Head of Supply Chain Transformation

Head of Supply Chain Transformation

Full-Time 60000 - 78000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the transformation of Sainsbury's supply chain, driving change and improvement.
  • Company: Join a leading retailer committed to innovation and customer obsession.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, discounts, flexible working, and comprehensive health benefits.
  • Other info: Be part of an inclusive culture that values personal development and celebrates success.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment with endless growth opportunities.
  • Qualifications: Strong analytical skills, project management experience, and a passion for collaboration.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 78000 £ per year.

We believe in providing meaningful work and achieving a real work/life balance. Here, you'll find both. Our Supply Chain team is the engine room for getting thousands of products from farms and factories to our millions of customers every day. We leverage insight and data to anticipate customer needs, ensuring they get what they want, when they need it. You'll be part of a team that is data-driven and judgement-focused, always the first to identify and address any issues or ambiguities. A culture of collaboration, customer obsession, and continuous improvement drives us to deliver market-leading product availability and operational excellence, and fuels our innovation.

Our Supply Chain team calls for people who champion change, are customer-obsessed, data-driven, and excel at collaborating and communicating effectively - because those people can go a very long way.

The Head of Supply Chain Transformation is a leadership role within the Supply Chain division. This role is pivotal to shaping and delivering the strategic transformation of Sainsbury's supply chain across all brands and channels. It is accountable for leading the end-to-end Supply Chain transformation strategy, driving business change delivery, and ensuring cross-functional alignment.

What you need to do:

  • Drive a highly analytical and data driven approach to the delivery of change and improvement across our supply chain.
  • Define and lead the transformation roadmap, including future supply chain capabilities.
  • Own and execute the business change, including impact assessments, building capability, and key stakeholders.
  • Oversee delivery of complex, cross-functional projects, ensuring alignment with business cases and measurable outcomes.
  • Build market-leading supply chain capabilities and operating models to unlock competitive advantage.
  • Identify critical dependencies and risks, ensuring early visibility and mitigation planning.
  • Deep understanding of supply chain operations, ideally within UK retail.
  • Strong strategic thinking and ability to simplify complex problems.
  • Highly analytical and data driven, with the technical skill to own or lead analytical deep dives.
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
  • Proven experience in project and change management.
  • Commercial acumen with a focus on cost optimisation and business case development.
  • Experience in shaping and delivering change programmes.
  • Ability to connect the dots across multiple projects and functions.
  • Innovative mindset with a pragmatic approach to implementation.

What you need to show:

  • Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
  • Ownership and the ability to lead numerous projects and lead a large cross functional team.
  • Analytical and data driven approach to define opportunities, and drive metric outperformance.
  • Confidence in communicating with stakeholders across different levels and functions.
  • Ability to prioritise tasks and manage time effectively in a fast-paced environment.
  • A proactive mindset with a willingness to take ownership and follow through on actions.
  • Familiarity with project management tools and reporting formats.
  • Commitment to continuous improvement and supporting team collaboration.

Support we will provide:

  • Access to personal development tools e.g., Bitesize talks, online self-development tools, internal mentoring.
  • Project Managers, Change Managers and wider Tech PMO team.

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. Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to save 10% on your shopping online and instore 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 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 up to an additional week's holiday, and we provide private healthcare. 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. 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. 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.

Head of Supply Chain Transformation employer: Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd

At Sainsbury's, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values meaningful work and a healthy work/life balance. Our collaborative culture fosters innovation and continuous improvement, providing ample opportunities for personal and professional growth within the dynamic environment of our London Store Support Centre. With competitive benefits, including generous discounts, performance-related bonuses, and a commitment to inclusivity, we ensure that our employees feel valued and supported in their roles.

Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd

Contact Details:

Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Supply Chain Transformation

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the supply chain industry, especially those who work 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 interviews by diving deep into Sainsbury's supply chain operations. Understand their challenges and think about how your skills can help them innovate and improve. Show them you're not just another candidate!

Tip Number 3

Practice your storytelling skills! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've driven change and improved processes in previous roles. This will demonstrate your analytical mindset and ability to lead transformation.

Tip Number 4

Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in being part of our team at Sainsbury's.

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Supply Chain Transformation

Analytical Skills
Data-Driven Approach
Project Management
Change Management
Stakeholder Engagement
Strategic Thinking
Supply Chain Operations Knowledge

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Head of Supply Chain Transformation role. Highlight your experience in supply chain operations and any relevant projects you've led. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!

Show Off Your Analytical Skills:Since this role is all about being data-driven, don’t shy away from showcasing your analytical prowess. Include specific examples of how you've used data to drive change or improve processes in your previous roles. We love numbers!

Communicate Clearly:Effective communication is key in this position. When writing your application, be clear and concise. Use straightforward language to explain your achievements and how you can contribute to our team. Remember, we’re looking for someone who can engage with stakeholders at all levels.

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details about the role and our amazing benefits there!

How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd

Know Your Supply Chain Inside Out

Before the interview, dive deep into the specifics of supply chain operations, especially within UK retail. Familiarise yourself with current trends, challenges, and innovations in the industry. This will not only help you answer questions confidently but also demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.

Showcase Your Analytical Skills

Prepare to discuss how you've used data to drive change in previous roles. Bring examples of analytical projects you've led or contributed to, focusing on measurable outcomes. This will highlight your data-driven approach, which is crucial for the Head of Supply Chain Transformation position.

Communicate Effectively

Practice articulating complex ideas simply and clearly. Since this role involves engaging with various stakeholders, being able to communicate effectively across different levels is key. Consider preparing a few scenarios where you successfully navigated stakeholder communication in past projects.

Demonstrate Change Management Experience

Be ready to discuss your experience in leading change programmes. Highlight specific instances where you identified opportunities for improvement and successfully implemented changes. This will show that you have the proactive mindset and ownership qualities they are looking for.