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- Tasks: Lead planning delivery and develop tools for transformation projects.
- Company: Join Sainsbury’s, a fast-paced FTSE business with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, flexible working, and a performance-related bonus.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with opportunities for personal and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while growing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in project management and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Salary: Competitive Plus Benefits
Location: London Store Support Centre and Home, London, EC1M 6HA
Contract type: Permanent
Business area: Finance & Business Development
Closing date: 22 May 2026
We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance. That’s waiting for you at Sainsbury’s. For a FTSE business, we move incredibly fast. When we’re not handling projects, we’re helping all corners of the wider group with what they’re trying to achieve. And around here, you can see the results of your work as soon as you walk into a store, which gives you a real sense of purpose and responsibility. Better still, the team around you will listen to your ideas and opinions, and you’ll have every chance to try something new. The sheer scale and complexity of our set-up means there’s always something else around the corner, and we’ll help and support you every step of the way. We’re trusted to get on with it. So get ready to make things happen here.
About the team
The Business Planning team sits within Business Strategy & Planning and plays a central role in enabling delivery of the transformation portfolio across the organisation. Working closely with change and transformation stakeholders, the team provides the plans, tools and governance that underpin successful delivery of business outcomes. This is a high‑profile, collaborative team that operates at pace, influences across multiple functions and continuously evolves how planning and delivery are approached.
More about the role
As a Business Planning Lead, you will be responsible for planning delivery across the Business Planning team and owning the creation and ongoing maintenance of change plans. You will lead the development of planning tools, templates and processes that support delivery of a complex and varied transformation portfolio, working closely with senior stakeholders across the business. Day to day, you can expect to manage multiple workstreams, partner with change leads to shape and deliver plans, and use data and feedback to continuously improve Business Planning capability. This role requires confidence operating under pressure, providing expert advice on planning, engagement and measurement, and constructively challenging ways of working to drive better outcomes.
More about you
- You will bring a demonstrable background in portfolio or project management, with experience coordinating multiple initiatives and adapting plans in response to changing priorities.
- Comfortable working in complex environments, you will be skilled at engaging a wide range of stakeholders and translating strategic objectives into clear, practical delivery plans.
- You are proactive and solutions‑focused, with the confidence to take ownership and suggest new approaches.
- You value continuous improvement, actively seek feedback and use insight to improve tools, processes and outcomes.
- Strong communication and influencing skills enable you to build trusted relationships and operate credibly with stakeholders up to senior manager level.
Experience of portfolio management and/or project management
- Experience managing multiple projects, prioritising, and responding quickly to changing situations
- Experience of creating and delivering engagement plans – preferably in large, complex and multi‑location organisations, operating in rapidly changing markets
- Experience in portfolio reporting, coordinating, and developing MI and dashboards to drive proactive decision making across different stakeholder groups and experience managing and developing Enterprise Portfolio tooling
- Strong Microsoft Office skills – the ability to create an engaging presentation in PowerPoint and adept at using Excel to manage data (e.g., pivot tables, lookups)
- Excellent written and verbal communication, with good interpersonal and influencing skills
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 flexible working. When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits.
Here are some of them:
- Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to save 10% on your shopping online and in-store at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat, and we regularly increase the discount to 15% at points during the year.
- We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover.
- You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance‑related bonus of up to 10% of salary, depending on how we perform.
- Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance and you can buy up to an additional week's holiday.
- We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, salary advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers.
- And if you ever need it there is also an employee assistance programme.
- Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.
Business Planning Lead employer: Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
Contact Detail:
Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Planning Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those already working at Sainsbury’s. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by knowing your stuff! Research Sainsbury’s values and recent projects. Show us you’re not just another candidate but someone who genuinely cares about making an impact.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a mate to do mock interviews with you. This will help you articulate your experience and skills confidently, especially when discussing your project management background.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, drop a quick thank-you email. It shows you’re keen and keeps you fresh in our minds as we make decisions.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Planning Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Business Planning Lead role. Highlight your experience in portfolio management and project coordination, and show how your skills align with the job description. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since this role involves engaging with various stakeholders, it's crucial to demonstrate your strong communication abilities. Use clear and concise language in your application, and don’t shy away from sharing examples of how you've influenced others in past roles. We love a good story!
Highlight Your Problem-Solving Skills: As a proactive and solutions-focused candidate, make sure to include examples of how you've tackled challenges in complex environments. We’re looking for someone who can adapt plans quickly and drive better outcomes, so let us know how you've done this before!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website for the best chance of being noticed. It’s straightforward and ensures your application goes directly to the right people. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our amazing team at Sainsbury’s!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Sainsbury's business model and recent transformations. Understand how the Business Planning team fits into the bigger picture. This will help you speak confidently about how your skills can contribute to their goals.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past roles that demonstrate your project management skills and ability to handle multiple workstreams. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and make them impactful.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since the role involves working closely with various stakeholders, think of ways to illustrate your experience in building relationships and influencing decisions. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully navigated complex environments and adapted plans based on feedback.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few insightful questions prepared. Ask about the current challenges the Business Planning team is facing or how they measure success in their projects. This shows your genuine interest and helps you gauge if the role is the right fit for you.