Head of Innovation - Non Food

Salary: Competitive Plus Benefits

Location: London Store Support Centre and Home, London, EC1M 6HA

Contract type: Fixed-Term Assignment

Business area: Food Commercial

Closing date: 25 January 2026

We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance. That’s waiting for you at Sainsbury’s. Here, everything in our Sainsbury’s stores starts out in Sainsbury’s Commercial. Whether it’s the product, proposition, packaging or price, or the fact that something tastes great, our team is responsible for all food, non-food and Clothing items available in Sainsbury’s stores, digitally and on demand. You’ll discover it’s incredibly fast-paced. People here are in it together and not afraid to take risks. They’re enthusiastic too, and their amazing leadership team is right behind them. The knowledge and experience you gain here could set you up for career moves anywhere else in the business. So, if you’re passionate about your products and just as hungry to learn, you’ll fit in perfectly.

Joining Sainsbury's as the Head of Category Innovation - Non Food means being at the forefront of identifying and launching innovative products that resonate with our customers while driving commercial growth. In this role, you will lead a high-performing team, collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders, and champion a customer-led innovation culture. With a focus on driving quality measures, fostering an innovation and high-performance culture, and optimising processes, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact and drive continuous improvement within a dynamic and supportive environment.

What you’ll do

As the Head of Category Innovation - Non Food at Sainsbury's, you will lead a team responsible for identifying new trends and opportunities to launch innovation that resonates with our customers. Working closely with the Director of Innovation and cross-functional category leadership, you will develop strategic product plans specific to your category areas – Health, Beauty & Wellness & Household and Baby & Pet, driving the innovation and renovation strategy for commercial growth. By leveraging market trends and customer insights, you will identify innovation and renovation opportunities for our Own Brands, overseeing projects from concept to launch while championing a customer-led innovation culture. Your role will involve developing a high-performing team of product development experts and driving a quality focus across the business to deliver continuous value improvement through customer and commercial objectives.

Who you are

You are an accomplished leader with extensive experience in product development and innovation within the retail or food industry. With a strategic and analytical approach, you excel in driving cross‑functional collaboration and influencing internal stakeholders to align on innovative product plans that deliver commercial success. Your strong communication skills, motivational leadership attributes, and commitment to continuous personal development enable you to inspire and lead a high‑performing team, while ruthlessly prioritising and planning activities to achieve business objectives.

• Non Food Own brand Product Development or Innovation leadership experience in Retail, FMCG or Manufacturing
• A proven track record of leading and coaching high‑performing teams, nurturing talent and fostering an environment where individuals are empowered to reach their full potential.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills, with a track record of driving cross‑functional collaboration and influencing stakeholders
• Excellent communication and motivational leadership abilities, with a commitment to continuous personal development
• Ability to prioritise, plan, and deliver commercial success through customer‑led innovation and high‑performance team management

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 get 10% off at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks. This increases to 15% off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day.
• 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 65% of salary, depending on how we perform (in cash and shares).
• Your wellbeing is important to us too. You’ll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy additional 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, pay advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well accessed to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers.
• You’ll also receive a company car cash allowance unless you are going to travel 10,000 business miles in your role, then you’ll be able to choose a car. And if you ever need it there is also an employee assistance programme, you will also be eligible for private healthcare too.
• 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.

Please see www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).