At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage and improve critical payment services for our Food online platforms.
- Company: Join Co-op, a community-focused organisation that values its members.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, private healthcare, generous holiday, and a pension plan.
- Other info: Flexible working options available; we embrace diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on customer experiences and service reliability.
- Qualifications: Experience in service management and strong stakeholder relationship skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Service Manager – Food Online & Membership Platforms £50,000 - £60,000 plus private healthcare, pension with up to 10% employer contributions and many more great benefits (Work Level 5) Manchester city centre - in this role you’ll work in a hybrid way splitting your time between home and the office twice a week as required (find out more about our hybrid working policy at
We’re open to applications from people who may require flexible working arrangements.
There’ll be an opportunity to discuss your flexible working requirements during the interview process, and at offer stage.
We’re reshaping our Digital, Technology and Data function for the future, creating new opportunities, strengthening our capability, and building clearer, more resilient ways of working so we can deliver even better services for our Co-op, our colleagues, members and customers.
We're looking for a 3 Service Managers to join our Technology team and help us deliver reliable, high-performing platform services that support colleagues, customers and members across our Co-op.
You'll take ownership of one or more platform services that support our Food online partner channels, customer and loyalty proposition, and product, price and promotion platforms, ensuring they remain stable, secure and fit for purpose, while working closely with technical teams, suppliers and stakeholders to continuously improve service performance.
You'll play an important role in supporting the payment technology that enables transactions across our stores and digital channels, helping us deliver a seamless experience for our customers.
Why this role matters This is a great opportunity to take ownership of services that have a real impact across our business.
You'll play an important role in maintaining service health, managing operational risk and driving continuous improvement, helping to ensure colleagues and customers can rely on the technology they use every day.
As the service owner for critical payment platforms, you'll help ensure millions of customer transactions are processed securely and reliably, while supporting business growth and enhancing the customer payment experience across our Co-op.
- What you’ll do
- Own the day-to-day performance, stability and continual improvement of one or more payment services
- Monitor service performance, risks and trends, identifying opportunities to improve reliability, resilience and user experience
- Act as an escalation point for incidents, problems and changes affecting your services, ensuring issues are resolved and improvement actions are delivered
- Lead service recovery activities during major incidents and work with suppliers and technical teams to minimise customer impact
- Build strong relationships with technical teams, business stakeholders and third-party suppliers
- Lead or contribute to service reviews, using insight and feedback to help shape improvement priorities
- Support operational readiness activities, ensuring new products, changes and enhancements are ready to be supported in live service
- Manage service risks, compliance requirements and continuity activities, helping keep services secure, resilient and aligned to payment security requirements What you’ll bring We’re committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria.
To thrive here, you’ll need to bring
- Experience managing or supporting business-critical technology services in a service management, operations or service delivery environment
- Experience working with high-availability customer facing services
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across technical and business teams
- Experience investigating service issues, identifying improvements and driving positive outcomes for customers or colleagues
- Experience working with suppliers and supporting service performance against agreed service levels and expectations
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data and insight to support decision-making
- A good understanding of service management frameworks, principles and best practice (such as ITIL, ITIL 4 or equivalent)
- A good understanding of Service Management toolsets such as Jira, Confluence or ISM We know some people may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet every requirement.
At Co-op, we’re committed to building diverse and inclusive teams, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we still encourage you to apply.
Why Co-op?
At Co-op, we’re owned by our members.
And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you.
So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement.
We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose.
- We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:
- An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
- 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
- A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
- Private healthcare
- Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
- 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands
- Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
- Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
- 24/7 colleague support service
- Training and support for your development and career progression
- Cycle-to-work scheme A place you’ll belong We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve.
We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.
We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job.
If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we’ll support you.
Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs. coop. co. uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs. coop. co. uk/diversity-inclusion
Service Manager - Food Online & Membership Platforms in Manchester employer: Co-op
Co-op is an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, particularly for the Senior Power Platform & Automation Engineer role. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will have opportunities to mentor colleagues and lead digital transformation initiatives while enjoying the flexibility of a hybrid working model in Manchester. The company values your contributions and offers a supportive environment where you can thrive and make a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager - Food Online & Membership Platforms in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Service Manager - Food Online & Membership Platforms at Co-op!
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Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Co-op or be willing to refer you for that Service Manager - Food Online & Membership Platforms position!
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Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Service Manager - Food Online & Membership Platforms role at Co-op!
We think you need these skills to ace Service Manager - Food Online & Membership Platforms in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Co-op. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Co-op
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Co-op. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
