Network Planning Manager

Sainsbury's; Coventry; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in Coventry is seeking a Network Planning Manager to lead the supply chain network and drive efficiencies. You will optimise the end-to-end supply chain, enhance cross-functional collaboration, and develop high-performing teams. The ideal candidate possesses strong analytical skills, strategic thinking, and supply chain expertise, contributing significantly to the company’s operational excellence. This role offers competitive compensation and extensive benefits.

Benefits

Colleague discount

Pensions scheme

Private healthcare

Performance-related bonus

Cycle-to-work scheme

Qualifications

• In-depth understanding of end-to-end supply-chain and logistics operations.
• Proven ability to develop and implement long-term strategies.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to make data-driven decisions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive supply chain network strategies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to set long-term goals.
• Analyse logistics financial performance and identify risks.

Skills

Supply Chain Expertise

Strategic Thinking

Analytical Capability

Leadership & Team Development

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Project & Change Management

Risk & Contingency Planning

Financial Acumen

Communication Skills

Job description

Why join us

Joining Sainsbury's as a Network Planning Manager presents an exciting opportunity to lead and shape the supply chain network, driving efficiencies and seamless operations across our dynamic organisation. With a focus on strategic planning, team leadership, and cross‑functional collaboration, you will play a pivotal role in optimising the end‑to‑end supply chain to meet customer requirements and future growth ambitions. Embrace a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and personal development, supported by a flexible working approach that prioritises work‑life balance, making a positive impact on millions of customers’ experiences while advancing your career in a collaborative and inclusive environment.

What you’ll do

Here you will be responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive supply chain network strategies aligned with cost‑to‑serve principles and customer requirements to optimise the end‑to‑end supply chain network, drive efficiencies, and minimise costs. You will collaborate with cross‑functional teams to set long‑term goals, define key performance metrics, and execute supply‑chain initiatives and projects to reduce costs and improve efficiencies. Additionally, you will analyse logistics financial performance, identify risks, develop mitigation strategies, and lead a high‑performing team to foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and operational excellence in the supply‑chain function.

Who you are

You are a strategic and analytical leader with a deep understanding of end‑to‑end supply‑chain operations and logistics. Your ability to collaborate cross‑functionally, drive continuous improvement, and develop high‑performing teams enables you to optimise the supply‑chain network, minimise costs, and ensure seamless operations across all functions. With your strong communication skills, financial acumen, and focus on delivering measurable outcomes, you play a critical role in setting and achieving long‑term goals aligned with business objectives and customer needs.

Essential

• Strong Supply Chain Expertise: In‑depth understanding of end‑to‑end supply‑chain and logistics operations, particularly in volume planning, forecasting, and network optimisation.
• Strategic Thinking: Proven ability to develop and implement long‑term strategies aligned with business goals and cost‑to‑serve principles.
• Analytical Capability: Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data, identify trends, and make data‑driven decisions.
• Leadership & Team Development: Experience leading and developing high‑performing teams, with a focus on coaching, performance management, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships and influence across Supply‑Chain, Logistics, Retail, Finance, and Tech teams.
• Project & Change Management: Experience delivering cross‑functional projects and initiatives, ensuring timely execution and measurable outcomes.
• Risk & Contingency Planning: Ability to identify risks and develop mitigation strategies to ensure operational continuity.
• Financial Acumen: Understanding of logistics cost drivers and ability to analyse financial performance to support cost‑saving initiatives.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.

Qualifications

We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer so you’ll be welcomed whatever 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. Here are some of them: Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to save 10% on your shopping online and in‑store 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 www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).

Responsibilities

We believe in providing meaningful work and achieving a real work/life balance. Here, you’ll find both. Our Supply‑Chain team is the engine room for getting thousands of products from farms and factories to our millions of customers every day. We leverage insight and data to anticipate customer needs, ensuring they get what they want, when they need it. You’ll be part of a team that is data‑driven and judgement‑focused, always the first to identify and address any issues or ambiguities. A culture of collaboration, customer obsession, and continuous improvement drives us to deliver market‑leading product availability and operational excellence, and fuels our innovation. Our Supply‑Chain team calls for people who champion change, are customer‑obsessed, data‑driven, and excel at collaborating and communicating effectively - because those people can go a very long way.