Head of Category Planning - Grocery General Merchandise

Head of Category Planning - Grocery General Merchandise Salary:
Competitive Plus Benefits

Location:

London Store Support Centre and Home, London, EC1M 6HA

Contract type:
Fixed-Term Assignment
Business area:
Food Commercial
Closing date: 15 March 2026
Requisition :

We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance. That’s waiting for you at Sainsbury’s. Here, everything in our Sainsbury’s stores starts out in Sainsbury’s Commercial. Whether it’s the product, proposition, packaging or price, or the fact that something tastes great, our team is responsible for all food, non- food and Clothing items available in Sainsbury’s stores, digitally and on demand.

You’ll discover it’s incredibly fast-paced. People here are in it together and not afraid to take risks. They’re enthusiastic too, and their amazing leadership team is right behind them. The knowledge and experience you gain here could set you up for career moves anywhere else in the business. So, if you’re passionate about your products and just as hungry to learn, you’ll fit in perfectly.

As part of Sainsbury’s Commercial, our General Merchandise (GM) team is responsible for shaping a customer-led proposition that delivers both commercial success and a market-leading offer. Working across Buying, Category Planning, Supply Chain, Marketing and Retail, we collaborate to define strategy, deliver innovation and ensure our customers have a seamless and inspiring shopping experience. We are looking for a Head of Category Planning to join the team on a 12 month Fixed Term Contract, based out of either our London or Coventry office, with regular travel required to the other location.

More about the role

As Head of Category Planning for Sainsbury's General Merchandise, you will lead the transformation agenda for the GM category, shaping a future‑fit strategy that delivers against customer needs and commercial ambitions. You will oversee the development and execution of the category plan, ensuring our range, space, value and promotional strategies are cohesive, insight‑led and operationally robust.

Day-to-day, you’ll lead a high‑performing team of Category Planners and Range Analysts, working cross‑functionally with colleagues in Trading, Supply Chain, Commercial Operations, Marketing and Nectar
360. You’ll set direction, enable smooth delivery of key projects, champion the customer throughout decision‑making and manage strategic work streams that shape the wider Business Unit.

More about you

You will bring proven experience in category planning, commercial strategy, project management or a closely related discipline. Analytical, commercially astute and customer‑obsessed, you are confident working in complex and fast‑paced environments, able to balance long‑term thinking with agile decision‑making.

As a highly adaptable and influential leader, you will be comfortable shaping concepts from early discovery through to implementation. You role‑model inclusive leadership, building high‑performing teams that embrace change and deliver excellent outcomes. You thrive when collaborating widely, creating alignment and driving momentum across multiple stakeholder groups.

• Proven strategic leadership, with the ability to set long‑term vision while delivering short‑term commercial outcomes.
• Exceptional influencing and cross‑functional collaboration skills, able to drive change through multiple teams.
• High‑level analytical, project management and category planning/ranging experience, with the ability to manage complexity and ambiguity.

Inspirational, inclusive people leadership, building, coaching and motivating a high‑performing team.

Strong understanding of our buying and category planning practices.

Experience inleadingcomplex change programmes [end to en d].

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…