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Lead Food Manager
full-timeEllesmere Port

Summary

Location

Ellesmere Port

Type

full-time

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About this role

What you’ll be doing:

  • 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.
  • Regularly taking full accountability for the store in the absence of a store manager, role modelling and coaching for high standards and efficiency across the food hall. 
  • Manage compliance to processes and safety whilst bringing the passion and flare for great shop keeping and creating fantastic shopping experiences.
  • You’ll be responsible for a large team of colleagues, making sure they’re performing at their best, they’re there on the shop floor when we need them and that all people matters are conducted properly whether it’s celebrating someone’s success or managing difficult situations.

What makes a great Lead Food Manager:

  • 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 transforming these into meaningful actions.
  • Is a champion of inclusivity putting it at the heart of what they do, uses this passion to build an inclusive team and working environment.
  • Comfortable in managing complex people matters such as: managing disciplinaries, performance issues or other similar employee relations issues.

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.

Other facts

Tech stack
Leadership,Team Management,Customer Focus,Performance Management,Data Analysis,KPI Interpretation,Inclusivity,Employee Relations,Operational Management,Change Management,Coaching,Compliance,Safety Management,Trading Events,High Standards,Efficiency

About Sainsbury's

Over 150 years old and still going strong, we’re the UK’s second-biggest retailer. Every day, the nation shops with us because they know they’ll get affordable, good food and excellent service.

We focus on great value and convenient shopping across our family of brands, from Argos, Nectar and Habitat to Sainsbury’s Bank, Smart Charge and Tu.

What’s next for Sainsbury’s?

We've put food back at the heart of our business and we’re taking Sainsbury’s to the next level. We’re investing in technology and people and we’re thinking bigger about how we attract and connect with our customers, while doing everything we can to create a more resilient UK food system.

Team size: 10,001+ employees
LinkedIn: Visit
Industry: Retail
Founding Year: 1869

What you'll do

  • Lead a team of food managers to oversee the grocery shop floor and ensure high standards of shopkeeping. Take accountability for store operations in the absence of the store manager and manage compliance with processes and safety.

Ready to join Sainsbury's?

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Lead Food Manager do at Sainsbury's?

As a Lead Food Manager at Sainsbury's, you will: lead a team of food managers to oversee the grocery shop floor and ensure high standards of shopkeeping. Take accountability for store operations in the absence of the store manager and manage compliance with processes and safety..

Why join Sainsbury's as a Lead Food Manager?

Sainsbury's is a leading Retail company.

Is the Lead Food Manager position at Sainsbury's remote?

The Lead Food Manager position at Sainsbury's is based in Ellesmere Port, England, United Kingdom. Contact the company through Clera for specific work arrangement details.

How do I apply for the Lead Food Manager position at Sainsbury's?

You can apply for the Lead Food Manager position at Sainsbury's directly through Clera. Click the "Apply Now" button above to start your application. Clera's AI-powered platform will help match your profile with this opportunity and guide you through the application process. You can also learn more about Sainsbury's on their website.