Lead Food Manager

Sainsbury's; Leigh; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job description

Our Lead Food Manager role is a brilliant step if you’re ready to stretch your leadership skills to fully lead and inspire a management team and department. You will have clear accountability, realistic expectations, and structured support. It’s a win-win – we give you the time and space to coach your team and strengthen your leadership skills, and you help us create even better in-store service for our customers and colleagues.

Your leadership experience could be in any customer-focused industry, not necessarily Food Retail. We’re keen to nurture broad mindsets to grow a management team that operates effectively across the store. Don’t worry if you lack technical knowledge; we’re primarily looking for a desire to succeed through your people and a passion for connecting with customers.

What you’ll be doing

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

You’ll work in a busy, complex store, reporting directly to the Store Manager and leading a team of managers. It’s fast-paced, with unexpected challenges daily. You won’t always have all the answers – that’s fine – but by solving short-term problems and implementing medium-term changes, you’ll support your team to keep delivering.

Food sets the standard for the rest of the store. Getting it right means customers choose to return, so ensuring grocery, fresh, and produce are always available and looking their best is critical. Your leadership will deliver throughout the day, every day.

Your role is to set the direction for your area over the next 1-3 months.

What success looks like

There’s a lot to learn. Every day, you’ll strengthen your existing leadership skills and develop new ones. Here’s how:

• Coaching, motivating, and guiding your managers to work as a productive team, building their capabilities and leading through change.
• Helping your team empathize with customers, taking pride in delivering better service and spotting opportunities.
• Leading through communication; clearly articulating performance and inspiring improvements for now and the upcoming quarter.
• Developing yourself as an operational expert and role model for your team.
• Making decisions confidently and feeling empowered and accountable to run your store area and deputize for the Store Manager.

About you

You might currently manage a smaller supermarket or convenience store, or already be in a team leadership role. Perhaps you’re seeking a new challenge after a career break or transitioning from another retail environment or sector. Regardless, you’ve demonstrated the ability to make a difference and enjoy being part of a team.

What matters most is your motivation to develop, your dedication to bringing out the best in others, and your passion for customer service. That’s what our stores are all about.

Where next?

Join Sainsbury’s in-store management teams and enjoy support and opportunities to excel. You will receive a comprehensive induction, tailored training plan, and ongoing coaching from your manager to help you succeed and develop.

As a Lead Manager, you could progress to Deputy Store Manager or Store Manager roles. You’ll also be well-positioned for leadership opportunities in head office or within the Sainsbury’s family, including Habitat, Tu, Argos, Sainsbury’s Bank, and Nectar 360. We’re committed to unlocking your potential.

Added benefits

Salary will depend 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% at Sainsbury’s on Fridays and Saturdays, and 15% at Argos every pay day.
• Free food and hot drinks for colleagues in all stores.
• Generous holiday entitlement, maternity, and paternity leave.
• Pension scheme with a 4-7.5% employer match.
• Sainsbury’s share scheme for discounted investment opportunities.
• Wellbeing support including emotional, legal, and financial advice.
• Colleague networks for professional growth.
• Cycle to Work scheme for bike hire and savings on tax and NI.
• Special offers on gym memberships, holidays, retail vouchers, and more.

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