Mobilisation Lead: Sainsbury’s Café Openings (UK Travel)

Be at the forefront of launching brand‑new Sainsbury’s Cafés across the UK. InStore, part of Compass Group, is behind some of the UK’s most recognisable retail and food partnerships. We’re now rolling out exciting, brand‑new Sainsbury’s Café sites nationwide — and we’re looking for a Mobilisation Support Lead to help bring them to life. This is a hands‑on, fast‑paced role where no two weeks look the same. You’ll be travelling across the UK, supporting multiple new café openings, working shoulder‑to‑shoulder with operational teams and project managers to ensure every site launches smoothly, safely, and successfully.

The role forms part of a wider mobilisation and growth programme, with the expectation that — following the mobilisation phase — successful candidates will be well‑placed to move into an InStore Retail Management position within a Sainsbury’s Café, subject to business requirements and location. If you thrive in mobilisations, enjoy building something from the ground up, and want to transition into an operational retail management role — this is the role for you.

What you’ll be doing – Mobilisation & Delivery

• Support the end‑to‑end mobilisation of new Sainsbury’s Café openings, ensuring sites open on time, on budget, and to One Retail standards.
• Work as a core member of the mobilisation project team across multiple sites.
• Own mobilisation plans, coordinating actions and timelines with local operational teams.
• Act as the key link between Operations, Project Managers, and support functions throughout mobilisation.
• Support the successful handover of cafés into InStore Retail Management following opening.

Stakeholder Management

• Build strong working relationships with internal teams including Operations, Sales, HR, Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain, and H&S.
• Liaise with external partners such as suppliers, facilities teams, contractors, and design teams.
• Confidently influence, challenge, and problem‑solve to keep mobilisations moving forward.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure food safety, health & safety, and brand standards are embedded from day one.
• Identify risks early and work with stakeholders to implement practical solutions.
• Ensure full compliance throughout the mobilisation phase.

Continuous Improvement

• Capture lessons learned from each mobilisation to improve future openings.
• Share insights with operational teams to support ongoing performance.
• Look for opportunities to enhance efficiency, quality, and commercial results.

What we’re looking for

• You’ll be someone who has a “can‑do” attitude and thrives in a fast‑moving environment.
• Is highly organised, adaptable, and comfortable juggling multiple site openings.
• Brings strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Is commercially aware, with confidence around budgets and delivery deadlines.
• Enjoys problem‑solving and staying calm under pressure.
• Is mobile, flexible, and happy to travel across the UK (including overnight stays).

Key requirements

• Full UK driving licence.
• Willingness to travel nationwide as part of a UK mobilisation role.
• Experience in mobilisations, openings, or multi‑site operations (Hospitality, retail, or food experience preferred).

What’s in it for you

• £35,000 salary.
• Company car.
• Opportunity to work on high‑profile, brand‑new Sainsbury’s Café launches.
• A 6‑month FTC aligned to a national mobilisation programme.
• Exposure to Compass Group’s wider InStore business.
• Opportunity to progress into an InStore Retail Management role following mobilisation, subject to business needs.
• A chance to make a visible, lasting impact from day one.