a team that delivers what you need, when you need it.

This is a well-balanced management role with clear accountability – you’ll understand exactly what’s expected of you and who to turn to for support. Whether you already have some supervisory experience or you’re looking to make the step up, it’s the perfect chance to get close to your team and grow your skills.

What you’ll be doing

Our purpose is driven by our passion for food: together we serve and help every customer.

General Merchandise includes homeware, interiors, fashion, beauty, and entertainment, as well as our fantastic TU and Habitat brands. We aim to delight our customers by enriching their shopping experience beyond just food, and your leadership here plays a crucial role in the customer experience. Reporting to our Lead General Merchandise Manager, your focus will be on operational in-store management, ensuring your area runs smoothly every day.

You will manage a medium to large in-store team, assigning tasks, planning breaks, creating rotas, addressing performance issues sensitively and effectively, and assisting with recruitment. You’ll be a visible leader on the shop floor, a role model who drives training and fosters a welcoming environment where colleagues feel safe to challenge existing processes.

What success looks like

There’s a lot to achieve. Here’s how you’ll know you’re developing:

• You support the Lead General Merchandise Manager in delivering improved customer and retail outcomes in your area.
• You work closely with another manager, sharing ideas, identifying improvements, and ensuring seamless shift handovers.
• You communicate honestly and directly with your team, providing feedback early and often.
• You help your team empathize with customers, taking pride in delivering excellent service.
• You make decisions confidently and quickly, even when not all answers are known.

About you

We’re open-minded about your career path. You likely already manage or supervise people in a fast-paced environment and are confident handling various daily challenges – your team depends on you!

Sharing Sainsbury’s enthusiasm for technology is important. We leverage digital tools extensively, from stock management to rotas.

Most importantly, you are motivated to develop, dedicated to bringing out the best in others, and passionate about customer service—because that’s what our stores are all about.

Where next?

The Sainsbury’s in-store management structure is designed to support your progression, providing support and opportunities to excel. When you join, you’ll receive a comprehensive induction, tailored training plans, and ongoing coaching to help you succeed and develop your skills.

As a General Merchandise Manager, you could advance into roles such as Lead Manager in Food, In-store Customer Experience, Clothing, or General Merchandise. Looking further ahead, this experience prepares you for Store Management or leadership roles across Sainsbury’s family brands: Habitat, Tu, Argos, Sainsbury’s Bank, and Nectar 360. We’re committed to helping you reach your potential.

Added benefits

Salary depends on your experience, store size, complexity, and location. We also offer a range of benefits, including:

• 10% discount at Sainsbury’s, Argos, Tu, and Habitat after four weeks, increasing to 15% on Fridays and Saturdays at Sainsbury’s and on paydays at Argos.
• Free food and drinks in all stores.
• Generous holiday entitlement, maternity, and paternity leave.
• Pension scheme with 4-7% employer contributions.
• Sainsbury’s share scheme for discounted investments.
• Wellbeing support, including emotional, legal, and financial assistance.
• Colleague networks for personal development.
• Cycle to Work scheme for bikes and accessories.
• Special offers on gyms, restaurants, holidays, and vouchers.

Click ‘apply’ to begin your Sainsbury’s journey.