Lead Nightshift Manager

Sainsbury's; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK retailer is seeking a Nightshift Manager to oversee a small team and ensure efficient overnight operations. The role involves leading replenishment activities, people management, and ensuring health and safety standards for employees. Candidates should have experience in managing large teams and delivering exceptional customer experiences while focusing on operational performance. This full-time position comes with a premium on top of the base salary, reinforcing the company's commitment to employee well-being.

Benefits

£4,500 night shift premium

Qualifications

• Experience leading large teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven success in delivering and improving KPIs.
• Experience managing sensitive employee matters confidently.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a small team of managers overnight.
• Accountable for health and safety of colleagues.
• Plan for key trading activities and events.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Data interpretation

Operational efficiency

Customer focus

Job description

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead and manage a small team of managers overnight, and together with your colleagues, deliver all replenishment activities ready for our customers the following morning
• Planning for upcoming key trading activities and events by working closely with the rest of the store leadership team.
• People management, including pay and scheduling routines, training, communication and employee relation activities such as managing performance, absence, and completing disciplinaries.
• Regularly taking full accountability for the store overnight, role modelling and coaching for high standards and efficiency across the store.
• Take accountability for the health and safety of every one of the colleagues who works with you on a shift.

Our nightshift managers work full‑time hours over 4 nights, as well as receiving a £4,500 premium on top of their base salary (Our nightshifts typically run from 22:00 – 08:00).

What makes a great lead nightshift manager:

• Someone who is comfortable with nightshift working and is adaptable to the physical and mental impact of these shift patterns, and understands the importance of providing a safe and healthy environment for their team
• A passionate leader who is consistently ambitious for their customers and colleagues, every day, growing their team to do the same.
• Experience of managing managers, in a fast‑paced, customer‑facing environment.
• An operator who is comfortable managing alone in the absence of more senior management.
• Driven to deliver high performance with a focus on efficiency and engagement.
• Confident in the use of data, and understanding / interpreting KPI’s or other performance indicators, and has experience of improving these.
• Puts inclusivity at the heart of what they do and uses this to build an inclusive team and working environment.
• Can manage disciplinaries, performance issues or other similar employee relations issues (Up to dismissal).

Essential Criteria:

• Experience leading large teams in a fast‑paced, customer‑focused environment — you’ve developed leaders, built high‑performing teams, and created a culture of ownership and accountability.
• A track record of delivering exceptional customer experiences across complex operations, with evidence of delivering these through your team.
• Proven success in delivering and improving KPIs — from sales and stock availability to customer satisfaction and colleague engagement, you’ve driven results that matter.
• Experience managing sensitive and complex people matters, including performance, absence, and formal employee relations cases, with confidence, fairness, and sound judgement.
• Leadership experience in an operational environment — whether in retail, hospitality, or food service — where you’ve owned departmental performance and confidently led the store in the absence of senior leadership.
• Can evidence leading change — whether rolling out new ways of working, embedding new systems, or shifting team mindsets, you’ve brought people with you and made change stick.
• Desirable - Demonstrated experience working night shifts in a high‑volume, operational environment — you’ve adapted to the physical and mental demands of overnight working and created a safe, supportive atmosphere for your team during out‑of‑hours trading.