Lead Food Manager

Leading in our stores

Our management teams don’t just run stores – they’re the driving force behind our business. With bold leadership, a passion for service and an eye for opportunity, they empower teams to raise the bar every single day for our customers. Whether it's product availability, safety standards, or delivering seamless daily operations, they’re hands‑on, sleeves‑rolled‑up changemakers. And the impact? Work becomes more rewarding for our colleagues, and shopping becomes a next‑level experience for every customer who walks through our doors.

This is how we bring our purpose to life, one powerful action at a time.

• Lead a small team of food managers to manage the grocery shop floor in one of our supermarkets.
• Execute exciting trading events by working closely with the rest of the store leadership team; whether it’s Christmas or Easter you’ll help ensure we win.
• Take full accountability for the store in the absence of a store manager, role‑model and coach for high standards and efficiency across the food hall.
• Manage compliance to processes and safety whilst bringing passion and flair for great shop‑keeping and creating fantastic shopping experiences.
• Be responsible for a large team of colleagues, ensuring they perform at their best, are on the shop floor when we need them, and that all people matters are conducted properly – from celebrating success to managing difficult situations.

• A passionate leader who is consistently ambitious for customers and colleagues, growing the team to do the same.
• Experience of managing managers in a fast‑paced, customer‑facing environment.
• An operator 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 or interpreting KPI’s or other performance indicators, transforming these into meaningful actions.
• A champion of inclusivity, putting it at the heart of what they do and building an inclusive team and working environment.
• Comfortable managing complex people matters such as performance, disciplinary, staffing, or other employee relations issues.

• Experience leading large teams in a fast‑paced, customer‑focused environment – developing leaders, building high‑performing teams, creating a culture of ownership and accountability.
• A track record of delivering exceptional customer experiences across complex operations, with evidence of achieving these through their team.
• Proven success in delivering and improving KPIs – from sales and stock availability to customer satisfaction and colleague engagement, driving 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 departmental performance was owned and the store was confidently led in the absence of senior leadership.
• Evidence of leading change – rolling out new ways of working, embedding new systems, or shifting team mindsets, bringing people along and making change stick.

Salary will be dependent upon your experience as well as the store size, complexity and location. Alongside this, we also offer a great range of benefits for our managers.

• Discount card – 10% discount off shopping at Sainsbury’s, Argos, Twigs and Habitat after four weeks; this increases to 15% on Fridays and Saturdays and 15% off at Argos every payday.
• An annual bonus scheme based on our and your performance.
• Free food and hot drinks for colleagues in all our stores.
• Generous holiday entitlement, maternity and paternity leave.
• Pension – we’ll match 4‑7.5% of your pension contributions.
• Sainsbury’s share scheme – build up an investment at discounted rates.
• Wellbeing support – access to emotional support, counselling, legal and financial advice.
• Colleague networks – link with like‑minded people to help fulfil your potential.
• Cycle to Work scheme – hire a new bike and cycling…