At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a small team to ensure smooth daily operations and excellent customer service.
- Company: Join Sainsbury’s, a leading retailer committed to inclusivity and community support.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, bonuses, free food, generous holidays, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Opportunities for mentorship and career progression await you!
- Why this job: Be a changemaker in a dynamic environment that values your leadership and customer focus.
- Qualifications: Previous management experience in a fast-paced setting is essential.
The predicted salary is between 22700 - 38000 £ per year.
Customer and Trading Manager – Small Supermarket
Salary: 18739Location: Linlithgow Store, Linlithgow, EH49 7PEContract type: PermanentBusiness area: RetailClosing date: 07 November 2025Requisition ID: 400032300
Shift hoursEarly shift: 07:00 – 15:00Late shift: 14:00 – 22:00
Leading in our stores:
Our management teams don’t just run stores – they’re the driving force behind our business. With bold leadership, a passion for service and an eye for opportunity, they empower teams to raise the bar every single day for our customers. Whether it\’s product availability, safety standards, or delivering seamless daily operations, they’re hands‑on, sleeves‑rolled‑up changemakers. And the impact? Work becomes more rewarding for our colleagues, and shopping becomes a next‑level experience for every customer who walks through our doors. This is how we bring our purpose to life, one powerful action at a time.
What you’ll be doing:
- Working closely with a small team of managers to make sure the store runs like clockwork every day.
- Taking responsibility for the day to running of the store, often being the only manager in with accountability for the full shop.
- Work alongside a team to complete all tasks, ensuring our customers are served efficiently and safely.
- People management is also big part of the role, managing performance and capability, conducting disciplinaries and ensuring scheduling and pay are accurate.
- Where we have close knit networks of stores and it may mean that you need to help another store now and then.
What makes a great customer & trading manager:
- Previous line management responsibilities in a fast‑paced, operational environment.
- Provides brilliant customer service, and coaches a team to do the same.
- Delivers KPI\’s or other performance indicators.
- Can manage disciplinaries, performance issues or other similar employee relations issues.
- Leads operations and comfortable doing this alone in the absence of more senior management.
- A track record of delivering brilliant customer service and coaching colleagues to do the same.
- Experience of leading a team in a fast‑paced, customer‑facing environment — you’ve motivated others, driven performance, and kept operations running smoothly.
- Operational leadership skills — you’ve taken responsibility for store operations in the absence of more senior managers.
- Demonstrated success in meeting or exceeding KPIs — whether it’s sales, availability, customer satisfaction or colleague engagement, you’ve made a measurable impact.
- Has managed employee relations issues, including performance and absence management.
Working for us has great rewards
Salary will be dependent upon your experience as well as the store size, complexity and location. Alongside this, we also offer a great range of benefits for our managers, including:
- Discount card – 10% discount off on your shopping at Sainsbury’s, Argos, Tu and Habitat after fourweeks. This increases to 15% discount off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day.
- An annual bonus scheme based on our, and your, performance.
- Free food and hot drinks provided for Colleagues in all our stores.
- Generous holiday entitlement, maternity and paternity leave.
- Pension – we’ll match 4-7.5% of your pension contributions.
- Sainsbury’s share scheme – build up an investment at discounted rates.
- Wellbeing support – access to emotional support, counselling, legal and financial advice.
- Colleague networks – link with like‑minded people to help fulfil your potential.
- Our Cycle to Work scheme gives you the opportunity to hire a new bike and cycling equipment, whilst saving on tax and NI.
- Special offers on gym memberships, restaurants, holidays, retail vouchers and more.
An inclusive place to work and shop:
We are dedicated to being a truly inclusive retailer, where every colleague can achieve their full potential and every customer feels welcome when they shop with us.
To support this commitment, our colleagues may be entitled to a range of enhanced discretionary leave for families, as well as support for carers. We provide our colleagues resources to help them understand and support their role and their team effectively. Our internal colleague networks seek to ensure true representation for everyone, helping us identify and remove barriers that our colleagues may face. We are proud to offer a range of development opportunities, including mentorship, training, and career progression pathways, to help our colleagues grow and succeed. We also celebrate diversity through various initiatives and events, fostering a culture of inclusion and respect. If you would like to learn more about our commitment to inclusivity, please take a look here .
Should you require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview stages, please let us know, and we will endeavour to support you.
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Customer and Trading Manager - Small Supermarket employer: Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
Contact Detail:
Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Customer and Trading Manager - Small Supermarket
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific operations of a small supermarket. Understanding the unique challenges and opportunities in this environment will help you demonstrate your knowledge during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your leadership skills by preparing examples of how you've successfully managed teams in fast-paced settings. Be ready to discuss how you’ve motivated staff and improved customer service.
✨Tip Number 3
Network with current or former employees of the supermarket chain. They can provide insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be invaluable during your application process.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to the role. Being able to discuss how you have met or exceeded KPIs in previous roles will set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Customer and Trading Manager - Small Supermarket
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in line management and customer service. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to manage a team in a fast-paced environment.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for retail and customer service. Mention how your leadership style aligns with the company's values and how you can contribute to enhancing the shopping experience.
Highlight Key Achievements: When detailing your previous roles, focus on key performance indicators (KPIs) you've achieved. This could include improvements in customer satisfaction scores or successful team management during peak times.
Prepare for Interview Questions: Anticipate questions related to people management and operational challenges. Be ready to discuss how you've handled performance issues or improved team dynamics in past roles.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Customer and Trading Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead a team effectively. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past, focusing on your leadership style and how you empower others.
✨Emphasise Customer Service Experience
Customer service is at the heart of this role. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you've provided excellent customer service or coached your team to do the same. Highlight any KPIs you've met or exceeded in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Operational Scenarios
Since you'll be responsible for the daily running of the store, think about operational challenges you've faced before. Be prepared to discuss how you handled these situations and what strategies you implemented to ensure smooth operations.
✨Understand Employee Relations
People management is a significant part of this role. Brush up on your knowledge of handling performance issues and conducting disciplinaries. Be ready to share your approach to resolving conflicts and maintaining a positive work environment.