Lead Implementation Support Manager - Clothing Transformation

Sainsbury's; Coventry; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK retailer is seeking a Lead Implementation Support Manager to drive the adoption of RFID technology in clothing departments across various stores. The ideal candidate will oversee training, support store readiness, and collaborate with multiple stakeholders. Applicants must possess strong leadership skills and be willing to travel regularly for the role. Competitive benefits include discounts, healthcare, and a performance-related bonus.

Benefits

Colleague discount

Private healthcare

Performance-related bonus

Qualifications

• Experience of building strong working relationships at all levels.
• Good understanding of retail operations.
• Ability to create and analyze accurate data.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and support a specified group of stores.
• Lead and deliver effective training on RFID processes.
• Collaborate with stakeholders for implementation.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Coaching

Networking

Data Analysis

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

10 month Fixed Term Contract covering stores across our NI, Scotland, North of England and Midlands regions.

This is a new and exciting opportunity within our Transformation and Operational Development division. We are offering a 10-month Fixed Term Contract for a Lead Implementation Support Manager, focusing on the implementation and embedding of RFID technology and processes across a cluster of clothing departments in stores within our North region. Ability to travel flexibly is essential for this project.

Role Overview

As a Lead Implementation Support Manager, you will play a pivotal role in delivering our digital transformation strategy, specifically leading the roll‑out and adoption of RFID technology in our clothing departments. Your responsibilities will include :

• Overseeing and supporting a specified group of stores, working closely with clothing teams, line managers, and multiskilled colleagues to ensure successful change management and operational readiness.
• Leading and delivering engaging, effective training on RFID processes, ensuring all relevant colleagues are confident and capable in using the new technology.
• Using data, feedback tools, and readiness checks to assess store preparedness, plan and deliver training, and monitor progress.
• Collaborating across a wide group of stakeholders, including Implementation Support Managers, to ensure successful engagement, implementation, and continuous improvement.

We’ve made a significant investment in RFID technology, and you’ll need to draw on your leadership, communication, coaching, and networking skills to play a key role in the engagement and successful implementation of RFID in your cluster of stores.

As part of your application, you are required to attach a cover letter. Please see the end of the advert for full details.

What outcomes you need to deliver :

• Facilitate sustainable change, working cross-functionally to ensure seamless end-to-end implementation and adoption of RFID technology and routines in your allocated stores, driving compliance and operational readiness.
• Lead stakeholder engagement, using the programme’s communication framework and working with the project team to effectively land key messages to retail, including RSDs, Store Managers, and store teams.
• Deliver training to clothing management teams and provide them with the communications and tools to plan and deliver their colleague training.
• Complete readiness checks, discuss actions, revisit stores to review progress, and identify stores needing additional support. Agree remediation plans, identify knowledge gaps, suggest educational activities, and escalate risks as needed to Store Managers, DOM, RSD, and the Programme team.
• Provide regular updates to the Programme team, both directly and via the Implementation Support Managers, throughout planning, preparation, and launch for each store, highlighting any risks that could impact go‑live dates. Collate store feedback and conduct individual store post‑implementation reviews.

What you need to know and show (essential) :

• Confidence to engage, influence, and coach all levels of Retail Leadership Teams, flexing your style to suit the audience and create a compelling picture of how to successfully land change in stores.
• Experience of building strong working relationships at all levels, with a willingness to challenge the status quo and drive continuous improvement.
• A great coach who can deliver a compelling message, providing empathy and challenge where necessary.
• Good understanding of retail operations (Clothing experience is desirable).
• Proficient with Microsoft Office, including Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to create and analyse accurate data, articulate and present store readiness analysis clearly, and confidently call out when a store is not ready for change, highlighting risks through the correct channels.
• A self‑starter who can work remotely with minimal supervision. Travel between locations for the role and associated training is essential.

Support we will provide :

• Training on RFID technology and processes.
• Upskilling on operational models and change management.
• Support from both the Transformation and Operational Development team and central / field teams, as well as other business areas and external partners.
• Commitment to supporting your personal development throughout the secondment, including access to learning and networking opportunities.

As part of your application, please attach a cover letter answering the following questions :

• Please confirm you are aware this is a role which requires the flexibility to travel regularly across our North regions.
• Please give a brief overview of your Retail experience (in particular, if you have any Clothing experience).
• Please tell us about your motivation for the role – why are you interested in this role?
• Based on what you know about this role, what skills and implementation experience will you bring to make you a success in this role?

We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work‑life balance. That’s waiting for you at Sainsbury’s. As the link between sellers and buyers, retail and head office, our retail operations team is the cog that keeps things running. With teams focused on store facing, labour, transformation, online, delivery and contact centre work, we touch almost every part of the business. It’s an incredibly fast‑paced environment where you need to pivot not just daily, but often hourly. So while we plan all we can, it’s vital that we all think outside our job descriptions and look to optimise and improve how we do everything. There’s also a real team ethos. After all, it’s people like you who are going to truly transform this part of the business.

We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new — whether that’s as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working. When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits.

Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to save 10% on your shopping online and instore at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat, and we regularly increase the discount to 15% at points during the year. We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover. You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance‑related bonus of up to 20% of salary, depending on how we perform.

Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy up to an additional week's holiday, and we provide private healthcare. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, interest free car loan of up to £10k, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, salary advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers. And if you ever need it there is also an Employee Assistance Programme.

Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.

Please see for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).